Story time: When a pro flew past you

jingram4
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jingram4 3/20/2019 6:49am
3/20/2019 6:49am
EZZA 95B wrote:
Easy for me! I was in the same classes as Reed at our local clubs, so every weekend I would have the pleasure of being passed...
Easy for me! I was in the same classes as Reed at our local clubs, so every weekend I would have the pleasure of being passed by him as he would let us all go and blitz through the field.
Thats pretty cool, I have seen some pros line up backwards on the starting line at local races for that reason, and when they promotors get pissed they're backwards they let the gate drop and count to 20 and still run other local A guys down within 6 laps.
sk846
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sk846 3/20/2019 7:03am
3/20/2019 7:03am
Crystal Coast MX in Maysville, NC sometime around 2010. Little guy flying past me on an 85 while I was thinking I was going fast on my 450. Cooper Webb.
smoothies862 3/20/2019 7:05am
3/20/2019 7:05am
Gncc 3rd gear down a pretty fast section. A 2stroke ripping goes by me off the trail. Looked like a deer on cocaine. it was Scott Plessinger. I wish he would gavedine a muddy national. It looked fake when he was on it.
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Looby321
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Looby321 3/20/2019 7:34am
3/20/2019 7:34am
Had to be 06/07, Kyle Cunningham on YoT yz250f at the time and was riding on my buddies track before ‘Dilla. Was cool to be on the track with him for sure. Also ridden with Kiniry, J and P Carpenter.

The Shop

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nwmotoguys
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nwmotoguys 3/20/2019 7:38am
3/20/2019 7:38am
It was the fall of 2006 and I was practicing at Albany Mx just south of Portland International Raceway by about an hour or so. There is a long flat section on the backside of the track that gets pretty rough at the end of the day. I was 4th gear and what i thought was pretty wide open when i hear this bike right on me just wide fucking open. They blow past me on a yamaha 250f with blue riding gear and a number 58 with Hill above it. He rode past me like i was standing still. There use to be a huge double booter there in front of the grandstands and he threw his bike completely upside down off of it. I pulled over and just watched him do lap after lap and realized i suck at riding dirt bikes.
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Jon Bingham
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Jon Bingham 3/20/2019 7:41am
3/20/2019 7:41am Edited Date/Time 3/20/2019 7:42am
At milestone a few years back on a rare muddy day. These days they would probably clise the gates, but I remember it being really sloppy, some pretty deep ruts and it was challenging to stay up. All of a sudden Marvin Musquin goes flying by me like it was a normal hard pack ride day. Mind blowing....
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Sideways
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Sideways 3/20/2019 7:47am
3/20/2019 7:47am
Not my story, but theres a gopro vid of some rider getting passed by James stewart and i remember it looked insane. Cant seem to find it though.
rhargrave431
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rhargrave431 3/20/2019 7:48am
3/20/2019 7:48am
He wasn't a pro yet, but I was ripping(!) At 3 Palms, and I kept hearing a bike behind me in some switch backs. In the next left hand corner, Vann Martin punted my ass off the track on his 150.
TGuse15
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TGuse15 3/20/2019 7:53am
3/20/2019 7:53am
STL doesn't get the pros like Cali, but I've been passed by Forkner and Lance Kobusch on supermini's (while I'm on a 250f). The year before Forkner turned pro, he was riding the same track (different group) and doing stuff I didn't think physics would allow.
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rikhek
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rikhek 3/20/2019 8:02am
3/20/2019 8:02am Edited Date/Time 3/20/2019 8:54am
Hey guys, take a tip from a 58 year old who's been riding for 48+ years. The goal is to stay ahead of them. Better to feed them dirt than eat it yourself Wink

Reynard's is my home track and I get to be on track with a lot of the fast guys. Most people aren't aware of just how many fast pros call Oklahoma/Reynard's home. Robbie teaches and trains them right!

Also nice having "Angus" as my riding buddy as I get free Pixie Stix's! Just as nice getting Benny's leftover/unused KTM parts and pieces. I was sad when Benny changed from #60 to #29 as I never had to buy graphics. I've run #60 since before Benny was born and getting his spare/leftover graphics has kept my bike looking great. These guys get mountains of swag sent to them on a very regular basis.

Hell, the FLY gear I'm wearing in the pic is from Benny. When FLY sent him mountains of the 2019 stuff he had a bunch of 2018 still on the shelf. I mention this as I'm sure many of you thought that was Benny in the pic based on the blinding pace and form...


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captmoto
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captmoto 3/20/2019 8:41am
3/20/2019 8:41am
moto314 wrote:
Living in SoCal for 18 years I got to ride (get passed) by lots of great pros, McGrath, Emig, Ward, RV, Alessi, Grant, Dubach, and many...
Living in SoCal for 18 years I got to ride (get passed) by lots of great pros, McGrath, Emig, Ward, RV, Alessi, Grant, Dubach, and many more. But nobody blew past me like Bubba did on his KX250 at Glen Helen. I am still in shock 14 years later!
Like you there are probably too many to mention but one that really stands out is the time I hear faster riders coming I think I'll stay inside on a sweeper turn and they'll go outside. Out of nowhere a huge BRAAAAP and Greg Albertyne goes by inside where there didn't appear to be a line. That one really startled me so much I pulled off. At 62 years old no I have no intention of getting out there with any of them. I don't want to be that guy that tangles with a top pro and causes him to sit out or possible end a career. They get enough of that with their own guys.
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peelout
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peelout 3/20/2019 8:59am
3/20/2019 8:59am Edited Date/Time 3/20/2019 8:59am
MC did a fatass whip past me on a big off-camber double at the Day-In-The-Dirt back in '04 or '05. i looked over at him in the air and he was pancaked and looking over at me. i still go from 6 to midnight thinking about it, bro
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Millerrr973
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Millerrr973 3/20/2019 9:07am
3/20/2019 9:07am
Last Summer, first time in California and first time at Glen Helen. Full on Stop Watch National and Anderson blew by me first lap. ?
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mattyhamz2
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mattyhamz2 3/20/2019 9:13am
3/20/2019 9:13am
Oh man. Growing up in SoCal I have a few of these stories.

Glen Helen in 09 RV went flying by me a few times. I've been #2 for my entire life. Unfortunately a rider went down before going back onto the start straight so I stopped at the top of the tunnel jump and none other than RV pulled up and stopped next to me. My gf at the time didn't take a picture of the only time I wanted a picture from all day. Still pissed about that.

Glen Helen 08 Grant was out there. I somehow stayed in front of him up Mt Saint Helen and lead him down the hill. Across the bottom of the valley water had settled and there were super deep ruts. I checked up so I didn't wad myself up and Grant never once let off and went flying by me. I felt like a wuss.

Perris 09 RV, Dungey, Josh Hill, Peick and a few others. RV and Dungey went flying up the inside of me and made me feel like I was standing still. Later that day I felt like I was haulin' ass! I dove to the inside of a left hander and Josh Hill went wide open, standing up around the outside. I've never felt so slow in my life. My confidence was destroyed at that moment.

Milestone 08 with Peick, Travis Baker and a bunch of other pros on a Wednesday when they had the main and vet track put together. You ever feel good on the bike and want your confidence broken? Go follow the pros around So Cal during nationals. You'll be humbled and broken down real quick! Laughing
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AZ35
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AZ35 3/20/2019 9:16am
3/20/2019 9:16am
Late 1987, Blythe raceway for the Western States Memorial Race (in honor of Kyle Fleming, Bruce Bunch, Rick Hemme).

First race on my new 88 YZ250, it was a full 250 pro class so I went and staged early to get a good spot. Not like it would have mattered, too many big names and fast So Cal pros for me to even hope for anything better than top 20.

I lined up near the inside, then Doug Dubach lines up inside of me. Oh great.

Then seconds later, Broc Glover lines up on the other side. Holy shit, I am screwed. Needless to say, 10' out of the gate they were both gone and roosting the shit out of me.

I think that was Broc's last race on a Yamaha, he was off to Europe for 1988 with KTM for his final season. I recall he showed up in a white dually truck with one of his friends, no mechanics and no box vans for Broc or Doug.

I wish I would have told someone to take a picture of us on the gate, at least it would have looked like I belonged. Until the gate dropped...

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Airick
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Airick 3/20/2019 9:37am
3/20/2019 9:37am Edited Date/Time 3/20/2019 10:16am
On 80s in the 90s, laped by RC at the E-town Race of Champions. It was RC's last race on a 80 and they raffled off his bike and Casey Clark won it. Felt bad for getting lapped at the time, but he turned out to be pretty good...
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seth505
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seth505 3/20/2019 9:40am
3/20/2019 9:40am
Roczen at Pala, holy shit he scrubbed past me going mach1.
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Ken202
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Ken202 3/20/2019 9:41am
3/20/2019 9:41am Edited Date/Time 3/20/2019 9:43am
1980 Ponca City NMA Nationals- I pulled the holeshot in the 100 class and up front going into the back section. Through a small one-lined area, or so I thought, Ron Lechien slipped by me wide freakin’ open. All I saw was his hunched over style steady pulling away. I’ve never seen anyone ride so fast. Before and since.
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Pit Row

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devindavisphoto 3/20/2019 9:52am
3/20/2019 9:52am
Dean Wilson tried taking me out at Glen Helen once. I don't blame him though.
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jeffro503
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jeffro503 3/20/2019 10:04am
3/20/2019 10:04am
Last summer , during the 125 dream race practice , I had big #3 Mike Brown run me wide in a corner , elbow to elbow and completely leave me in the dust within a couple corners. It was glorious!
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motoman617
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motoman617 3/20/2019 10:04am
3/20/2019 10:04am
When I moved up to Open Intermediate they sometimes ran us with the pro practice. At Indian Dunes Johnny O’ flew over me on a double jump and Donnie Hansen went by me in corner like I was standing still. Still to this day I think those guys were Aliens because no human could go that fast.
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Just south of Paradise... 3/20/2019 10:09am
3/20/2019 10:09am
jingram4 wrote:
was 18, drove out to california for the lake elsinore national. Went to glen helen on thursday just knowing it was an iconic track and wanting...
was 18, drove out to california for the lake elsinore national. Went to glen helen on thursday just knowing it was an iconic track and wanting to putt my 250 around. not knowing Thursdays were/are pro days.
Josh grant passed me down hill at what seemed like warp speed. Then bagget and AC on a kx100 blew past me in the rythms by the stands. I went up to joshs box truck asked him for a pair of goggles, he took the sweaty ones off his helmet and threw them at me. Pretty cool, i wore those trick Oakley goggles out over the next couple seasons.
This made me laugh, because I made that mistake as well. We live in Nor Cal, but passing through Southern California on a Thursday in January 2016, had to hit Glen Helen. A bunch of MXGP guys were there getting ready for their season. I got passed in the air by Gautier Paulin on the hip jump, I literally could have touched him he was so close as he flew by. We both were almost cleaned out. I thought, what the heck am I doing out here, and what the heck are these guys doing out here on a track with over 100 other dudes of such various speed and skill level???? We caught up with Gautier and Bobryshev over at the Honda van, they were very nice (though it must get annoying for them), took pictures with my kids, gave them stickers, etc. Thursdays at Glen Helen are a cool experience, but not necessarily the best riding conditions!
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jingram4
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jingram4 3/20/2019 10:15am
3/20/2019 10:15am Edited Date/Time 3/20/2019 10:16am
jingram4 wrote:
was 18, drove out to california for the lake elsinore national. Went to glen helen on thursday just knowing it was an iconic track and wanting...
was 18, drove out to california for the lake elsinore national. Went to glen helen on thursday just knowing it was an iconic track and wanting to putt my 250 around. not knowing Thursdays were/are pro days.
Josh grant passed me down hill at what seemed like warp speed. Then bagget and AC on a kx100 blew past me in the rythms by the stands. I went up to joshs box truck asked him for a pair of goggles, he took the sweaty ones off his helmet and threw them at me. Pretty cool, i wore those trick Oakley goggles out over the next couple seasons.
Just south of Paradise... wrote:
This made me laugh, because I made that mistake as well. We live in Nor Cal, but passing through Southern California on a Thursday in January...
This made me laugh, because I made that mistake as well. We live in Nor Cal, but passing through Southern California on a Thursday in January 2016, had to hit Glen Helen. A bunch of MXGP guys were there getting ready for their season. I got passed in the air by Gautier Paulin on the hip jump, I literally could have touched him he was so close as he flew by. We both were almost cleaned out. I thought, what the heck am I doing out here, and what the heck are these guys doing out here on a track with over 100 other dudes of such various speed and skill level???? We caught up with Gautier and Bobryshev over at the Honda van, they were very nice (though it must get annoying for them), took pictures with my kids, gave them stickers, etc. Thursdays at Glen Helen are a cool experience, but not necessarily the best riding conditions!
hah thats great!!
After I got passed by JG I did another 2 laps and thats when AC and BB passed me. I promptly exited the track and watched for the rest of the day and played around on the endurocross track haha. Just being on the track with guys that fast will spook you.
ktmdan
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ktmdan 3/20/2019 10:24am
3/20/2019 10:24am
Justin Soule passed me in the timed qualifying for the last man standing race years ago. He came up on me so fast that it scared me and I ended up launching off a single jump going way to fast. I ended up snapping the frame where my foot peg attaches when I landed and had to finish with one foot peg.
MxMobster471
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MxMobster471 3/20/2019 10:31am
3/20/2019 10:31am
When I was on 85's 2004-06ish I was lapped by the likes of Nico Izzi, Zach Osborne, Sean Liponavich and Gannon Audette (All at different LL Qualifiers or Pro-ams at Bremen MX in GA). I'm sure there are some other household names I am forgetting but those three passed me so fast everything seemed to slow down when they came by. For those of you that grew up in the ranks of the Southeast here are some other honorable mentions: Jase Lewis, Derek Rogers, Grant Ransdell.

WMX Pro's count, right? Leah Cantrell had her hand on the throttle like she wasn't coming back at Big Cedar Mx in Valley, Alabama. She was there with whichever Renner she was dating I believe. My Dad still gives me shit about it. Lol. Chick could haul ass.
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Titan1
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Titan1 3/20/2019 10:44am
3/20/2019 10:44am
I love stories like these. Thanks for sharing.

I watch local pros ride...and I can't imagine that its possible to go faster on a dirt bike. They never seem to be off the gas, ever. How could anyone go faster?

So where are the national pros making up all their time, that they'd make a local pro guys look slow? How do they go so fast?
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mattyhamz2
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mattyhamz2 3/20/2019 10:48am
3/20/2019 10:48am
Did you ever race CMC?
Muscle-Milk-KTM 3/20/2019 11:13am
3/20/2019 11:13am
Rotaholic wrote:
I've ridden a few of my favourite local tracks here and have been passed like I was standing still by Levi Sherwood (he can rail on...
I've ridden a few of my favourite local tracks here and have been passed like I was standing still by Levi Sherwood (he can rail on a dirt bike) Paul Whibley (still fast as on a motocross track) Shane King (he was on his cr500) Courtney Duncan, Cody Cooper, Darryl Hurley, plus many other kiwi legends. Love that our sport can have those kind of moments.
Polishhammer wrote:
What happened to Courtney Duncan? I remember she was flying at hangtown on a 125 years ago. Looked fast! Excellent corner speed.
Last few years she’s been riding the WMX series alongside the GP’s
devindavisphoto 3/20/2019 11:14am
3/20/2019 11:14am
I passed Blake Baggett once... he lapped me and crashed Laughing



He flew past me the following straightaway and I never saw him again Tongue
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mattyhamz2
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mattyhamz2 3/20/2019 11:25am
3/20/2019 11:25am
What's your name? My dad and I worked the gate/raced and my mom worked scoring.

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