Daniel Blair: 2009 Season Review 1

To all my family, friends, and sponsors, I would like to start my season review by saying thank you for all your support and prayers. This season has been very long, but overall, goals were achieved, progress was made, and a few dreams were lived. It’s crazy how different my life was 5 months ago. I remember pulling in to Anaheim 1 with no idea what was to come. I had my expectations and I had my idea of what I could accomplish. Now that the season is over and I can look back and reflect on my performance, I would like to say that I am very happy and very self satisfied…….for now.

Results:

I can break down every race individually and find fault. I could have finished a lot higher in many of these races for different reasons, but overall, I proved to be very consistent. Before this season, my best Lites SX finish was a 13th. This year, my worst finish was a 12th, and that was at the East/West shootout.

9th Houston

7th Indianapolis

11th Daytona

7th New Orleans

8th St. Louis

9th Toronto

11th Jacksonville

9th Overall Points

*12th Las Vegas Shootout

*18th Phoenix 450

Geico Powersports:

Riding for the Geico Powersports Honda team was by far the greatest experience of my racing career. I have always dreamed of riding for a factory team and this year I got to live that dream. I have always wondered what a factory bike felt like, or what it was like to unload your bike at the Honda test track and ride with guys like Davi Milsaps and Ivan Tedesco. I have always wondered how the team operated and what it would feel like to show up on Saturday and have everything taken care of for you. Now I know…….and it is bad ass!

Riding for this team was not only a great experience but it was also a great opportunity. Although I have mixed emotions on the outcome of my time on the team, I am glad I was given the shot. I figured getting on this team would immediately elevate my speed and results, putting me on or near the podium. But I learned something this year. I learned that equipment is maybe only 25% of the game. The rest lies on the rider. I think the most important part of racing is preparation. Even though the privateer life is tougher, I was able to dial in my own bike and prepare myself around the equipment I was riding. Although the Geico bike was way better then my own, jumping in mid season and not having the opportunity to fully prepare and get comfortable put me in awkward position. I am kind of a weirdo when it comes to bike set up. I was never able to use the bike to its full potential and that is why I was unable to improve the results I was already getting on my own bike. With more time and more specific preparation, I think I could have done a little better.

Conclusion:

So what do I do now? I just finished the best season of my racing career. I just got to live one of my dreams by riding for a full factory team. I was finally able to rebuild myself after suffering potentially career ending injuries a few years back. Is it time to celebrate? Is it time to take a breather and recover from the grind? Maybe enjoy the summer? Hell no, its time to get to work. I am more motivated now then I have ever been. The biggest thing I learned this year was that hard work really does pay off. I worked my ass off last year and was able to go from a top 20 guy to a top 10 guy. I want to be on the podium next year and I will spend every single day from now till then getting faster, stronger, and smarter. I am going to break down every part of my program: my body, my mind, my riding techniques. I am going to spend the next 8 months fine tuning myself into a contender. Whether I am on a factory team again next year or racing out of my Chevy S10, I will take the next step. Talk to you again in January!

-Daniel Blair #125

Special thanks to TCCI, Slaten Racing, Jardine Exhaust, Airide Suspension, CR1, Factory Backing, NoFear, One Helmets, Renthal, Dunlop, Scott Goggles, Ride Eng., EVS, EVOMX, Rekluse, TCR, Faultline, MotoXXX, my family, my friends, and my cat Bruce.

Also......JC, Kranz, Kibby, Brown, and everyone on the Geico Powersports Honda team, thank you so much for the experience. And Kranz......Lakers suck.