2017 NMA Off-Road Series Rd#9 RIMROCK GRAND PRIX

Due to weather conditions round #9 was to be at Rimrock Lake for the annual Dust Dodgers Rimrock GP.  This is the only venue I've raced before so I felt good about this weekend.  At this point I can't pressure 1st place for the series, so for me it was maintaining 2nd, and 3rd and 4th point holders weren't making that an easy task.   

Weather prior to the race was perfect until race day... chance of rain all day.  And it rained the entire trip to Rimrock Lake where the rain finally subsided.  Last year racing this GP I was very much under the weather with the flu and fever making it a painful race but I managed to pull a 1st in the Vet B with sickness, running out of fuel, flat tires, and yard-sailing it twice.  I was pretty pumped this year because my health was on point and after re-jetting for the elevation I was confident with my bike. 

My start was not glorious by any means and I predicted that with my starting line choice of getting pinched in the first corner, which is exactly what happened unfortunately.  I think I started around 8th or 9th place, which wasn't bad out of nearly 20 riders in the Open B class, but I knew I had much more and really didn't want to be behind the pack in the dust limiting me from really turning it on.  Luckily there was a slight breeze that helped with the dust and I was able to slowly start picking people off.  At one point I knew I was in 2nd but then I ended up getting passed by a couple riders that I thought were in my class and figured that a good finish was not likely this year.  Conditions were perfect and the track was awesome, so I buried my ego, thought of my little family and how they rely on me, and decided to enjoy the ride and stay off the ground.  

At this point it was just me, the bike, and an awesome track full of sand, dirt, dust, mud, rocks, logs, etc.  I enjoy the tight technical riding most, but this track is also full of high speeds for those that like going fast!  Conditions were completely perfect and the course was an absolute blast.  I guess when you are really enjoying the ride you do well, and that's just what I did.  First time in the series I was able to pull off a 1st place.  Stoked to the max!  

This was my last race of the year and I plan on missing round #10 due to my hunting season falling on the same date.  My priorities my be a little contrasting to the community here but it's those little things in life that you can't replace and racing comes 2nd to those.    

2017 NMA Off-Road Series Rd#9 Rimrock Grand Prix

Rimrock Lake, WA

Open B Class

1st Place