We went into Vegas with high spirits after doing so well in Texas! But, as we got closer things started to change and it just seemed like it was going to be a struggle to follow up our great results.
First Tony Blood and Vince Freise both broke their collar bones on the same weekend on different sides of the country. Then on the way to Vegas we got a flat on the 18 wheeler, we get that fixed and are making great time. We drove till about three in the morning, because somewhere around Amarillo, it starts snowing! Now, we are south Texas boys and snow to us is like Paris Hilton without a sex tape. None existent. So, we stopped and had a quick nap of about an hour and a half with Naveen and I in the front of Dave’s truck, because the generator would not start and it was 20 degrees outside.
BUT AT LEAST IT IS NOT WINDY!
We got going again, trying desperately to get back on schedule, only to have the highway completely covered by ice and snow. It took us 7 hours to go 14 miles! We had so much time in one place, that Naveen and I worked on the generator and got it going again. 36 hours to get to Vegas, it usually takes about 24, man it was the worst ever, but we made it. The next day as we are setting up, the Mays family stops to say high and they have Justin Barcia with them. Justin immediately tells me he is sick! DANG! I tell him to go get some rest, and finish setting up our pits.
BUT AT LEAST IT IS NOT WINDY!
Practice gets started and all of our guys are really riding great, the track has not changed in a couple years so we has some good set ups! Trent Pugmire was on fire, Brandon Mays was hauling the mail, Jase Lewis was on a high speed pursuit, Christian Craig was on rails, and Justin Starling was putting the hurt on the track. So, there you have our team, The Fireman, The Mailman, The Po Po, The Train Conductor, and The EMT. The first race in our public service team was Trent. He gets a bad start and is working his way through the pack when he crashes really hard on a drop off jump. Trent separated his shoulder and will require surgery. Then Brandon goes out and rides but says he does not feel well. He comes back and is completely exhausted. His parents took him to the hospital, where they find out he has strep throat, bronchitis, and asthma. DANG!
BUT AT LEAST IT IS NOT WINDY!
Jase goes out and wins the 125 or 250f Pro or whatever first moto, and then is second in the 450 Pro right behind Trey Canard, when a rock hits him and knocks the lens out of his goggles, filling them up with dirt. Then he is in second in the other 450 Pro class and losses his rear brakes! He was still top five in every class he entered.
NOW IT GETS WINDY!
And I mean real windy, they estimated about 60 miles an hour but it felt like a 100. At least we had Dave there to hold down the EZ ups!
Christian Craig has really been improving and won the 150cc four stroke class. He went into the 14-15 Stock class with a 1st and we got his bike running really well before his main event. He goes out and hole shots and was running away, when he started losing power, then a bunch of smoke starts blowing out the exhaust and he stopped. Turns out the right side crankcase seal blew out. That almost never happens, almost!
Justin Starling was in second in his stock class and was having a great battle when on the last lap, one of the riders he was racing with lost control and cleaned his clock, taking him completely out of the stock class. He pulled through with some great finishes in all his other classes even though he was really beat up.
I am really stoked with a couple of my support riders. Brad Frace has continued to show some amazing talent. I watched him come from way back to win a couple motos. Watch out for this kid, ounce we get his starts figured out, he will win! Josh Alvarez has been doing great in the novice class also, and I am really proud of him.
Thanks for all the support!
Honda of Houston sponsors:
American Honda
Pro Honda Oils
Honda Riders Club of America
Fox
Dunlop Tire
Scott Goggles
Wiseco
Pro Clean 1000
Engine Ice
Bent Clothing
Hot Cams
Pivot Works
Hot Rods
EVS
Throttle Jockey
PPG
Renthal
D.I.D.
FMF
AC Racing
Twin Air
Rockford Fosgate
ASV Inventions
Shaun Martin
Honda of Houston
Honda of Houston Racing
Lake Whitney Motocross
