Well this weekend was the first race of the Best In The Desert racing series and it was brutal. I have never been a part of the Best in the Desert series so all of this was new to me. I drove down friday night and I must say Vegas to Parker is the LONGEST 3 hour drive I have ever made in my life. I didn't think I was ever going to get there. Once I made it I met up with my team and we grabbed a bite to eat and went over our race strategy.
We are building a bike to race this series but we weren't able to get it done for this race. So we used one of the teammates Honda CRF 250. So our goal was to just finish. We decided that since it has been a while since any of the three riders have raced we were going to switch off at every pit stop. That way we could keep the riders fresh. The first pit was 27 miles from the start line and the second pit was 53 miles from the first pit. The course was very high speed with a lot of whoops and rocks. After we hammered out the pit strategy we all called it an early night and got some sleep since we were going to have to get up at 3:30 the next morning.
The next morning came and we all met at the truck to go stake out our spot at the main pit area. Once we got out there we loaded up our truck for the alternate pit and sent them on their way so they could pick out a nice spot. After our crew had left it was time to get the bike fired and off to the line. Well that is easier said then done when it is 25 degrees outside. We had jetted the bike a little fat so we could try and keep it cool during the race. Well we didn't think it was going to be so cold so after about 15 minutes of kicking we got the bike fired and warmed up. Once it was running we all agreed that it was to fat and we went back down on the main jet.
Once we got the bike ironed out and we were all comfortable with it we loaded it up in the truck to take it to the start line. Once at the starting line the nerves started to build. I was more nervous being on the pit crew then I was actually riding. I snapped a photo of our boy at the start line.
The first leg of the race was good for us. Our boy rode hard but ended up getting lost and losing 7 minutes to the guy behind us. He handed off the bike at the alternate pit and then we started having bike problems. The packing started coming apart and the bike was bogging down as the muffler was becoming clogged. Once the packing came out of the pipe the bike was running like a raped ape. Our second rider brought the bike to the main put where I was at. We fueled up the bike and did a once over. Everything looked good so we sent our boy on his way. He was able to get 5 minutes back on the bike in front of us. When he showed up to the alternate pit the head pipe was GONE. We had a spare but it was at my pit which was about an hour from the alternate pit. This pretty much ruined our chance for a good finishing spot.
We just kept it steady the rest of the race and were able to bring it to the finish line. Here is a picture at the finish.
All in all it was a good race for us we did what we set out to do and that was finish.
We are building a bike to race this series but we weren't able to get it done for this race. So we used one of the teammates Honda CRF 250. So our goal was to just finish. We decided that since it has been a while since any of the three riders have raced we were going to switch off at every pit stop. That way we could keep the riders fresh. The first pit was 27 miles from the start line and the second pit was 53 miles from the first pit. The course was very high speed with a lot of whoops and rocks. After we hammered out the pit strategy we all called it an early night and got some sleep since we were going to have to get up at 3:30 the next morning.
The next morning came and we all met at the truck to go stake out our spot at the main pit area. Once we got out there we loaded up our truck for the alternate pit and sent them on their way so they could pick out a nice spot. After our crew had left it was time to get the bike fired and off to the line. Well that is easier said then done when it is 25 degrees outside. We had jetted the bike a little fat so we could try and keep it cool during the race. Well we didn't think it was going to be so cold so after about 15 minutes of kicking we got the bike fired and warmed up. Once it was running we all agreed that it was to fat and we went back down on the main jet.
Once we got the bike ironed out and we were all comfortable with it we loaded it up in the truck to take it to the start line. Once at the starting line the nerves started to build. I was more nervous being on the pit crew then I was actually riding. I snapped a photo of our boy at the start line.
The first leg of the race was good for us. Our boy rode hard but ended up getting lost and losing 7 minutes to the guy behind us. He handed off the bike at the alternate pit and then we started having bike problems. The packing started coming apart and the bike was bogging down as the muffler was becoming clogged. Once the packing came out of the pipe the bike was running like a raped ape. Our second rider brought the bike to the main put where I was at. We fueled up the bike and did a once over. Everything looked good so we sent our boy on his way. He was able to get 5 minutes back on the bike in front of us. When he showed up to the alternate pit the head pipe was GONE. We had a spare but it was at my pit which was about an hour from the alternate pit. This pretty much ruined our chance for a good finishing spot.
We just kept it steady the rest of the race and were able to bring it to the finish line. Here is a picture at the finish.
All in all it was a good race for us we did what we set out to do and that was finish.
it was freaking cold in the morning!
BITD has eyes everywhere out there. That is why they can hold races where they do, they work real close with the BLM.