“Why is ‘Boise’ pronounced ‘Bois-y’? ‘Noise’ is not pronounced ‘Nois-y.’ It’s just ‘noise.’”

This, among other highly important conversations, helped pass the time on the 8 plus hour drive from Seattle to Round 8 of The AMA Endurocross series in Boise, ID. The crowd in Boise is one of the most electric on the series. It is a real treat to be a part of the “noise” in “Boise.”- Did you see what I did there? ;)

I’m sure the Friday night premier of Moto 7 the movie at the Egyptian Theater in downtown Boise helped serve as an appetizer for many members of the audience for the impending drama at Endurocross the next day. What a special experience it was. Several local companies stepped up on door prizes and give -aways, and the building was packed with everyone from local racer kids, aspiring racers, and top Endurocross pros. The movie itself was well done, which clearly only helped to further feed the crowds desire for real life motorcycle action, and boy was it coming their way!

Saturday’s Endurocross morning program began with a track walk for all the racers going through the morning qualifying rounds. It was apparent to everyone that there were just a couple things that had everyone’s attention. #1 was the wood pit section which featured abnormally shaped rounds and large pieces amidst the regular split wood, and #2 was the rather large tire booter afterwards. We all knew it would be jumped but I don’t think that any of us standing there really wanted to hit it. Overall the rest of the track was really good. A mix of fun jumpy combinations and good flow which made for opportunities to pass under race conditions.

My personal goals for the morning program was simple. Qualify out of the first heat and move on to the night show without having to ride last chance qualifiers. For me it is important because the abuse of racing all morning to get to the evening program makes your efforts twice as challenging compared to the top 20 seated pros that show up in the afternoon fresh and rested.

I accomplished my first goals and had a good vet qualifier finishing 2nd and a great pro qualifier finishing 4th in a tight battle that came down to the finish line taking the last transfer spot. Now I was off to the races, with just a few hours to rest and prepare for the night show.

The night show begins like always with opening ceremonies and some special sponsor talk helping to profile the riders who are in the hunt for series and the valuable companies that support the sport.

After the formalities, the show goes straight into racing and the Vet Class is first up. Being one of few riders who double-duties the night show, I really like the Vet Class being first out of the gate. It gives me a chance to get the cobwebs out and once it’s done I can focus on the Ex Pro qualifiers that begin just after. My Vet Main started well. I had a decent gate pick and I typically get good starts. On the start I was 2nd into the first turn and was stoked to see Dave Stirm by my side. Headed into turn 2 (the log double before the wood pit) I was trying to set up a run on Dave to get out front and place some distance between the field and myself after the wood pit. I knew if you didn’t get through that clean right off the start the melee behind would really limit your chances to be in the front. Dave pushed his front wheel on the first log and nearly fell in the gap between the logs. Somehow he saved it but the fraction of a second he lost gave me the wiggle room to head into the wood pit side by side with him. One thing about the Vet race, and especially on the first lap, you just never know what you are going to get. All the lines from earlier are erased, the wood is mixed up the track is watered unusually excessively (which I think is an inside torturous joke from the track builders to the Vet Class aimed at making us look like worthless old men on bikes!) so heading in to the wood pit or any part of the track is just a gamble in Lap 1. In this case my gamble paid off. I cleaned the wood pit and took off.

For the next 2 laps I had a commanding lead. In pursuit of me was a normal front runner Steven Foord. With a lap and a half to go as is normal in endurocross, (nothing is normal) I came into the rock pit behind a lapper who was stuck sideways blocking the entrance to the rocks. In order to get around him I had to enter the rocks slowly and in a spot that was not ideal. Suffice to say I got stuck. It took just enough time to get going again for Steven to close the gap on me and now it was going to be a race. Steven passed me on the white flag lap going through the matrix. I wasn’t going to allow this and stayed on him attempting to make a pass I lost the front wheel but quickly jumped up and got going again. Steven got hung up in the wood and I caught up to him but couldn’t make the pass there. Steven made it through the rocks clean and I lost just a tiny fraction of time due to a lapper. All that was left between us and the checkered flag was a pumpkin pit, water pit and the matrix. I just needed him to leave the door open a tiny bit so I could force my way through.

After passing through the pumpkins and water my last hope was I had to have a good run at the matrix and hope Steven made a little mistake. Much to his credit Steven made one of the cleanest matrix runs of his night. Not a bobble or wobble. I crossed the line just behind in second and headed over to the podium to collect my prize. All in all it was a good race, we all had a lot of fun and the crowd near the firewood pit and tire hucker were cranked up to level 9. Vet Class being over it was time to refocus on my pro-qualifier.

I went from the podium straight to the staging area and within 10 minutes was back on the track. This time lined up next to Mike Brown, Colton Haaker, Kyle Redmond, and plenty of other talent. I got a decent start from the outside and ran up in the front 4-5 for most of the race. Passing on occasion and being passed on occasion. I kept seeing Colton on the ground and it was clear he was having a tough go. I stayed just out of qualifying position most of the race hoping to capitalize on a mistake or opportunity to pass into a transfer spot. I almost had it but on the last lap I made 3 big mistakes in a row. I was headed to the LCQ.

The LCQ for me was almost exactly the same race as the Qualifier. Good start, great battles and rode well all the way to the end. I finished 2 spots out of the transfer, but I felt strong and faster than earlier and definitely stronger than the Everett round.

I can see a Main in my future. I just need to be patient and get back to some sort of practice routine to build confidence and consistency. Then, when the timing and opportunity is right, I will capitalize.

Until then I am going to just appreciate the awesome spectacle from the crowd that is the Endurocross Ex Pro Main Event. I will save everyone the boring details because it should be watched on TV, but here is how the Main went from my point of view.

I was sitting in the stands watching the pro-hot laps just a couple seats down from Colton Haaker, who was also watching the hot laps because he qualified to the main out of the LCQ. For him this is not a great spot to be in because he now had last gate pick and didn’t get to participate in the hot laps.

Haaker was solemn, watching each rider post their best lap. And then it was Cody Webb’s turn. Webb hit the wood pit on the left side, plowed into 3 or 4 large rounds and un-characteristically stepped off the bike with one foot, paddled a couple times and exited the wood pit with ease. As I was shaking my head, I looked over and so was Colton. With a chuckle and a smirk he got up and I told him “Good luck” as he headed to his bike for the Pro Main. The gate dropped, the bikes hit the first turn, Haaker was down and the field was gone. Shortly after Webb grabbed the lead and Haaker was still in the rear. As the race progressed, Haaker picked is way to mid pack, then to 5th, then 4th. . It was about then I noticed he was riding really relaxed, throwing whips of the tire double, and riding with that posture you get when your brain is in that space where is thinks “Eff this! Let’s ride!” I noted to my girlfriend Ameé sitting next to me that he was in “the zone.” Indeed he was. A couple more laps and he was in 2nd with a whole straight and a half between him and Webb who was leading the race. 4 laps to go it was a straight, 3 laps it was half a straight, 1 lap to white flag out it was a pass and Haaker held on for the win. Haaker pulled off a James Stewart-esc last to first ride. The level 9 crowd in Boise was indeed Noisy.

Thanks to everyone who helped out with this weekend, and thanks to my sponsors for helping me to the podium.

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