Story time: When a pro flew past you

Thanks Mav.

In the mid-70's a buddy of mine and I made the journey to SoCal from Tucson to hit some local tracks. I was a rank novice on a 125 Elsinore and he was a local pro on a Bultaco. We hit Irwindale on a Wednesday night, I recall somewhere else on Friday and then went to Saturday Saddleback.

In morning open practice at Saddleback I went out on a track I had read about for years. After about a lap I was passed on both sides by a pack going way faster than I was. I glanced up through the dirt and rocks being thrown my way and saw some names on the back of jerseys such as Semics, Hart, Karsmakers, DeSoto, etc. I decided then that I was truly unworthy...and that I should remain a lawyer and not think about a pro MX career...LOL.

I watched the pro motos and noticed a young guy on a Husky 250 with a Steve Hurd MC jersey. After seeing him race I thought this Hannah kid may go somewhere...

As an aside, we intended to hit Carlsbad on Sunday, but when the alarm went off early that morning I could not reach up to turn the light on I was so sore. We decided to call it a day and head home...

Good times.

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John Natalie block passed me and immediately sent the big triple at Montreal SX. I thought to myself, if he can clear it after taking that line, I can surely do it from the outside.

the next lap I had myself a broken wrist. Evidently those guys have more than a ported head and a high comp piston.

I've never been fast enough to warrant being on the same track with any pros that would have "flown past me".

I once raced the Muddobbers National Enduro on minute 15. Pros and AA riders started minute 21 through 40ish. There was 7 sections and a reset before each section. I got passed by practically every pro and every AA rider, every section! I felt like Ricky Bobby after his crash. I surely didn't want to be the douche that blocked a pro so I felt like I was always getting out of the way and it hurt my own race. I did roost the hell out of Mike Lafferty during a drainage crossing, but I couldn't get out of the way in slop.

November 2005 I was riding at Pax Trax on a random Tuesday afternoon. Justin Barcia was down here prior to the Mini Os. He passed me on his 85 like I was standing still, more than once. I wound up sitting in the grandstands enjoying the show for a bit. I wasn't alone. He was crazy fast on that CR. I was also passed by Ashley Fiolek at North Florida Motocross. She was practicing corners with her trainer but then she started hammering laps. It was midweek and we were the only two at the track. She could really go. Musta been 2008 or so.

As a former expert line selector and line selector analyst. I can’t say a pro ever blew my bars off. Sneak out for practice at the nationals with the pros. Just keep it taped in a high gear. Millville whoops is the place to smoke some pros.

Yes, at or local track in roughly 99, from the inside, Justin Homan tripled past me in 2nd, when I couldn't make it from elsewhere in 3rd.

He actually pointed back at me. Fucker!

Around 10 years back or more, I was riding Glen Helen on Thursday. Coming off Talladega, down a straight and headed for the corner. I let off and hear my friend (fast Intermediate) still on the gas come by me. Then he lets off and you hear someone else still on the gas come by both of us. I look up threw the smoke and on the very, very inside It's the big red #1 Villipoto. I was smiling, shocked and afraid at the same time.

I've be fortunate to be passed bye many a pro through the years. And this is the most recent one. Doug Henry blew pass me right after this picture was snapped. Happened on the road course section at this weekends Day in the Dirt at Dade City Raceway here in Florida.
Josh Grant and Ronnie Renner also blew past many of us normal folks to this weekend.