OK, here we are, State championship races are over. What an insane weekend. The finals were held at Whip City Bmx in Westfield ,Ma.   It's a sketcy yet fun track. I have never raced on this track before this weekend. So we booked a hotel room not to far from the track, and I did the pre race on friday night. 

  The two and a half hour drive out to Westfield was made. We checked into the hotel and rested for a while. Then it was time to head to the venue. We get to the Westfield fairgrounds,where the track is, and find a nice spot to set up our little pit area. got to warm up a bit, and hang with friends. my girls were excited to be somewhere new as was I). As time ticked by , they allowed practice to open. so my first practice run on a track I have never ridden (but was warned about and told many a horror story about). I felt almost scared. Took my time to get a feel for the steep jumps and bumpy paved berms.  OK, I survived, the next practice run, a little faster, getting a feel for the gate and the first straight.  Felt pretty good. Stay low in the turns, Motos are posted. I am racing a couple of great dudes and racers. Tonight is a "practice" race and getting ready for the next day. Talking with the guys, we were all like, Yeah not going to hurt myself today, finals are tomorrow.  We are all waaaaayyyy to competitive. The gate drops and off we go. I was riding mildly reserved but putting effort into it.

   It was a total points race. My gate was not too bad and the whole first straight felt good. At the finish of this moto 2nd.  The next one, gate drops, an even better gate and a better battle down the first straight. As we all went faster and again a second.   

   Ok, time for the mains. We get up on the gate, I lock it in I am ready, I have the inside line to the first turn. The gate drops, I snap out , having the best gate of my life here. I had the better position leading me to get holeshot into the first turn. And I turned it on, kept the other two behind me. made a couple good moves in the turns to keep from being past and was pedaling for all I was worth. I messed up in the rythem section. And the dude gained some ground on me. I held him off right until the finish line, he passed me right at the line. 2nd again. Not bad concidering it was my first race on this track and the other two guys are about 6-7 year younger than me. All in all the battles were fun as hell. what a great night.  

   So we packed up(minus the tent to mark our spot for tomorrow)headed to the hotel to get a good nights rest in. 

   The next morning, we all get up and have breakfast at the hotel. When we are all finished we gear up and head to the track. We park in our spot we reserved for ourselves and set up our pit. It is early, not many riders have arrived yet. A few have. Friends,compeditors, and many many others roll in as the morning rolled on. 

   My nerves are in a twist, first real BIG race day.  Just waiting for everything to get Started. My 8 year old is waiting anxously for practice to start. She wants to get out there. My 12 year old, is hanging with her BMX friends. As for myself, I am pacing between different pit areas chatting with friends and competitors alike.   Finally they start practice, My 8 year old is excited. She is doing laps. The 12 year old needs encouraging to go drop gates. As for myself, I dropped one gate for practice. I raced the night before. So one practice was good enough, plus I have been riding around and doing some sprints in an open area. legs are warmed up.

Was all nervous to see WHO I was going to be on the gate with.  MOTOS ARE POSTED!!!!  So I see where I am and who I am on the gate with.  41-45 novice Total points race. ok. I know 1 of the 2 guys I am racing. We race weekly at our home track. The other guy, meeting him for the first time today. Feeling a little more confident.

I have eaten, My buddies are all like"Dude you got this all day" Feeling good, it's time to race.  

First moto.... I am in like gate 5.  I have one on each side of me. I get up on the pedals balance my gate, cadance starts..."rides ready...watch the gate...BEEBEEBEEBEEP!" gte drops and we are off. I was out of the gate first and grabbed the holeshot into the first turn. I did not look back.pedaled and pumped my way to the finish line. 1st.  I love the fact there are 50+ motos. Means there is a good rest in between.  I am back at my pit area, trying to breath, and now excited. One set down. 2 more to go. I am snacking inbetween, and drinking plenty of fluids. It's time to watch friends as they run their races. Ok, first round is over, time for round 2.  I now have gate 7. Kind of a crappy gate and not the best run into the first turn.  Again, up on the pedals and balance my gate. BEEBEEBEEBEEEEP! gate drops and I am snapping out better than the first round. Again I managed the holeshot and kept on the gas, right till the end. 1st again. OK ..trying to breath again, And watching my friends and kids race.  Confidence is super high for the day. I am confident that ny races will go fine. It's the final state standings that weigh in my head. ....

Round 3...HA tatl points. I get to rest more.

Time for the mains, I am in my chute for my moto.  Waiting to be called up .   Ok calls up the moto, I am in gate 1.  A great gate to be in, best line to get through the first turn clean and low.  Gate drops and lets the moto ahead of me go. It lifts and it's time to load in. I load up, take a deep breath and set my bike. I get up on the pedals, balance in, And for the last time for me(for the day) the cadance starts( OK riders random start...Riders ready..Watch the gate...BEEBEEBEEBEEEEEEP!!!) gate drops and I snap out.  down the first straight, only thought" get into the turn first" I am in and out of the turn over the double into the next turn. my legs and body has not stopped moving. Roll the triple into turn 3.  Pump the rythem section for all I am worth, turn 4, I do not hear any one near me(I hardly heard the crowd cheering me on) over the step up , I roll the back side and sit, Being handed the #1 ticket. I have won. My second win. I run into friends and show them the #1, they are excited for me. Get hug from a couple friends and a buddy jumped on me in excitment. I am in shock. I Am here at my first "big" race and I take first in my class. 

I collect my trophy. I am amped on this thig. Now the nerves kick in again. Did my win post me any points and move my order in the state standing?? In the state series I am in 36-40 age group, but they mix novie(that's me) and intermediate. I do have a 3rd,a 2nd,and a 1st in the 3 qualifying rounds I raced AND a win at the finals. After finally waiting around for a while they post the final standing.  I am State #3. I will take it, my first year in and I have a state #3. It's awesome. Now it's on to racing and seeing if I can get enough wins to go inter.......