Another Desert 100 Podium!

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Little needs to be said to those of you that have had the opportunity to see the spectacle that is the Desert 100 first hand. For the rest of you that have not, I’m not sure I have the ability to properly describe just how unbelievable, and epic it truly is. I have said this before and I may as well say it again - I have been raced, WORCS, National Motocross, GNCC’s, National Enduros, EnduroCross, Hare and Hounds, National Harescrambles, The ISDE… and nothing I have done so far, compares in scale, atmosphere, or diversity to The Desert 100.

Last year I finished 3rd overall. I was pretty stoked about that ride because I just decided last minute to go and pretty much had been enjoying retirement from racing for almost 5 years. If you read my race report from the 2015 Desert 100 then you know how lonely my couch has been waiting for me at home this past year. It had been quite a while since I really just went racing to enjoy the ride, and after that race I have been somewhat sucked back in to the fun parts of dirt bike racing. I am also discovering new fun parts in my “post career” career that I ignored or was simply too pre-occupied to notice. These fun parts have helped me rebuild a racing program that I’m really enjoying this go round. Don’t get me wrong, it is still serious business, but now it is just done with more handshakes and smiles over beers.

It really easy to get so bogged down by the stressful “work” parts of racing that you forget to look up and see all the unique, different, very awesome things going on around you.

So what happened this year? Well here’s the story.

The 2016 Desert 100 began for me on Thursday March 31st. In non-typical “Beal” fashion my truck and trailer were loaded, bikes ready, and itching to leave town for Odessa, WA before my target time of Friday morning. So of course with nothing left to do but bump up the time frame that’s what happened. After work Thursday my girlfriend Ameé and I hit the road. After a dinner (beer) stop at the Icicle Brewery in Leavenworth (which was awesome by the way) we pushed on and rolled into the race site at about 11pm. The place was packed! Thanks to my guys at Webb Powersports for letting me poach a spot in a killer location just across from sign ups on vendor row. It was really great to be in a spot where I could easily visit and keep in touch with so many people, talk setup, gear, family, beer, and other conversations rolling all the way back to the first time I went to the D100 in 1995. It’s really been nice to be a part of Webb’s “Family of Fast”.

Of course pulling into the spot I was met by another “Family of Fast” member Jon”Rare Form”Seehorn who “helped” me park by pretending I was a 747 coming in for a landing at LAX. I’m not sure what all the hand gestures were or if all of them where appropriate, but thanks buddy for the assistance. Oh and the “soda pop” you supplied me with after.

I enjoyed hanging out with the Webb Crew by the faux bonfire and chatting it up. At some point I wondered over to visit with the DeVol crew at their trailer across the way and the bench racing went on until the wee hours let’s say.

Friday was just a good day. The amount of rigs pulling in was surreal. Loads upon loads of bikes, trailer, trucks of all shapes sizes and configurations. There are always a few “special” ones at the D100 which I love because it adds to the overall character of the event.

I set up my pit display and the “Webb and Friends” garage sale area and spent most of the day selling off some old stuff from the garage, talking with kids, giving away stickers and just people watching and taking it all in. It the afternoon a few of us went out for a test session. Eric Bailey (another Family of Fast member) had not been to the D100 before so I walked him through the basics. We spent the afternoon working on some suspension testing and start strategy. I think we spent as much time sitting in the desert chatting as riding. I really enjoyed the afternoon.

Saturday was the big poker run day. The campgrounds were like I have never seen them before. The shear amount of bikes was mind boggling. Numbers of 4,000 or 5,000 bikes were being thrown around and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were true. Most of the morning like Friday I spent at my pit area chatting and prepping for Sunday. Eric Bailey, Joel Tonsgard, Jordan Rock and I were planning on heading out to do a loop of the poker run at 11 after the mega traffic died down. What a great loop it was. It felt good to just get out in the terrain and ride with some buddy’s. Test suspension, lines and, ride in the open terrain. Even going out later in the morning the course was still filled with riders of all skill levels and on all kinds of bikes. The weather was amazing and the course was even better. One of the more technical layouts I have ridden in Odessa.

After the poker run we all spend the afternoon hanging in camp preparing all the final details for the mornings early start. I went to bed confident and prepared for an awesome day on Sunday.

Sunday morning started with a few last minute preparations, getting the pit area set up, double checking the bike, mentally preparing. At the D100 with over 1,000 bikes on the start line being ready early is important. The riders meeting happens at 8:30 am and you leave from the meeting on the start parade to the start line 2 miles away. It is an unbelievable feeling the energy in the air with 1,000 plus bikes in a mile-long start line all trying to be the first to the flags 2 miles away when the cannon fires. It’s one of the few races I have ever done where I have to really work to keep my nerves and adrenaline in check. The magnitude of it all is overwhelming.

I was very confident on the line. I felt prepared, relaxed and ready to take whatever the day brought me. I really wanted the win, as I have before, however I really wanted to enjoy the day and stay away from anything too ultra-sketchy. Pretty much the entire D100 is sketchy, but sometimes out there things can get out of hand. My strategy was to put myself in a good position and just do what I do. Run a good pace, don’t make mistakes, stay off the ground period! And let my talents flow.

Lined up…

Staged…

A cannon shot…

A run of 200ft of sage brush covered ground to my bike…

A kick of the starter…

And a whole lot of wide open throttle!

I definitely conceded the hole-shot for the more conservative approach at the infamous kicker bump close to the end of the start. It didn’t help that some guy on front of me hit it and went full scale sideways flying “W” in to the ground. It definitely made me pucker a bit, and I hoped he was alright.

I went through the flags in around 10th and headed out into the course. It’s a long race and I was not in a super hurry to pass everyone but I wanted to take opportunities to do so when I could. It was a bit dusty the first few miles so that made it hard and easy to make a mistake early and end your day. I had made a few passes and coming into the first technical rock uphill I went outside to make a pass on a rider who was uphill from me. At some point he hit something and swapped into my line hitting my bike in the front wheel and as he endo-d over me, mowed me down in the process. It was a pretty decent crash and I definitely had to walk off a charley horse and assess whether or not my day just ended there. His bike was on top of mine and he picked it up and took off while I got my wits about me. I picked up my bike and took some time straightening out the front end and front brake lever all the while being passed by riders. I figured I better just get going if I wanted to have any chance of recovery. After a few minutes of riding I was back up to speed. I felt good, defiantly had some road rash and a charley horse but nothing too bad. It was not too long and I was passing riders. Fortunately, most of the first part of the course was in sections without a lot of dust so I could make passes fairly easily. The checks along the way gave me updates on position, 10th, then 7th, then 6th… at about mile 20 or so I caught Eric Baily and rode behind him for a few before making a pass. I saw Jon Seehorn riding slowly on the side of the trail and I stopped to make sure he was good. A nod and a thumbs up and an acknowledgement that his day was done and I was off again. At mile 30 or so I caught Joel Tonsgard and took a few minutes to get by him headed into the virgin trail section. I picked my way through the fresh sage brush searching out the ribbon trail laid out by the Stump jumpers dragging Joel in tow. It’s always easier to follow in these situations than lead. A little mistake exiting the section let Joel slip back by and we headed back into the dusty stuff. I was chuckling that now I was going to have to work my way around him in the dust rather than putting time on him and catching up to the leaders. After a few more minutes I was by Joel and really started to put time on him. I pitted in 3rd place at the 50-mile mark and headed out on my second lap just under a minute behind Eric Giese in 2nd and 2.5 min behind Corey Graffunder in the lead.

Within the first half of the lap I closed the gap on Eric to within 20 seconds. Then 10 seconds, then 10 bike lengths. I stayed at 10 bike lengths for a bit due to dust and lappers waiting for a moment to strike.

The moment came in a multiple line rocky section on an off camber hill. I took a technical line inside and Eric took a line to the outside. I don’t think he knew I was coming. Just as I pulled next to him I hit a large rock with the front wheel causing a somewhat sketchy swap and taking all my speed away. Eric looked over, realized what was happening and from that point on it was ON! 15 miles to the finish and we went at it. I’m pretty sure both of us tested the tensile strength of our throttle cables. Of course it was the dustiest part of the course and probably the roughest too. Several times I took lines and got next to Eric only to just barely be edged out when the trails came back together forcing me to back off to gain vision in his dust trail and look for a chance to try again. At least twice I had him however the increasing amount of lappers squashed my opportunities. Eric would come upon a lapper and I took a different line to make a charge only to have the lapper move over into my line and stop me cold. It was very frustrating. Most of the last 10 miles I was on his tire looking for any opportunity or hoping a lapper would help me out. Coming into the second road crossing as Eric was jumping on his bike I was jumping off mine to push it across the road. From that point to the finish the course was fast, dusty, rocky, whooped out, and unless he had an issue I was settled into third especially given how hard Eric was riding and some of the chances he was taking to stay in front of me.

We finished within seconds of each other and had made up almost a minute on Cory Graffunder cutting his lead in half. I was glad to see Eric held it together and was pretty proud of him for doing so. I would have been nice to make a charge on Cory but a podium finish was still something I could be proud of. I put in a hard day’s work to earn it but I definitely could not have done it without all the people around me who help put all the little pieces of the puzzle in place. You might race a motorcycle alone, but you sure can’t do it alone. You need all the helpers and parts of the puzzle you can get from everyone who offers in order to be successful. It’s often the little pieces that help complete the puzzle so you can see the picture. I can’t thank the company’s and people enough that support me or any other racer who aspires to succeed.

At the Desert 100 this weekend these great people need to be recognized for their help.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Mike Tosch at Kenda Tires - always good to talk with you and test products.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Devol Racing - it was not just the suspension help but the pit stop support, you guys went above and beyond.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Webb Powersports “Family of Fast” - whatever I need whenever without question…Totally awesome.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Eric Wright with Bell Helmets - what can I say man you have been behind me so long it’s like I’m towing a trailer, and my head thanks you for the best helmet and vision money can buy.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Vision Graphics - keep my bike looking sharp.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Moose Racing - who I’m going on 10 years with, keep me looking sharp.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Rekluse - another 10 plus year helper.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]The dudes I have known at Dubya wheel for almost 20 years who build me rock crushers to put my Kenda tires on.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]SXS Slideplates

[if !supportLists]· [endif]DG2 Motorsports for posting the entry for the weekend

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Also my girlfriend Ameé – my Pit Crew Chief/PR Manager/Camp Cook/Laundry Washer who rarely gets any credit for an often thankless job of dealing with my ridiculousness.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]And….Beer.

D100- We’ll see you next year!