Ryan Zimmer #79 A True Privateer

That was Ryan after his motor blew up going through the whoops at the Baltimore Arenacross on lap 3 of practice a couple of months ago. He was burned pretty badly and really down in general about life and racing. Wanting to quit all together and just very frustrated with it all. It is tough racing your whole life and being faced with getting a job and having to give it up. He and I have both realized that being the next RC or MC more than likely is not going to happen at this point. Even getting a opportunity throw a leg over a factory bike is just not in the cards for most struggling privateers like Ryan. Hell he goes to the races does his best and nobody even knows his name, no that is pretty far under the radar. Let's face it you are either with the in crowd or you are not when it comes to this industry. Ryan is like so many other talented riders on the outside looking in hoping and praying for their chance in the limelight.



Anyway, that is Ryan Saturday night at the Atlanta SX 250 Main in which he finished 19th. 19th you say is not that good for most racers who race for a living, but for Ryan I was extremely proud of this accomplishment. First off because he has only ridden 5 times since the outdoors last year. Once was the 3 laps in Baltimore AX where he got hurt when his motor blew and another one was last Thursday testing for 2 hours at South of the Border on the way to Atlanta. Unfortunately, he missed Dallas because we had to spend that money to fix his motor that blew in Baltimore.




This is the best part and what I am most proud of Ryan for, he got up at 6am to go to work. I guess training on the end of a jack hammer has its perks. I wanted to share Ryan's story because all you ever hear on TV is about the front runners, but there is so much more to this sports if you just look a little farther back in the field. We will continue to race as many SX events as we can, or at least until the money runs out. He is having fun and making it work however he can.

I do want to thank the few sponsors we have.

Witt's End Racing- for our bike and parts from last year ( very helpful and fortunate to have )
Pro Action Suspension- Yeah I need a plug too
VPE - Fred is the best and our bike ripped this weekend
Fly Racing- awesome gear and always keep Ryan looking good
Bell Helmets- very nice helmets and protect Ryan so he can go to work Monday
Scott Goggles- never have to worry about clean goggles at the race
ICW- Brett makes the best stands and radiators in the business
South of the Border- Best training facility around (Schaffer thanks for the room Thursday night too)
Link Inc.- Dusty got our numbers done just in time Thanks
Triangle Cycles- Rusty and Oneil always take care of us.
Liquid Performance- Connell always keeps us in LP keeping our bikes looking good.