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Race Report - AMA 4 Stroke National:
Washougal WA - August 16-17
Hello everyone,
After moving to the US I had little time to prepare myself for the final round of the 4 stroke nationals. I was very fortunate to get a bike from Dirt Rider magazine to train on, as it was my first major event on a 4stroke. I headed to Sacramento for 1 week before the event to test the bike with Carmichal Honda. After 2 days riding I felt quite comfortable to compete the event.
Saturday the 16th Training
I was lucky to have 1 hour free practice on the track to try out the bike and learn the track in Washougal. Due the to the short time, I wasn\'t 100% happy with my suspension set up and I pushed it a little bit too hard on the last lap of training resulting in a spectacular downhill crash into a barb wire fence. Fortunately I was not too badly bruised up and walked away okay. Yet this put a significant burden on my confidence.
Sunday the 17th Race day
Heat Race
Top 10 point scorers in the series did not have to qualify, so it left 30 gates available. We had 2 heats with the first 12 advancing to the final. I didn\'t take a good start and was about 10th place after the first corner, I worked my way quickly to 5th on the first lap, and as I tried to overtake another rider, he fell directly in front of me then I couldn\'t avoid him and fell. It took me a long time to start the bike, then by the time I got it going I was well behind the last riders, with the race only being 4 laps I could only manage to work my way to 14th position, having to transfer to the last chance.
Last Chance
I took a pretty good start and worked my way from 5th to 1st by the second lap and then won the moto by 10 seconds or so.
First Moto
Due to going to the last chance qualifier, I had to gate in 32nd pick and this gave me a bad gate position. However I made the most of it and started off inside the top 10, I worked my way into 4th position by the half way point. I was pushing the 3rd place rider when he made a mistake and I hit the rear of his motorcycle and somehow jammed something in my front disc. I thought I had a flat tire for the next 2 laps and just cruised to finish, I ended up finishing in 8th position.
Second Moto
After getting 8th in the first moto I had 8th place pick for the start, I gated well in 6th and quickly worked my way to 4th, I tried to hold onto this position throughout the moto but I faded quite bad back to 9th. I guess riding all the extra races and not having ridden a motocross for 1 year it took it\'s toll on me.
Overall Result - 8th
Summary
I was happy with my result due to the little time I had to set up the bike and not having raced a 450 4stroke before and a motocross for 1 year. This event was just a test for me to see how the racing would be for the series next year. I feel quite confident once I spend a little more time on a 4stroke and work on my training for motocross events I could make some top 5 results in 2004.
I really want to thank Steve Thinger at Carmicheal Honda team for helping me out with the bike and support at the event. Also Don Schneider the organizer for the 4stroke nationals for helping me get to the event.
I would again like to thank all you guys for your support throughout the years.
Kind Regards,
Darryl Atkins
Fly Racing International
FlyRacing.Com
DarrylAtkins.Com
