Racing All 11 Rounds of Pro Motocross on a YZ250 2 Stroke - Follow Along

LocalMB wrote:

What's going on Vital Nation,  My names Matt Burkeen and I'm back for another year of Pro Motocross on the YZ250 2 stroke, and this time...

What's going on Vital Nation, 

My names Matt Burkeen and I'm back for another year of Pro Motocross on the YZ250 2 stroke, and this time we are set to do all 11 rounds for the season!  I did a thread like this last year detailing my experiences and everyone seemed to be into it so figured I would do it again for this year and keep all of you guys along for the ride!  I've actually been having nothing but problems pretty much this entire year with injuries, miscellaneous health issues, and disastrous sponsor predicaments but we have left that in the past and are looking forward to one hell of a fun summer with some amazing people helping me make it possible!  I wasn't even going to race at all this summer, I had all but called it for the year but with the insane number of injuries in the 450 class this summer it was going to kill me to not at least give it my best shot to see if I could try to take advantage of the situation. 

Last year was a fun year being able to qualify for every race but one, but this year I'm really looking to try to improve in the motos.  Last year I truly feel like my moto performances were pathetic, but with that being said I am also trying to continue to remind myself that I'm coming in this year with a far from perfect situation so if it doesn't go as well as I'd hope we're still going to smile, enjoy the experience, and make the most of whatever situations we are put in!  I would have never expected what I was doing last year to grow like it did, I thought last year was going to be my only year doing it but here we are for year 2 and we're stoked for it!

Headed out for the west coast on Monday morning in my pickup truck solo at 5 in the morning and after 36 hours of driving and 5 hours of sleep in the front seat of my truck we made it here to SoCal on Tuesday night.  I'm all about a road trip but I was pretty smoked when I arrived and even still right now am not feeling all that great, but hoping we are feeling good just in time for Saturday.  Was able to ride the media day at Pala today and definitely felt a bit like a guy that's been in his truck for a couple days, but I had some flashes of good speed so I thought and enjoyed the track.  Was a very full track as the factory session only had about 15 bikes on track while ours seemed to have at least 50.  Good practice for in case I get boned and put into B practice for Saturday morning 

 

 Headed out tomorrow back to Fox raceway to hit tech and watch some amateur day action, excited to watch my little buddy that I used to train a few years ago Braxtyn Mes who I am staying with while I'm here and also Bryan Haskell on the new Stark Varg!  Super excited to spend the next couple days at the track getting to see all my old moto friends and getting to meet all you awesome fans that love the 2 stroke and the YouTube content!  It's been so cool where all of this has taken me and I truly appreciate everyone that comes up to say hi at the races or cheers me on even when I'm sucking back in 30th place.  It means a lot to me and for lack of better words it's just really damn cool!!

Would never be able to do this without all my awesome supporters.  For starters my family, my girlfriend, and my girlfriend's dad Greg (AKA superfan) have been incredibly supportive and a huge help, can't wait for my girlfriend to fly in and join me for Thunder Valley and the road trip home!  Huge thank you to my title sponsor HBI Auto, Billy has been amazing with the support and the knowledge and ideas he has given me will help me for a lifetime!  LTD, which is owned by Larry Winters who was the old owner of the brand Serious Racewear if any of you guys remember it they had some great apparel!  Larry reached out to help with the program this year and I couldn't be more thankful.  The Hushon Family from Dean Hushon Insulation has had my back for more years than I can count and definitely would be screwed without them.  AOMC hooked me up with an awesome parts deal and an affiliate link to help me make some revenue through their site which has been an amazing form of support. South of the Border MX Training Facility has been great to me for years and years, if I fade in the motos I promise it is not their fault its all on me!!  Dusty at Real Ink Graphics and Kenny Day at Fox have me looking better than I ever have and I couldn't be more stoked on their support!  I believe I am meeting up with the guys from FMF to get a new pipe tomorrow so very thrilled on that and a big thank you to them!   Maynard Racing Performance has my Race Tech Gold Valves set up amazing, it's all up to me now.  Miserable Clothing and Chris Reisenberg at RaceTech/AirWheeliesOnly are helping support my Millville Trip, KMS Heating & Cooling is helping take great care of me for the northeast rounds, American Label Technology will be on board for Budds Creek, and Central Virginia Exterminating has been a great help for me as well.  Last but not least, thank you to Jeff Cernic at MXTire for always taking care of me, Talbott Enterprises, The Cooper Family, Victory Sports Racing, and if I somehow forgot anyone its only because the remainder of my brain cells are left on I40 West.  If you've made it this far I'll stop being an infomercial now, thank you all for digging the 2 stroke and hopefully I give everyone more of a reason to cheer for it this year!!  See you all at the races

 

alphado wrote:

We need Matty B. merch to buy!

Teej317 wrote:

2023 outdoor champ. Stamped. 

Cobbler wrote:

No Choice buttpatch needed ASAP. If someone would make a big batch of these I think you could sell them for some race cash. I'd buy...

No Choice buttpatch needed ASAP.

If someone would make a big batch of these I think you could sell them for some race cash. I'd buy a few for sure. Maybe if someone knows a person who can make them?