My first Moto

[Azza ( AB )]

Been riding trail bikes for a couple of years now with the young bloke after about twenty years without a dirt bike. A few months ago Jake decided he wanted to get into motocross so many dollars later after bike upgrades and more protective gear we are ready to race. Now motox racing means a lot of time spent siting around between races so I decided I would man up and give it a crack to fill in some of the day. So on father’s day at 54 years of age I lined up for my first official race. I had ridden three laps on this track once before mind you with a monster hangover and at the start of the race day you get a three lap practice ride, but as you are the first out and the track is freshly prepped there no lines to follow and it is bloody greasy, but I survived.
Now I am riding in the veterans which is the fourth race so I have plenty of time to get nervous, contemplate pulling out because my back, neck, knee and hand hurts. I watched the boys practice and before I know it I am kitted up sitting on my 450 Yammie on the start line just inches from the other 25 racers watching as the two minute board is displayed. I hit the starter to fire up my race steed but she hesitates and I can’t help think she is probably as nervous as me and just as I start to think thank God for that the bikes not going to start she roars to life. Before I know it the 15 second board is up and I start to build the revs up and go over my plan to let the guns go and get off to a clean but slow start. Five second board is displayed and the bikes all come up on full revs then the gate drops and 25 amped up race prepped machines make a bee line for corner one.
So far so good I didn’t jump the start and get tangled in the gate, I came of the line about a bike length behind and am getting roostered with big chunks of mud from spinning nobbies and think didn’t think that through so crack it wide open and find myself in the mid pack as 25 bikes converge on turn one. In the dust ahead I spot two bikes cartwheeling in the air and think if that Suzuki comes in front of me it will be race over but thankfully it fell short of the rut I was locked into.
I got around turn one in one piece but the next obstacle is a 40 foot table top so on the gas and up the ramp with bikes each side of me as I fly through the air, man this is a rush.
I managed to stay upright for my three races and placed seventh in the races out of a field of seven but I am pumped with that for my first outing. Now I just need to wait until my legs stop hurting so I can practice as I need to find six seconds a lap to get on the pace.

[Deleted]

Wow top effort mate. Yes would of been a terric rush for sure. Hope ya keep upright . Just think though its only mud and dirt iff you come off and not bitumen . . Yeah dont worry been off on that stuff. Stay upright dude.

[Langers]

Very impressive Azza and I take my hat off to you. I gave that stuff up 32 years ago (still have my Rossi boots and Bell Moto3 helmet) - absolutely loved it, wasn't very good at it and after breaking my collar bone and the boss man telling me to make a choice in careers - moto-cross racing or what I do now, I gave up the dirt bikes. The collar bone followed the left ankle 12 months earlier.
I am sure you are much more skilled than me, but stay safe, bones that have wandered the planet for more than 50 years are usually a little more brittle.

Cheers ... Mark

[SCOOTER]

Good on you Azza,you done well.

[Azza ( AB )]

Thanks Gents, yeh I intend to take it steady and have got me a shed load of Protective gear, I was meant to race last month but the knocked me back as my helmet was too old.
Azza