Riding with pros, your stories..

CHaynes
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CHaynes 3/28/2015 5:07pm
3/28/2015 5:07pm
CHaynes wrote:
I used to work/travel/practice bike mechanic for a very fast rider. In 2006 we stayed in Oklahoma for about a month and a half one winter...
I used to work/travel/practice bike mechanic for a very fast rider. In 2006 we stayed in Oklahoma for about a month and a half one winter and rode with Robbie Reynard at his old SX practice track (which is now Trey Canards house/track). Robbie is an amazing rider, thats as simple as I can put it. Doing sprint laps he would go out and break the fastest lap by 1 second every time. We also spent some time in Stillwater with Kenny Bartram riding at Cooperland. That was where I first saw Brett Cue ride. He was fast but also had great jumping ability so he was pretty fun to watch too. It really sucks Robbie had to deal with so many injuries, but thats the nature of the sport I guess. The guy I worked for is pretty good in his own right, he dealt with a few injuries of his own. He chose a different course for his career and his life is just one big circus now.
sesker15 wrote:
How about that kid that rides for KTM? He is kinda fast too! LOL
Oh yeah, who ever is reading this, remember this young mans name, Alex Frye. He is a very fast and extremely nice kid coming into the pro ranks for the outdoors. If you see him in the pits say "Hi".
Barrett57
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Barrett57 3/28/2015 7:05pm
3/28/2015 7:05pm
Rode with everts and nagl a few years back at Honda park in Belgium. It's unreal how fast those guys can go through a chewed up section of track.
824 Dad
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824 Dad 3/28/2015 9:57pm
3/28/2015 9:57pm Edited Date/Time 3/28/2015 9:59pm
It was '74 or '75 while in High School an older racer freind who worked at Kawasaki invited me to go with him and John Desoto to Indian Dunes for the day....it was so awesome as a15 year old kid, Desoto was my Idol at the time. went to Sambo's for breakfast with him that moring where he ate the biggest stack of pancakes I have ever seen anyone eat. Rode the shadow glen track on my penton, he was on a CZ,. just asI left the lip of a huge, fast jump he past me, did a look back, crossup, peace sign to me and I shit myself....it was amzing...
Falcon
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Falcon 3/28/2015 9:59pm
3/28/2015 9:59pm
I have a ton of stories too... living in SoCal it's hard to ride at a track and not have at least one pro there on lots of days.

I raced the 125 intermediate class in the late '90s with lots of guys who went on to be pros.... Billy Laninovich, Mike Sleeter, Turbo Reif, Richie Owens. Billy is a friend and we ride together occasionally. He's made me jump things. Crazy things. Blink

A few years later, I was racing the GFI Winter Series in the +30 class at Racetown. They started us on the 2nd gate behind the 250 pros. Mike Alessi was racing that day and he's the only guy I can ever remember lapping me twice.

The Shop

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Adam43
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Adam43 3/28/2015 10:58pm
3/28/2015 10:58pm
Rode with Shane Watts at Bithlo during spring break one time, back when he was killing GNCCs and racing the odd National. I was on a YZ426 and he was on a KTM 200 or something and we battled a bit. Matt Boni was out too and mostly just hit the whoops. Was a really fun week.
captmoto
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captmoto 3/28/2015 11:21pm
3/28/2015 11:21pm
I hate riding when the pros are out there. I had the shit scared out of me by Greg Albertyn one time. He passed me so fast on a tight inside right hander I didn't even know he was there until he hit the clutch.
I am way too slow, old and fat to be on the track with those guys. I don't want to be the guy that wrecks some hotshot and puts himout for the season.
SeaClassExpert 3/29/2015 12:33am
3/29/2015 12:33am
Went to the Kurt Caselli memorial ride day back in December at Glen Heln and a ton of pro's came out. Shorty, Noren, Millsaps, etc.

So story time.

The KC66 Foundation carved out a sick, and I mean SICK, 6 mile offroad course that you could ride on and get back on to the track at the top of the downhill.

Anyways i come flying down the loop ready to get back on the track when I see 5 or 6 guys just hanging out, not riding or looking like they're ready to go.

I try to ride around them and no sooner do I get back onto the track do I see the underside of Davi freakin' Millsaps Kawi scrubbing past my face on the uphill.

I slammed on the brakes so we didn't connect and I kid you not he just kind of stared at me mid scrub, wondering what i was doing there.

Closest call I've ever had with running into somebody important on the track LOL.

Overall, 10/10 would do KC66 Ride Day again.
EnvyMedia 3/29/2015 5:48am
3/29/2015 5:48am
I often ride where MXGP riders like to train also. Herlings mostly hammers a 40-50 minute moto and Nagl is doing alot of sprints. (2 fast laps, then stops by his mechanic).

A few years ago I had some riding lessons from Herlings and Coldenhoff, I think it was the year when Herlings had his first year in the gp's. Really cool expierence
CamP
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CamP 3/29/2015 5:59am
3/29/2015 5:59am Edited Date/Time 3/29/2015 5:59am
I attended the Gary Bailey School before the Lake Whitney National in 1981, and David was there assisting Gary. On the last day of the school, Gary had everyone practicing starts and David picked me out of the class and took me up in the hills to do some trail riding with him. It was a privilege to ride one-on-one with David and from that point on, I emulated his riding style. I had no idea he would be the Supercross and 250 outdoor National Champion just two years later. Great memories.
slowvet
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slowvet 3/29/2015 6:01am
3/29/2015 6:01am
Pitted next to Marty Moates. He was on a yz250f right around the time they first came out. I was on a 426. He passed me at Carlsbad on an uphill section of the track like I was standing still. He was about the nicest, most humble human being I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. One thing is for certain, you can hear these guys coming and to know to get out of their way.
Bultaco
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Bultaco 3/29/2015 6:23am
3/29/2015 6:23am Edited Date/Time 3/29/2015 6:28am
Not all motocross but still Pros. On the same starting line of an Ohio Hare Scrambles with Jack Penton. I think he and the starter had a secret wink or something, because Jack was sliding through the first turn before any of the rest of us had hardly left the line. Laughing

Was on the same minute as Rod Bush at the Wheeler National Enduro in Oklahoma. I could keep Rod in sight for about 4 turns through the trees. I would not see him again till the resets and checkpoints.

I attended a Donnie Hanson MX school one time. Little Josh Hanson on a borrowed KX-80 was doing the demos. No one could keep up with Josh.

It was not on the track, but at the Baldwin Inter-Am in 1974, I gave Jim Pomeroy a ride in my van from Tech (in a shopping mall parking lot) back to the Holiday Inn. How's that for a brush with greatness. Laughing Laughing

Used to see Robbie Reynard at 59th and Douglas at the night races. I can't say I "rode' with him, because he went by so fast.

As with any sport, it is a pleasure to witness the elite doing what the rest of us struggle to do.
UpTiTe 3/29/2015 6:33am
3/29/2015 6:33am Edited Date/Time 3/29/2015 6:35am
I have riden with a ton of pros in the 80s, but one of the funnest happened in a car. In 84 I got into an Ebrake contest with a factory Honda rider on San Fernando Rd in a rented RX7, I won and everyone in the car screamed like girls when I pull that brake at a little over 90 and spun out of control.
slipdog
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slipdog 3/29/2015 6:42am
3/29/2015 6:42am
UpTiTe wrote:
I have riden with a ton of pros in the 80s, but one of the funnest happened in a car. In 84 I got into an...
I have riden with a ton of pros in the 80s, but one of the funnest happened in a car. In 84 I got into an Ebrake contest with a factory Honda rider on San Fernando Rd in a rented RX7, I won and everyone in the car screamed like girls when I pull that brake at a little over 90 and spun out of control.
We use to get front wheel drive cars and put plastic McDonald's trays under the rear wheels and lock the E brake. Hit the gas and you have power with the rear following you everywhere in full drift mode.
UpTiTe 3/29/2015 6:47am
3/29/2015 6:47am
UpTiTe wrote:
I have riden with a ton of pros in the 80s, but one of the funnest happened in a car. In 84 I got into an...
I have riden with a ton of pros in the 80s, but one of the funnest happened in a car. In 84 I got into an Ebrake contest with a factory Honda rider on San Fernando Rd in a rented RX7, I won and everyone in the car screamed like girls when I pull that brake at a little over 90 and spun out of control.
slipdog wrote:
We use to get front wheel drive cars and put plastic McDonald's trays under the rear wheels and lock the E brake. Hit the gas and...
We use to get front wheel drive cars and put plastic McDonald's trays under the rear wheels and lock the E brake. Hit the gas and you have power with the rear following you everywhere in full drift mode.
Damn, I've never even thought of that. That sounds like fun.
MusicFilter
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MusicFilter 3/29/2015 7:55am
3/29/2015 7:55am
Radical Ron Turner at his practice track on the side of a mountain in California. Can't remember exact year (mid eighties?) photos may help pin down year. Saw him pass Johnny O'Mara like he was stopped on the track at Indian Dunes when O'mara was factory Honda on a 125. Turner had just signed with Cagiva. Turner was smoothest I have ever seen. He had a "sliding" technique in corners that was a trip to see.








7I3N
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7I3N 3/30/2015 7:22am
3/30/2015 7:22am
A couple of years ago I got to go trail riding with a bunch of the top pros from the off road world. Here’s some GoPro footage. The guy in front of me at the start is Skyler Howes, the same guy (#110) that Ricky Brabec is chasing in the bomb run video Titan posted last week. After the top of the hill I found myself behind Mike Brown and David Knight.

In Fast Company from 7I3N on Vimeo.

huck
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huck 3/30/2015 7:51am
3/30/2015 7:51am
While staying with www.racesocal.com last summer, we did Glen Helen on Thursday. All the top guys were there riding.
SweetDaddy
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SweetDaddy 3/30/2015 7:55am
3/30/2015 7:55am
At Bithlo I was passed by Stewart in a sweeper; never saw a motorcycle go that fast before. Kyle Chisholm crashed on a double and I almost landed on him. Got passed many times by Cianciarulo riding a 65.

Pit Row

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dirtworldmx 3/30/2015 9:26am
3/30/2015 9:26am
Some of you guys are ridiculously lucky to have ridden and practiced with the Pro's. With work and school I barely had time to get to the races. I remember lining up at Texas Stadium on amateur day 1988 in 250B, with a really good shot at winning it. Totally focused on the line and I look over and it's Jeff Emig next to me. No, I didn't win. Smile
Crossup
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Crossup 3/30/2015 10:04am
3/30/2015 10:04am Edited Date/Time 3/30/2015 10:08am
I never rode with a pro. But, one of the my personal highlights was getting to walk the track for a while with Roger DeCoster. It was at Unadilla at the Trans-AMA. It was before practice and there was tall grass covering the track with just strings of flags outlining the course. He was walking with a mechanic I think. I went over and said hello, and after a minute found myself walking the track with them. He is a really great guy and one of my heros in the sport from the beginning.

I always thought that Gaylon Mosier was a very personable guy. At another Unadilla Trans-AMA, we had set up a big make-shift canopy to stay dry at the top of the Wall. (This was nothing compared to the people that erected scaffolding condo cities back in the day. Too bad you can't still do that.) Anyway, Gaylon kept stopping at the top of the wall and resting his Maico on the fence in front of us. He'd chat with us a bit and take off. One lap he took a break and jumped the fence and hung out under our 4' x 4' dry piece of ground. For me, those were great days.
Crossup
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Crossup 3/30/2015 10:06am
3/30/2015 10:06am
7I3N wrote:
A couple of years ago I got to go trail riding with a bunch of the top pros from the off road world. Here’s some GoPro...
A couple of years ago I got to go trail riding with a bunch of the top pros from the off road world. Here’s some GoPro footage. The guy in front of me at the start is Skyler Howes, the same guy (#110) that Ricky Brabec is chasing in the bomb run video Titan posted last week. After the top of the hill I found myself behind Mike Brown and David Knight.

In Fast Company from 7I3N on Vimeo.

That's awesome. Where were you riding in the video?
barrs211
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barrs211 3/30/2015 10:10am
3/30/2015 10:10am
1-forty-8 wrote:
My friend was out practising the other day. He said he'd never felt so good on his bike. Coming around a sweeping corner on what he...
My friend was out practising the other day. He said he'd never felt so good on his bike. Coming around a sweeping corner on what he thought was the outside and next thing he knows someone overtakes him on the outside! He pulled in the next lap, and in his head he was done lol the bike was going on ebay that night! The guy that overtook him pulled into the pits, took off his helmet and it turned out to be Kristian Whatley! My mate felt a little better after seeing who it was, but said how demoralizing it was haha
I was at Hilton park couple weeks ago (week before the championship round they had there) and Whatley and a loads of british pros where there, the corner speed they had was unreal! Stood watching only wishing to have a quarter the speed he has! I think he was about 10seconds a lap faster on a 1minute 30s a lap track Laughing embarrasing a bit but there pros for a reason. Cool
1-forty-8
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1-forty-8 3/30/2015 10:20am
3/30/2015 10:20am
barrs211 wrote:
I was at Hilton park couple weeks ago (week before the championship round they had there) and Whatley and a loads of british pros where there...
I was at Hilton park couple weeks ago (week before the championship round they had there) and Whatley and a loads of british pros where there, the corner speed they had was unreal! Stood watching only wishing to have a quarter the speed he has! I think he was about 10seconds a lap faster on a 1minute 30s a lap track Laughing embarrasing a bit but there pros for a reason. Cool
Another friend of mine raced the Hawkstone international one of the years that Everts raced it, he was a full minute a lap slower than Everts. I think SE72 was doing it in under 2 minutes and my mate was doing it in just over 3 minutes. And my mate was no slouch, AMCA expert who was regularly up front in those meetings! It just shows the difference in levels. And they make it look so easy!!
dcg141
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dcg141 3/30/2015 11:22am
3/30/2015 11:22am Edited Date/Time 3/31/2015 6:00am
Few years ago Husaberg invited dealers to go riding with Mike Lafferty and Nick Farringer the day after a National Enduro. It was just a few dealers that showed up and we got to ride new demo Bergs. Mike led and Nick sort of mingled in with us. Were going thru a pretty technical section and Nick was behind me and I clipped a tree and started one of those slow motion drawn out crashes and when I fianlly went down he was doubled over laughing. If course at dinner later he had to tell everyone about my awsome slomo get off.
TailSoHard
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TailSoHard 3/30/2015 11:40am
3/30/2015 11:40am
I've lined up for a few National Enduros just a few minutes ahead of the pro's minutes and got passed by them all day long. Mike Lafferty was by far the smoothest guy I have ever seen go that fast. Russell Bobbitt was incredible too, but he looked a little more wild than Lafferty did. Jeff Freddette usually does a couple of the races in D14 each year and he's always fun to watch ride, he goes pretty good for an old guy lol

Rode on a local track with Nick Wey a couple of times; he's another one of those guys that goes way faster than he looks like he's going.
FolkLoar
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FolkLoar 3/30/2015 12:05pm
3/30/2015 12:05pm
I remember being on a modified 125 at Muddy Creek in the schoolboy class and being passed or maybe even lapped by RC on a big wheel KX 80 or 110. He was out of sight by the next corner. Made me rethink my motocross dreams.

I remember riding with Austin Stroupe on Thursday afternoons at Al Lane/Top Gun MX(the shop we both rode for at the time). It was often just us two on the track. I rode a 125 and he was on a 65. I remember just watching in amazement at his style on a 65! He looked like a little McGrath out there. Glad I went off to college before he got comfortable on 80s or I believe he would have hurt my feelings.

Also bought an RM125 from Billy Liles around 96 when I first got on 125s. Nice guy, even threw in a free lesson.


7I3N
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7I3N 3/30/2015 12:16pm
3/30/2015 12:16pm
Crossup wrote:
That's awesome. Where were you riding in the video?
That's awesome. Where were you riding in the video?
Warner Valley, near St George Utah.
1-forty-8
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1-forty-8 3/30/2015 12:17pm
3/30/2015 12:17pm
FolkLoar wrote:
I remember being on a modified 125 at Muddy Creek in the schoolboy class and being passed or maybe even lapped by RC on a big...
I remember being on a modified 125 at Muddy Creek in the schoolboy class and being passed or maybe even lapped by RC on a big wheel KX 80 or 110. He was out of sight by the next corner. Made me rethink my motocross dreams.

I remember riding with Austin Stroupe on Thursday afternoons at Al Lane/Top Gun MX(the shop we both rode for at the time). It was often just us two on the track. I rode a 125 and he was on a 65. I remember just watching in amazement at his style on a 65! He looked like a little McGrath out there. Glad I went off to college before he got comfortable on 80s or I believe he would have hurt my feelings.

Also bought an RM125 from Billy Liles around 96 when I first got on 125s. Nice guy, even threw in a free lesson.


Riding with RC. That is pretty damn trick.
tprice07
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tprice07 3/30/2015 12:17pm
3/30/2015 12:17pm
Well, growing up in Fort Dodge there were a bunch of fast guys some of which are Pros. I rode at Teddy Maier's house a few times, typically when he got on the track I would just pull off to the side and admire how he has no fear at all. Then I did a "riding school" that was hosted by Justin Brayton. There was only one other rider...he was somewhat goony so luckily I got to spend the better part of a day riding and hanging out with him. He gave some solid tips and helped to up my confidence..a lot of what he said was just hit it. We worked on a pretty sketchy uphill jump. It was right out of an off camber.

Then at a fairgrounds race in Fort Dodge one year Gavin Faithmay have been grouped into my class. I think they merged B and C together. I was a C rider at the time. So while I didn't "ride" with him he was on the track lapping the crap out of me..

One of the coolest moments was right after Gavin Faith had an arenacross style track built at his house. It was just a few people around including Justin Brayton and some of Gavin's family. Gavin was getting coached by Justin a bit. It was pretty funny because Gavin wasn't hitting the catapult and Brayton was giving him a pretty hard time about it.

We were very fortunate to have such a great group of riders in our area. A majority of the races I went to had Teddy Maier, Justin Brayton, Cody Gilmore, Chris Nelson, Gavin Faith as well a lot of other fast guys...on occasion Mike and Jeff Alessi would show up...best race by far was when Teddy Maier, Justin Brayton and Chad Pederson were all racing up near Humboldt, Iowa.
Crossup
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Crossup 3/30/2015 12:25pm
3/30/2015 12:25pm
Crossup wrote:
That's awesome. Where were you riding in the video?
That's awesome. Where were you riding in the video?
7I3N wrote:
Warner Valley, near St George Utah.
It looked familiar. I have ridden up around Brian Head and the Cedar City area in the past. You are lucky to live around there. Beautiful area!

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