This weekend kicked off the Lodi Cycle Bowl season with a two day opener. Saturday was the TT race which ran late into the night with the last race ending at 1:30 AM. We are in still in the process of setting up our Rod Lake sponsored DTX 450 for TT's, so I rode my framer on Sunday. My racing experience started at 6:30AM Sunday morning when my father and I loaded the truck and headed off to the track. We arrived with just enough time to sign up, unload and get dressed before it was time for practice.

The track was very wet my first practice but all felt like it was going well. The second practice the track had come in quite a bit and I could tell the gear choice we made was going to be spot on. My first heat came and it was for the Lodi Money class. I got a great start and led half of the race. Patrick McNamara snuck up the inside me and I was unable to get by him the rest of the race. My second heat was for the Open A class. A less the perfect start got me off the line in 4th. I knew I had my work cut out for me since only the top 2 transfered to the main. I slowly and methodically worked past the three riders ahead of me for the win, putting me in the dash for cash. The dash was almost a picture perfect race I got the hole shot and led from there but for some reason the bike was cutting out. After an on track thank you to my sponsors I headed to the pits to see what was wrong. My father drained the float bowl and some crud was in the bottom. He cleaned the jets and I got ready for the mains.

Lined up for the lodi money race we were off I got the hole shot but was passed into the next corner by my A&A racing teammate Chad Cose. His pass was short lived because I managed to hold it on longer into the corner. The race had to be restarted on account of a 5 bike pile-up in turn 4. With two riders taken to the hospital the race was off again. This time luckily I was unchallenged and relaxed after the first lap adrenaline rush and stayed up for a win. This race the ignition or gas problem got worse every lap, but I had one more race.

As we lined up for the Open A main the national anthem was sung and the lights were off. I got off the line in second and was soon passed after a bobble coming out of turn 2 by Brad Baker I managed to get back by for another lap to be passed again. By now the strange problem I was having was really taking a toll on my riding. I was coming out of the corners pinned and the bike would hook up then die and almost spit me off. I knew I had had a successful day already and couldn't afford an injury so I pulled off the track and watched the rest off the main.

It was a good experience and I got to represent my sponsors well. Hopefully next time I'll have a little more luck!

THANKS AGAIN TO ALL MY SPONSORS: Weirbach Racing, A&A Racing, Digger Helm 57, Rod Lake Rebel gear, SlideWays Racing, Top One, Hlebo Bros, Supertrapp, Dainese, AGV Helmets, MDK Motorsports, TnT Honda, Raceimage, JGPhotowerx, #12, Calco Fence, JD Cahill Electric, Barnett clutches, General Engineering, Wiseco, K&N filters,Motion Pro, Spectro oil, Engine Ice, Saddlemen, Spider grips, G2 Ergonomics, Bob Berry Racing, Firecoat Powder Coating, Boyesen, VP Midwest fuel, Cycra racing, Foudree Graphics, Engine Ice, Regina chain, Pingel Products, Durelle Racing, Performance Machine, Cheney Engineering.