Jacob911.com

Wow, I can’t believe its Sunday already. This week has flown by, and now I’m sitting in the motorhome somewhere in New Mexico heading back to California. I think I have worked harder this week then ever in my life! I haven’t seem my mom in over a week, and im really looking forward to being home on my couch watching TV.

Destry Abbott took some time to work with me as I prepped for the Round 2 Endurocross in Guthry Oklahoma, and I really feel that it paid off. I got the chance to ride the track that he practices on all year. Its called Grindingstone MX and the people there were awesome. Everyone was excited to watch us go at it, and the pressure really mentally prepared me for racing this weekend.

I met up with my Dad, Mechanic (Eddie), and Sanders somewhere in Flagstaff on Thursday night, and then we drove straight through to Oklahoma. It was about 15 hours away. I feel bad for Sanders, cause he had the late shift while we all slept. Well I guess I don’t feel that bad, cause he was only going about 45 in the rain.

When we got to the track, I was asked to come into the office, where Becky (from Endurocross) informed me that I could no longer ride in the Amateur class. This was good and bad, but mainly good cause all I had to do was watch my friends all morning.

We woke up about 8 am on Saturday, and Eddy V quickly went to work on my bike. He had to change out the chain and sprockets, and also cut the tires for the track. I had been riding with some of my new sponsorship items this week, and really love the Fastway footpegs. They really let me shift my weight when  I get in to those tight “hairy” conditions.

My Rekluse clutch is also another edition, and Patrick from Rekluse helped Ed inspect the clutch plates. This thing is really amazing, I haven’t stalled the bike once after two weeks of Endurocross racing.

At 10am I went into the arena and watched my friends Matt Henderson and Nick Burson kick but in the Amateur qualifying. I have to admit, it was nice to have the morning off, and even better to watch those guys ride. Usually I am banging bars, and now I realize what amazing riders those two were. They both qualified for the night show, and were on the track at three with me for practice.

I was the second in my group, right behind Wally Palmer who is usually pretty crazy. I gave him some space for the first lap, but then pushed him on the second and third of our practice. Things were going well, the course was long, and had lots of space between obstacles, which meant that I was really able to air it out.

The one thing that was stuck in the back of my mind was... the Matrix section. I just couldn’t get a good line through there. I don’t know why, but my rhythm was just off through there!

In the hot laps, I was 14^th to go, and got a time of about 1:24. That was good enough for 19^th overall, which is decent but not my best.  That time put me into a heat with Damon Huffman, Mike Brown, and Destry. I have to say, I was glad to see that those guys were there with me, but knew I had my work cut out.

In my heat race things went rough. I just struggled to get to the front off the start, and I could see those front guys pulling away. Two laps into the eight lap race, I got stuck in the Matrix. Not only was this frustrating, but it was extremely tiring as I struggled for free my bike. I got through, however, and went on to finish 8^th in the moto.

After watching the other two motos, and taking a break outside of the arena, I was back and lined up between Destry and Josh Demuth (an arenacross star) for the semi. This time things went much better. I got the start and was third over the first log. Into the second turn, I got hung up and passed by another rider or two, but just kept going. I knew that I had to be 5^th or better in order to qualify for the LCQ. After four laps I was cruising in 4^th and then I decided to take a break in the rocks! Destry got by putting me into fifth (which I thought was sixth) and the race was on. With only three turns before the finish, I bonzied my way back past him, and was able to hold him off by a hair.

We both qualified for the LCQ, which meant I was guaranteed to go home with some EX championship points. In the LCQ, it was Destry and Nick Brozovich up front. They kind of ran away with it, so I just rode as best as I could. Sanders told me to salvage what ever points I could, and that’s what I did. I put my head down and turned another four fast laps. Finishing 4^th, It was good enough to earn points which should keep me within the top 20.

This was a great weekend, and I am happy that we made the trip. Thanks to Destry for letting me spend the week with him. The things that I have learned from one of the greatest off-road racers ever, will be with me for my entire career. I have stepped up the training now that I have graduated as racing will hopefully be my full time occupation.

Thanks to all of my sponsors because without them I would not be able to keep my bikes running as awesome as they are. Also Special thanks to Eddy V for wrenching on my bike all weekend in the heat! This bike is great, the 2009 KX250F is perfect for the Endurocross series, and with help from Kawasaki of Simi Valley, Team Green, BRP, IMS, FMF, Scotts, TBT racing, Rekluse, and now Pro Moto Billet/Fastway my bike is one of the cleanest bikes out there. Check out my site for more photos in the days to come!

Jake - jacob911.com