The latest update from Quebec's #1 offroader.
Good day everybody, sorry for being a day late but I spent yesterday cleaning stuff and didn’t have any pics yet....
So here it goes:
This weekend was really important, since it was a triple-header, enduro, extreme-cross and enduro-cross. I did spend a crazy week trying to prepare myself, first I decided I was going to run the 450 in the enduro, to save my poor little 250f for the Sunday race. And by Tuesday the rumour started that Jason Thomas was going to be back.... By the way the kid won the last GNCC, and got signed by Andrews Yamaha monster team!!! So I trained like a madman again, but probably did it too much, as on Friday as I was loading my rig, I already felt tired...
I was really confident on Saturday even if Jason was there. I knew the special test really well, 3 minutes was spent on the moto track which my 450 rules, but I had forgotten about the tight check in the wood.… Anyway I rode my best and lost by 2 min to Jason, not after a few adventures, like running out of fuel 1 km away from the refuelling point.... the good old put one bike in the ditch, use the tank vent tube, and refuel with an other bike saved my ass....
So after the enduro it was time to clean ourselves, and bikes, try to eat a little bit and prepare the bike for the extreme-cross. Jason didn’t ride the night race, so my chances of winning were back to normal... I won my qualifier, but I did struggle with one crash, and one little mistake in the rocks. For the final I knew it was going to be tough since a little four stroke is really not up to par against 250 2 strokes in that stuff... Anyway I used my great MX experience in the first curve, by pushing everybody out (by pushing I mean pushing!!!!) got the lead and from there I knew that if I was mistake free the race was mine… Second lap I tried a different line at the tractor tire, and ripped my rear brake pedal off… crap!!!! So I became a moving roadblock, until 2 laps to go when Metcalf passed me, I was really pissed and just trying to make him do a mistake, last corner it happened … he went wide!! I got the inside and the lead back, until he tried a desperate move, and took us both out!!!!!!!"/$%%? As I was standing beside the bike the third place guy passed us, then he went away, and after kicking my bike to life I got third. SO much went through my head while I was kicking my bike...but there were too many spectators to act stupid, I just swallowed the stupid move, and went straight to my truck...........
It was now 9 pm, and since 9 am, I was out on a bike or in the rain, and now I had some more work, since my brake pedal was broken, and my clutch cover too... By 10pm I finally took a hot shower, and started my famous diet.
Went my alarm went off on Sunday, I knew it was going to be a tough day. I was really feeling tired, the week was finally catching me, I still had to walk the woods section and check my bike. By race time I was feeling a little better, the weather was nice, and I knew I could give the kid a go.
After reviewing the Saturday enduro, I found out that Jason’s Mechanic, Ricky from Scotland, was about my speed, now I had 2 kids to beat... At the start it was just crazy again, every time people know somebody fast is there to beat me, they all get behind me. I had probably over 20 kids holding my bike on the line (try and find that on any other pro start gate anywhere!!!!). I had a little plan, try and follow Jason and see what happens!! We started pretty even, until the first curve, when a crash forced me wide, but I was still in eye contact with him...until in curve number 3 I laid it down and got to last place... So much for my plan, so plan 2 was now in effect, hurry up and pass everybody!
It took me a lap to get to 3rd, and I could at least see ricky, maybe 45 sec ahead. Jason was already a minute ahead. Then the rain started, and I guess Ricky wasn’t too comfortable in the slop, because I reeled him in really quickly. After an hour of rain the trail was getting really ugly with seat high ruts, roots, off cambers, even 3 really tricky uphills. I was riding really good, being really aggressive in the hills, until I heard some noise in the back—my chain was paying the price. So as my pit stop was closing in, I called for tools... I showed up at my pit and they were ready, the tools I mean, I put my bike on the stand, dropped on my knees, and performed a quick chain adjustment while they fuelled my bike. I changed gloves and off I was with 4 min back, and 5 min ahead of 3rd place. I kept going fast hoping for a mistake from Jason, but nothing happened.... I did get stuck 3 times just in the last lap!! Conditions were now crazy, I can't understand people that thought the Daytona SX was tough this year, we race in way tougher shit than that for 3 hrs, and we don’t blow our bikes?? But I was so happy to finish that one!!!!! Even if I was second!!!!!!!!!!! I know second is the first loser, but what can I do??? The kid is the fastest thing on a 250F in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After the race, instead a relaxing a little bit we were please to welcome more rain, as I was trying to clean my bike, and all my dirty gear.... That time my shower came at 7pm, and I decided I was going to eat straight there before leaving. As I was sitting in my now dirty rig, one question kept coming to my head, WHY??? Why so much work, why stupid rain, why a rider from another country instead of helping a Canadian, why so much pain, WHY ??????? For the plastic trophies? No I give them away!!! For the money? What money!!! For the number 1 on the bike? Yeah probably, so much sacrifice for a number!!!!!!
So if you were wondering what I did yesterday, I spent 4 hrs just cleaning my gear, then another 2 cleaning the inside of my rig, then I went to get lunch at my friend’s cottage by the lake. They had a different day than me—spending the afternoon surfing while enjoying the scenery of bikinis!!!!!
As I'm writing this, i have to hurry as I'm going training, and coaching my young Jedi. I'm pretty sure I will find an answer to all of my questions the first time I destroy a berm on my 450, or launch a big whip over the higway jumps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Next weekend is off, MTB, Boat and bikini I hope......
Enjoy your week and have fun..
Over and out
G-Rocks....