Edited Date/Time:
This past Sunday it was time to race the Alta Redshift MX at the Palmyra NY motocross track.
I signed up for the two fastest classes offered, +40B and +50. OK, maybe not the fastest but the most experienced.
The Alta worked great, and I *almost* got what might have been the first moto win, and overall, for an Alta in local motocross. In my +50 class I got the holeshot in the first moto (thank you, map 4) and then got passed about halfway through the first lap, and I held onto second place.
I am friends with the guy that got first, and after the moto we were talking about two of the bigger jumps that we both weren't doing, and we both agreed that it wasn't worth it.
So, in the second moto I get the holeshot again (thank you, map 4), and led for about half a lap, got passed, and then the guy in the lead (my friend) tipped over in a corner, and I got the lead back. I led for the next 2 laps, and he passed me back. Dammit! I sucked it up, passed him back, and thought that maybe I should have ran him over when he tipped over in front of me, so that he stayed down a little longer. I pulled away a bit, and then with less than half a lap to go, and I thought I had a moto win in the bag. We come up to one of the big jumps we weren't doing... and he does it and lands next to me. WTF?! We go into the next corner side by side, and then come down a hill, and head towards another big step-up jump that we both weren't doing... and he does this one! Double WTF?! This got him a bike length ahead of me when we crossed the finish line.
Obviously his 1-1 beat my 2-2, and when we talked afterwards, I reminded him of the "agreement" we had with those two jumps but it didn't change anything. I made a mental note that if it happens again that if he tips over in front of me again I will stand on his bike until I make sure it is not running, twist the throttle a few times to flood it, and then maybe pull off his spark plug cap. Is that poor sportsmanship?
As I mentioned, the Alta worked great, but with that said, I just ordered heavier fork springs and a heavier shock spring for it. On some tracks the suspension works great, while on others I think the heavier suspension will hold up my 220 pound well-chiseled physique (and beer belly) better.
On a side note, in my recent issue of Dirt Rider, they have a "Long Haul" report of the 2017 Yamaha YZ250FX. where they talk about the bike over their 33 hours of use. Here is my "Long Haul" report on the Alta:
Primary use: motocross
Main mods: more aggressive footpegs, soon to be heavier fork springs, and heavier shock spring
Moment of glory: several plaques/trophies, hopefully a first coming soon
Forgettable experiences: getting stuck and pinned in by the Alta in a mud pit
Hours: ~35? 471.6 miles.
Aftermath: 0 oil changes, 3 rear tires, 2 front tires, 0 air filter cleanings, grips
Alta Redshidt MX: Ride. Wash. Lube chain. Repeat.
