He's raced a few Napa BMX races since the last post, and I think he's finished third in all of the races that have ranged from 6 Intermediate to 10 Expert last weekend, against Landon and Devin. It's too bad that he doesn't have any competition in his age range in Napa, but having to chase the older and faster kids keeps him hungry!
We've also done two State races in May: one in Roseville, and one at Rusty Bowl BMX in Ukiah (what a cool track!!).
Roseville was Anthony's first race at a different track. Since Alessandra had her last softball game that morning we ended up getting to the track a little late, and with the huge turnout that left Anthony with very little practice at his first race away from home: I don't think he got more than 4 laps of practice. He finished second to last in his first moto, and last in the second. he didn't make the main as there were 12 riders competing for an 8 rider main. Oh, well! I gave him a huge high 5, congratulated him on his first race away from his hoe track, and we headed home.
Despite finishing last our little man had a GREAT TIME! He couldn't stop talking about how much he loved riding on a new track, and started asking when we were going to go to another state race.
Hmmmm....well, since he's so excited, and since daddy was so excited to put the new lightweight wheels and headset on his bike that we picked up in Roseville, I thought that a trip to Rusty Bowl BMX in Ukiah for their state race the following weekend would work out just fine.
I took his bike down the street to Travis on Monday and he told me that by Wednesday he'd have Anthony all ready to go. Wow- what a difference in weight with the new wheels and headset!
When we got to the track for the Wednesday night races the improvements were apparent immediately. Anthony was getting out of the gate like never before, and was just plain FASTER everywhere. The huge gap that Tyler had pulled out on him over the last few months was cut by 2/3 just like that! Being that much closer was a great boost to his confidence.
Anthony raced 7I that night against two 7 year olds and Tyler, and he finished third in all three motos. In the main he was actually within striking distance of Tyler exiting turn 2, but faded a little in the last section. It was such a huge improvement from just the week before; we were very excited.
On Saturday there was a very light turnout at Napa BMX as many were already up in Ukiah for the state race, so Anthony raced 10 Expert against Landon Bousted, and Tyler. It was a total points race, and Anthony finished third.
Anthony was super excited about going to another state race at a new track so a Sunday trip up to Rusty Bowl in Ukiah was the plan, despite temps in the mid 90's (which isn't too bad for up there, but it was a bit of a shock this early in the season. It was a beautiful drive up and we got there before practice started so we had plenty of time to set up and be ready for practice.
Anthony and Tyler buddied up in practice and did almost every lap together. It was great! Anthony was staying very close to Tyler, and even passed him a couple of times. He actually even passed Devin once in one of the sessions. They were all having a lot of fun riding together; they're an awesome little group of nice and talented young men.
The races first two motos of the racing didn't go as smooth as practice, but it still went well. Since Anthony just started in clip in pedals we were having some miscommunications about me helping him in the gate. Normally he doesn't want help, and he did most of practice without much help from me. But he ended up falling in the gate before the races and perhaps got a little rattled. Then when the races started he was asking me to hold him, and I thought he was telling me not to. Anyway, he still got out of the gate in the first two motos okay (i.e. without falling), but the starts were far from pretty and ended up costing him some significant time.
Unlike Roseville (where about 14 5I's showed up to race) the turnout at Rusty Bowl for 5I's was pretty light, only 6. Despite the bad starts Anthony finished 3rd in the 1st moto, and 2nd in the second. The main was much smoother, he got out of the gate pretty well and was in the hunt at the end of the first straightaway. But then there was a crash either right in front of him, or right beside him (I could't tell from the other side of the track). Luckily Anthony didn't get caught up in it, and it probably didn't slow him down. He rode on to finish second not too far behind the leader. Great job Anthony! And the other two riders were just fine, just a little bummed!!
Tyler also finished second in 6I, and we had two pretty happy campers on our hands!
The last race of May was on Wednesday the 31st. I believe that he finished 3rd at Napa BMX in the last two races of the month on Wednesday nights. There were no races at Napa on the last Saturday of May due to the state races in Fresno.
That's it for May, and we've gotten off to a busy start in June. I'll start on that post soon!
I may add a few pics and videos here too if I can find the time.
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