JDBEACH

Du Quion Short Track

2008-12-02T09:48:00.000-08:00

So this weekend I raced the first race of the 2008-2009 indoor Steve Nace series. The race was at the Du Quion, IL State Fairgrounds. This is where the run the Amateur Grand Nationals every summer but we run a short track and TT at the indoor track. This weekend I raced my Honda CRF 450 and a Honda CRF 100. I rode my 450 in the two 450 Pro classes and the Mad Dog class on the 100.

The night started off good on the short track so my heats. On the 450 I won both of the Pro class heat races. In the 450 Pro class off the start I was running second the whole race. I was running all different lines to get into first. Then on the last lap I did a standard American Super Camp pass and won the heat. In the Open Pro class I got the whole shot and won that.

Then we went to the TT heat races. The TT track was pretty fun. There was a lot of Pros there but none of them rode the TT. In both of my heat races I got the hole shot and won. In the 450 Pro class Jeffery Carver and I had a battle going until he crashed. Then in the Mad Dog class Frankie Lee and I where battling and on the last turn he passed me so I ran into him so hard I crashed and knocked his chain off.

On the short track mains I had to pretty good starting spots. In the 450 Pro class I had pole. The track was pretty dry so it was really important to get a good start. Off the start I was 4th. The track was pretty slick. I made my way up to second before the race was over. Then in the Open Pro class I was starting 3rd over. I finally got a good start. I was first into the first turn and got hit a bit. But then I pulled away and one it.

Up next was the TT mains. It was the last races of the night. Best races of the night tho was the Mad Dog races. Frankie Lee and I had some great battles. There was also some crashes but we had fun. In the pro classes Jeffery Carver was riding really well. We both won a Pro main. In the first one I got the hole shot and pulled away a little. In the second one he won but I was right there. I just couldn't get by him with out hitting him hard.

I would like to thank Steve Nace for putting on these great races and the Gillim's for helping me at the races and giving me a nice house to live in.

Next Year

2008-12-02T08:40:00.000-08:00

So most people know now but I will be racing a 600 next year. I'm planning on riding in the AMA if I can find a ride. Its really hard to find a ride right now with the DMG making all the changes. But what ever happens next year it should be fun. Right now in the winter time I'm going to be doing some dirt track this winter. So I will be updating you with that for now. I will be riding my Honda CRF 450 and Honda CRF 250.

A Good Break

2008-08-25T12:45:00.000-07:00

Well I've had a bit of a break and I've done some dirt track racing again finally. I ran some races in Washington at Bellingham and Castle Rock. I also just ran a mile where I rode for James Hart and Craig Rogers. That was a lot of fun. I've ridden on pretty much factory road race teams and this was the first dirt track team I rode on. All I had to do was show up and ride. James was working on the bike along with his dad. It was a lot of fun and they really knew what they where doing. The race wasn't great for us but stay tuned cause Cameron and I are heading over to Czech Rep for a road race.

Brno

2008-08-20T10:29:00.003-07:00

Wow talk about two crazy races for the last of the points races. The whole weekend was crazy. We get all different conditions. It was cold, wet, raining really hard and hot. It was pretty fun to end the season. Going into the weekend I was leading the points for the first time all year.

In all the practices I was going ok until the last practice. I got up into 4th and it was in the rain so I was pretty happy with that.

For our first race on saturday it was raining. I knew I just had to finish in front of Salom. It was going really good until about 5 laps in. In the second to last turn I had a bit of a high side but I was lucky and slide right to the bike and got going again. I ended up getting 11th and Salom crashed out. Little did I know that getting back on the bike would win the Championship for me.

Our second race on Sunday it was dry. I was starting 11th and Salom was starting last. In this race I was leading the points by 15 points all I had to do was finish. If Salom won the race I just had to get 4th. Then on the third lap my bike broke. I had to pull off the and for sure I thought I lost the championship. The track scooter came and got me and I went right to Casey's motorhome and got changed. I wasn't made at the team or anything cause I know things happen.

After the race I found out the I won the Championship. I was so happy. I learned a lot this weekend. It was a lot of fun. I would like to say good luck to all the rookies coming back next year and all the new ones.

Sachsenring

2008-07-16T13:15:00.001-07:00

Wow so we just got done with our race in Germany. This race really turned things around for me. The last few races for the rookies and in the USA haven't been great. It was nice to finally get my first win.

The weekend didn't start off great. Practice I was going great. I felt really good but my times weren't showing it. Then I started going a little faster and my times where coming down and then it started raining. So after that we couldn't go any faster. I ended up 8th for the grid.

The race started off with me having to go pee on the grid. Then I didn't get a great start but I got up front real quick. After about lap 2 I was battling for the lead. There where tons of passing going on. It was crazy. As the laps come down it was a four way battle. I knew of some passing points so I could take the lead and win. Then coming to the last lap I was leading. So I just put my head down and went for it. The bike was sliding around a lot. I crossed the line in first and it was great. I've never been so happy with a win.

Assen TT

2008-07-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

This weekend we raced at the Assen TT. I was excited about this race cause it was one of my better tracks last year and I was ready to ride again after Donington. The weekend didn't turn out quite like I had hoped for but it happens.

In our first practices I was inside the top 10 for times but I couldn't go any faster. I couldn't figure it out. All the guys up front are guys I race against and they where like a second faster then me. After we where all done I ended up seventh. That still is a second row but it wasn't where I needed to be.

I was ready for the race though 'cause I always end up going faster. I just had to get a good start. It was OK but not the best. I had to work my way thought the pack. Within the first few laps I was in second chasing down the leader. In the slowest turn of the track I lost the front end and went down. I got up as fast as I could, push started the bike and started going again. I dropped back to like 19th but with about 7 laps I made it up to 8th. Not my best finish but it was good after crashing.

Donington Park

2008-07-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

This weekend we raced at Donington Park. For me it wasn't a great race. At the start of the weekend I wasn't riding great. I couldn't find the lines and I wasn't going to fast.

All the sessions I was riding around in tenth. I was going pretty good but I couldn't put a good lap together. I was always fast in different but in different parts in different laps. Then our last time out on the track before the race I crashed on about lap six. So after that I was 12th.

For the race is was raining. That was a little crapy cause we haven't had any practice in the rain at this track. Off the start I was dead last by a lot going into the first turn. My bike wasn't up to temp so after it reved past 11 there was no power so i couldn't get off the line. Then I started charging hard and made it up to 5th. I had a good battle the last few laps.

I'm looking forward to going to Assen and starting over with a new weekend and a new track.

Mugello

2008-07-13T12:51:00.001-07:00

Mugello was this weekend. I really like this track. I have done good here before. I was still going into this race like I do every other one. I really wanted to win. I've been second every race.

On Friday it was really raining. I didn't really care. Its just another race and I was going to ride hard rain or shine. In the first practice I was riding really bad in the rain. I didn't know what was up. After that I went and watched the 125 GP practice and saw how far over they can lean it over so I knew i could do it.

I was going really fast in the last two practices. I was on pole by over a second but in my third practice I had a big moment and was riding bad after that. I ended up third so I was still happy.

For the race I just went into it wanting to get a lead and go. I knew Salom was coming for me so I had to go. At about 8 laps to go (I think) Salom passed me. We where having a good battle. We hit each other a couple of times. Sometimes it was him and sometimes it was me. We said sorry after the race so it was no big deal. I had my plan on how to pass him but then I messed up coming out of the turn on the last lap so he pulled me. It was a great race and I'm getting faster. One race this year I want to win.

Le Mans

2008-07-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

At LeMans it was a great race for me. I was very happy with what I did. I ended up second again but I was a lot closer to Salom. I also set the fastest lap of the race. In the race I got better at some stuff I needed to work on and every time on the track I fell better.

After the first practice I didn't think I was going to have to good of a weekend. I was having some problems with the bike and the track I just couldn't figure out. I wasn't going to give up so for the next time on the track I was going to push.

For the next two times I did much better. I really liked the track once I got my lines. After that I ended up getting 6th for a starting place.

For the race off the start I thought I was doing good but people where flying pass me. I made up a lot of time in one lap and I was in second. I was keeping up with first (Salom) and I was very happy. But in the end of the race I made some mistakes and I ended up second.

It was very fun.

Cheers from Donington

2008-06-19T05:26:00.000-07:00

Practice and Qualifying begins tomorrow. JD cut his hair!