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This was taken at the Indian track in Palm Springs where Myerscouph would come and practice at. On this downhill he would not gain on me as you could only go so far without flat landing
But in the corners and whoops he would pass me like I was standing still
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Riders i've 'rode with' allot back in the day where Steve Ramon & Ken DeDycker. Really laid back dudes taking there time to talk with fans in between practice session. I also remember Max Anstie showing up back when we where racing 80 cc's but he rode with the big boys on a small bike during our local race series
When MC moved to KTM I remember him trying a huge quad at LE they had set up as the watering truck was coming out. He cased it and did a big endo and dissappeared over the 180 bowl turn that followed it. I was sitting there watching and as he rode by to go try it again he looks over at me and says "I don't want to do that again." I just nodded and he proceeded to do it again and landed it perfectly and that was that. Nobody else was doing it that day.
I think my favorite stuff was the tracks in the hills that guys like Langston, Brandes and some of those other pro guys would carve out. Up above Nuevo and Romoland were some crazy tracks. I remember off camber corners that would have 5 sets of ruts. Going from very tight to the 5th rut that was just a huge sweeper that seemed like you would be in forever. Those tracks were always the hardest for me to ride. No jumps, just massive ruts and corners.
That's just few of the many things I've seen on the the local practice tracks from my time in So Cal.
Craziest was Roczen scrubbing past me at pala, absolutely flying.
500 experts run right after my 250 novice (Div 263). Line up next to the pole (rubber band start ~ virgin track remember). Look behind me, and Brad is on his factory RC waiting for my spot for his moto. Holeshot the moto, my first, only to lay it down in front of that pack in the second turn (in my defense, a blue groove off camber, and I locked my brakes overcooking it like I was amped out of my mind, which I was).
Anyway, better than my first holeshot. I can truthfully (if not honestly) say that I roosted on Brad Lackey (ok, out of the gate and his bike was off, whatever).
I have to say, that track at Hollister was epic that day ~ it even had a bit of wooden ranch fence that marked a turn when you crested this green grassy hill, looking a bit like Sittendorf. That Fox dream on poster from the Hollister GP site looks like an addled crack addict compared to the track they broke out that day,
1st time, was js7 passing me at the old ass concrete elsinore when he was on a 125cc... he passed me in that double double double area on the vet track... he went.. double..triple... single. i was mortified honestly as i was just getting onto big bikes 250f lol.. i held my line but was like fuck that's what i have to do to be pro lol... i was already 16 so he crushed my dream lol.
the section at 1:06
2. Time i was at glen helen on a thursday because my buddy had the wise idea of lets go ride there before they go up to hangtown in two week.
(1), js7 wheels were by my head on the first downhill... I'm locking my breaks up and this guy fucking lauches it... lands and turns at warp speed.
(2). In the back sandwash section, where you made a left and it was really sandy... Tyla rattay came hauling balls wide open past me, leaned back fucking wide roosted the shit out of me. Then came Blake bagget warpspeed pt 2. by me in the same section.
3. Back at elsinore, was on the vet track and was slightly a better rider, anyway christophe pourcel was there in his ufo gear.. i had no idea who he was at the time, it was before his first sx season... anyway riding, i thought i was going fast until he launched it on the back table top and flat landed and was on a wheelie.. we were airbourne at the same time but he went like 10ft farther.. and i just pulled off the track.. like fuck that was badass.
4. comp edge, travis preston showed up and was only riding the hillside track, so i paced him on his sight lap and then tried to hang with him when he started picking it up... I was able to be on his rear tire for about 3 turns... but it was tripping me out because i had never hit turns that hard on my bike before and i was feeling different stuff in each turn that i had never felt before ever..but he started wicking it up even more and i got burned lol.
those are the first 4 that popped into my head. Good times out here
Also I remember jumping the step up in the back at milestone and Villopoto came from behind me, was about 5 feet lower than me in the air, and by the time I landed he was already 3 bike lengths ahead of me.
My Greatest memory were on Honda Park, where I passed Kevin Strijbos! Okay, he might been on his warm up lap.. and he unlapped himself on his second warm up lap.. and I guess 10 min later I was a lap down.. These guys have some serious speed..
Pit Row
Riding the Mauna Kea 200, there were always a couple pros around, but in 1991 (I think), the newly-retired Rick Johnson was riding it with some friends (including Gerry Lopez) and they were on the minute behind us. We got to ride along w/him all weekend and he couldn't have been nicer. I've even got a copy of a Japanese magazine that covered the race and there is a picture in that story of RJ riding and I'm right there alongside him.
I took a class with Donnie Hansen and did a lot of riding all weekend-it was a blast and he was also very nice.
In 2001 I took a trip to LA and rode Glen Helen on a Thursday, did laps with Steve Lamson, Grant Langston and some other lesser pros. I thought I was going pretty well until both Alessi brothers passed me (me on a YZ250, they on 65s and 85s).
The first time I heard this kid was fast and I lined up next to him, we had the same reflexes off the gate we hit the first turn and there were a set of eight doubles most were going two two .. Reed hits the turn and goes quad, quad absolutely destroys the next berm, over the triple and that's the last i saw of him.
Just the energy and intensity .... Remember a mate watching him and saying he'll get injured and that will be then end of his career because he has absolutely no respect for the track.
But really Reed was lucky i was off my game.
Was riding the Elsinore vet track and pulled off to take a break... was proceeding to get back on the track and saw a guy coming quickly but not too close. I jumped on the track and over the next table top this guy was passing me... well, I looked over and all I saw was drain plug. It was James Stewart, and of course he destroyed that track. Not even sure why he was there and not the main track, very cool though.
Another time I was at Glen Helen on a thursday or saturday, don't remember... came over the little table top that was the entrance to the start straight and first turn. A guy was riding a wheelie and having fun up the straight, well, I went to the inside and we brushed arms as we passed. A half lap later this dude blew by me on a corner entrence with a slight brush as well. It was David Vuillemin . Fast as fuck.
There's another about Jeff Emig but another thread
All 3 blew past me on multiple occasions during open practice days.
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