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"What
am I doing?"
By Dennis Oaks
I got back in the saddle today at Denmark WI. Third district
16 H/S of the season.
Let me start out buy saying that I sold my 450
exc to a good friend; this bike has been awesome and is dialed
in to my liking. Why sell it you ask? Well I ordered a new
bike and had the chance to sell this one now so………..
I took a 300exc on trade though, and this is as most of you
who know me against the grain. I have always ridden a 4-stroke
and have done pretty well with them. But I had this opportunity
and deiced to try it. I went through the bike (every nut and
bolt) and set it up the best I could for this first race on
a 2-stroke.
Denmark is a 2 ½ hour ride north for
me and was able to get there with plenty of time to spare.
I walked around and saw some friends I new and that was good
to see. Feeling ok but not great I dressed a ½ hour
before and headed down to the line. They started us in a moto
style gate but with as always a dead engine (this was different)
I tried to stay real relaxed and just give it what I would
say to be a safe start.
Wow! I didn't expect to get the jump and was
quite surprised as I looked from side to side. Third into
the first corner (on a moto track) and off we went. I suck
at motocross and will be the first to admit it. This was dry
and dusty with lots of hills and off camber turns. The woods
sections were neat but not near enough of them. Laps seemed
to go by quick and I racked up 18 before it was all said and
done. I finished 4th and was dead tired after 2 hours at a
pace I tried to hold the entire race.
The 2-stroke was surprising on power (way more
than a hand full) and could reach speeds down a straight section
that were down right scary! Lots of braking power and lots
of shifting and clutching got my through the day. I did start
to get the hang of it in about the 4th lap and started to
feel more comfortable on it but the power band was always
a quick reminder of what the bike was capable of. The weight
was nice and had to learn a lot during this 2 hour dusty,
rocky, and slippery, pot hole infested ride but I survived
and was happy with the results.
Hope to be a little more prepared and a bit
stronger for the next one!
CLICK
HERE for a short video
See you at the races!
Dennis
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