Your moto regrets

I missed the 2006 washougal national. Wish I had that back.

Was a local pro in the Saddleback days. Not much money to go race but wish I would have committed more and raced a few of the local nationals.

I was growing into a decent off-road racer from 16-18, but started boozing and doing drugs. I've been sober for 4 years and really grinding, but I'm 27 now and know that window is long gone. Being a lazy drunk from 2016-2019 really hurt my development and what could have been a decent shot at being a nationally ranked off-road guy. If I could go back in time...

Congrats on getting sober. Keep up the good work dude.

Trying to jump that triple when I was 18. The jump was bigger than my talent. My wrist hurts every day. 

Taking a 14 year break from riding from  2001-2015 after some injuries because i listened to everyone telling me it’s dangerous and i needed to be responsible and concentrate on work/life. 

Oh… and purchasing a 1998 CR250 🤦‍♂️

Trying to jump the new step up at opmc . In the rain, with ruined goggles. 

My shoulder wakes me up every night. 

Selling everything and walking away from the sport in my 30s to focus on my career.

No regrets there. I'd call being sober a huge win. You are only 27, personally I didn't hit my prime until somewhere in my mid thirties (riding/racing off-road). Get out there and get after it!

Running out of money...

Not putting in the effort when I was racing in 07-12. I'd come off the track pissed that I wasn't running with the top 3, but it was because I didn't train and put in the work I should have. My pops tried telling me but I was 16-21 so I thought I knew it all. Girls also played a roll in my "priorities" and the ones I was messing around with at the time were no good. I regret not trying 100%, especially because I feel my speed could have and should have been so much better than it was/is. Lesson for the younger guys, Listen to your Dad. He knows best.

Yep I suppose I learned some hard lessons! I've had some great opportunities racing in the last few years. Not planning on slowing down anytime soon. 

Not racing more often… ….Not racing a 125… … not working on my weaknesses…not letting injuries heal completely….. not listening to my body, running myself down with over training….

Not getting into it more after moving out of my parents. As soon as I moved out I really couldn't afford motocross so for 6 years or so I didn't ride at all as I didn't have a bike or truck to use. I was solely focused on school and my career. Back then interest rates were pretty bad but not terrible, I should have just got the loans and kept riding. Although now I am able to afford new bikes, new trucks, etc... I should have "betted on myself" more back when I was younger. 

I wish I could go back and not have had my riding buddy putting eye drops into my drinks for the entire time I was racing. I always felt sick and had very bad diarrhea . I thought it was nerves. And the funny thing is at the few races I went to without him I ended up doing well and it felt very easy strangely.  Years down the road I read an interview  in a local MX magazine and he said that was the "best prank" or "funniest thing" , something like that.  Recently I've been going through old video after digitizing it to put on Youtube and I can see days that I looked like  2 different riders .

The other thing I would do different ,  I would have either not raced the Arenacross I raced , or not been out so late the night before it . I had 3 or 4 hours of sleep ,and crashed crushed my left foot and dramatically changing the course of the next 12 years of my life. But a lot of good has come from the things I had to do during those years . So I don't feel as much regret about that one. And hey maybe the eye drop situation  set the course for the better too. Even though it makes me wonder if I may have been able to do more results wise . Maybe that hunger I still feel , keeps me motivated.        

23 years old, racing the German JR Pokal Series, got a European Discharge, had a job lined up on post as a civilian. Finished 2nd in the North 250CC ADAC Championship against the Kramer Maico Rider in 1975 who rode 2 classses, I was riding one class on a CZ.

Finished 3rd in the South 250CC ADAC Championship against the Kramer Maico Rider in 1975 who rode 2 classses and the Maico Factory Rider who also rode 2 classes (riding Hans Maichs year old factory bikes).

Earned my International MX License.

I was fastest qualifier at the End Lauf (no points awarded) riding a friends Maico, got the whole shot in the 1st Moto, slid out in a technical corner and broke my collorbone.

It was not meant to happen! Couldn't take the job, had no place to stay.....

What could of -  might of happened in the next few years if I had not taken my free flight back to the states

Is that guy still your friend?  I would have throttled that guy if a found that out! 

I wish I had been more chill with my kid when he was little at the track. Like, I was super easily frustrated when he was in a tantrum or being a little dick. 

Older, I have more patience now. Even when I was super pissed off, I was having the best moments of my life.

I have a few that were small things that led to big injuries. My wife is regretting that last lap on the woods loop last Sunday as she sits at home with a torn ACL right now. I had to remind her not to beat yourself up about it regretting doing that last lap because like any other regrets it does you more harm than good to dwell on it! 

X2...Pissing away opportunities because of lack of effort.  If I put as much in my training as chasing pussy, I would've done a lot more in the sport.

I’m with you dude. I have no doubt in my mind I could have made it to a fast b or even local a if I would have put half the effort into riding/racing that I did chasing tail. Live and learn, but damn it’s hard not to think about sometimes. 

Buying the 1981 YZ125 instead of the RM. Should have sold that and bought the RM. Repeated same bonehead move the following year , but sold the 2 month old YZ250 and replaced it with a CR250. Only other regret would be telling my friends I didn’t have enough money for The Wall concert tickets because I needed it for my riding. Bad decision. That’s one memory I wish I had. 

Dating a girl that was into the sport before I met her. Sounds cool in theory but in fact is not. 

I regret not taking MX racing as far as I could take it in the late 70's, early 80's.  It would've been incredible to see if I could've gone pro and beat the best.  I did other things, so it's all good, but I simply love motocross.

I'll be racing a lot beginning next summer.  Planning on racing the Vet World Championship at Glen Helen next year.

That, and the Blu Cru race.

Discovering titties. I am convinced that the power of the titty ruined my chances at a pro career. I’m sure I am not alone here…. 😎

Not really, but not because of that.  I think it was about 4 or more years that had passed by ,by the time I found out. And at the time I was dealing with that other regret , the messed up foot.  That started out being pinned together, not healing and bone dieing, getting fused, not healing again and getting infected  and breaking hardware, Multiple operations to remove infected bone and tissue , then a bone graft and more hardware, before I knew it, 12 years had passed by from the original injury . My Garage, (2) 450's, my tools, truck and most of my stuff was lost in a fire during the time I was dealing with the foot issue.  That along with starting my own business as a full time deal also during that time. A lot was going on to distract me.  And he found other people that would put up with his sense of humor . 

    I figured that I've had a lot of disasters and drama in my life, and always have tried to turn my weaknesses into strengths. I was thinking how can I turn all of these stories, and disasters into a positive. Youtube eats up that kind of stuff, so I figured I would make a Youtube channel showing how I am a real life walking disaster and also show some of the cool fun stuff that goes on in my life. While going through the video footage I accumulated over the years I have been reminded of that eye drop incident. And watching myself ride over a period of 4 or so years, I could see big ups and downs with my riding. So it kinda reopened an old bitterness. But it has been overall fun to watch . And makes me want to go out and ride.

I know that my life overall has been great, and others have had things much worse. I have friends that are impacted much more than I am by their past injuries. I'm lucky that most of my other injuries healed up enough to not bother me in most of my day to day life. Sorry to make this so long.     

Quitting in 84 after having a great year and a couple of offers to continue. 

I won my first race because of some great tits. Well and the promise made by the girl . It all started out with her feet and next thing I know I won a race the next day.  Went 2-1  and it was my second race ever. The first one I had gotten hurt and DNF'd so I don't think she thought a win was possible....  Little did she know it was all a plan..... Not really but it worked out in the end. 

I quit at 20 and ran a similar program as you from age 24 to 29. Got a bike at 29 and now at 31 I'm doing my best riding yet. I race local expert classes and I didn't think I'd ever get my shit together.

When you're as ignorant as me...you'd think I'd be full of regret.  Coulda, woulda, shoulda...I honestly don't have the time or brain power to dwell on my mistakes...just too many of 'em.  

I do wish I had taken a 125 to Europe instead of the 400.  I wasn't ready for the big time. Kaa Sara Sara.