So, my first race is officially in the books, and I achieved one of my goals: I finished better at the Mini Pine this year than I had at the Great Pine Last year. I went from a 3rd to a 2nd. Yeah, it's still Ladies' B, and I didn't get a trophy, but it's still something to be proud about. And I got a pretty nasty scratch on my back, probably from rolling onto a stick while stuck under my bike. (You did read the "B" part, right?)

After the Toronto Supercross there was a lot of question about Canadians racing. Now, I won't say what we've got is perfect, but I'm just saying if you want to see Canadians racing in the States, you have to know where to look.

People just shake their heads. They just don't understand. And everyone of you that ride off road

know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. 

Riding our dirt bikes is often a painful experience. We don't even have to crash to cause bruising; what with roost, getting whipped by tree branches or banging body parts off of the bike. And at the end of the day we are smiling, showing off our bruises, cuts, scratches, casts as trophies.

Because, after all, life is about living. If you don't live, you are dead!!!! 

Cole and I had our Factory Husaberg driver, Jack Dobovich (aka Cole's dad), take us to Cascade, Montana this past weekend for the Ought Six Enduro. Oh, it was GOOD!! The organisers are old six days guys, so we rode 100+ miles Saturday, and then rode the course backwards on Sunday, so another 100+ miles the next day. The tests were really long, and technical making for an excellent experience. 

The course was 99% single track; uphill, downhill, and side hill on the side of very rocky mountains. If anyone has ever heard of the old ISDE qualifiers and the ISDE that were held at the John Zink Ranch near Tulsa, OK, this race is just like that in regards to rocks. It was super technical, narrow single track that left no rest time. Square edged rocks littered the course, and like the John Zink Ranch, these rocks do not move.

As we are driving home from Montana, I'm doing inventory. My hands are blistered, my forearms ache, my back is sore, my left knee is bruised from a collision with my bars as I exited out the front door in a hurry, I'm tired, but, I'm happy. Why would I be happy about being in pain? That is a good question to most, but again most of you understand that testing the body, feeling that ache, is feeling ALIVE!!! 

While I don't wanna feel ALIVE every moment of every day, I get a great feeling of accomplishment from challenging myself, pushing my limits physically and mentally. And as they say " no pain, no gain ".  

Right now I'm healing and looking forward to another weekend of pleasure and pain, when Jack, Cole and I are going to Idaho to ride the US ISDE qualifier near Boise. It will cause pain via blisters, bruises and sore muscles, but mostly, it will make me happy.

Happy to be ALIVE. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, @CGRT96

Happy Fry Day!

- Fry

So, we've got another weekend without our live Supercross races, so I've got to come up with something to talk about. There is the topic of Villopoto, but really it's been done by many people so far, better than I could do it.

                Well, where do we start? I'm not Fryberger; I guess I'm the guest Fry? Lee was a little busy this week and couldn't get anything done, so he asked if I could fill in for him.

Because we needed more?

Andrew Short, in my opinion, is one of the most under rated riders out there. He's got great style on the bike and, unless he's been out injured, he's a constant in the top 10, but coming back from his latest injuries in New Orleans no one thought he'd be taking home the win in the very next race, except maybe him and buddy Ken Roczen, the unsuspecting Lites rider who threw his leg over a SX 350 and rode the wheels off it for a 2nd place over all in his first big bike main!

The two were so excited, for themselves and each other, that soon as the race was done there were hugs all around. It's nice to see such a great show of sportsmanship, of good sportsmanship, especially when so often we focus on bad behaviour. It doesn't need to be a bro-hug; a hand shake or a high five between the top three riders shows the fans that while they can be fierce competitors on the track, that is where it is left.

Often times we focus on the poor behaviour of a few riders, who shall remain nameless. This season, however, we've seen some great instances of riders riding aggressively, but letting it stay on the course. No one could argue that Roczen wasn't trying to pull every extra ounce of speed from that 350. Right out of the gate the German was charging, and when his good friend Short got in front, well, he wasn't going to stop pushing to win his Supercross class debut.

You can be aggressive without crossing the line into what is unacceptable behaviour (dirty block passes, purposely taking out riders, "team tactics" and the like). These riders, especially on the highest levels, are seen as heroes, role models, for the younger generation. When they act badly, and win, and nothing comes of it because they win, it sets a bad example. When the AMA fined Justin Barcia for his poor behaviour after the Huston event, it was a start. These riders are heroes for the younger generation of riders; it is very important the example the set.

Here's to Andrew Short, and Ken Roczen, and to all of the other fantastic models of good sportsmanship! Congrats on a well deserved win for Short and an amazing Supercross debut for German transplant, Roczen. Gute Arbeit, Ken!

                So, the Supercross season down south is pretty much wrapped up - Villopoto sealed the deal in Huston and Barcia secured the Lites East title this past weekend. The Lites West title hasn`t been secured, but with the snow in much of Canada gone, the season is starting to heat up north of the 49th parallel.

I almost missed this!!! This coming weekend, March 24/25, the first round of the World Enduro Championships goes off in Talca Chile.  This is the first time that the EWC has raced in South America, although we were in Le Serena in 2007 for the Six Days.  While the Six Days was held north, near the Atacama Desert where Dakar races through, this event is further south, guaranteeing more moisture and not so much of a desert race.

It is going to be a epic season, as David Knight has been working his tail off, getting the bugs worked out of the new bike.  His prep has been not without problems, but, when it comes to go time, he will be on fire, you can bet.  He is, in my opinion, and many others, one of the most incredible riders to watch as he manhandles a motorcycle like NO ONE else can.  Bar none!!!!  Juha Salminen is like a surgeon: smooth and uber fast... But DK... He's a bull in a china shop.  Check out You-Tube and you'll see how in slick conditions he can carve like nobody's business.  DK is riding E3 again, which is big bore 4strokes and 2 strokes for those of you who are unaware.

Husaberg's Joakim Ljunggren is riding a 300TE again this year, and hopefully he can bust out some big moves.  The maturing Swede is a good kid, and I was, in my heart of hearts, hoping he was going to win another World Championship.  He rode very strong in 06 and 07 when I worked with him in Parry Sound and Hancock, NY, and had hoped he would have progress with his rival Nambotin, who has overalled a Six Days and pushed the envelope for a world championship.  Marco Tarkkala, a huge Fin, is on a Beta this year, which I don't think will slow him down.  The man is a true Viking and, likes to push hard and make DK.  My bets are for a victory in E3 for DK, with Tarkkala or Joakim filling out the podium.  I think one of the Frenchmen, Guillaume or Nambotin is injured, and the dry conditions won't suit their prowess...so I'm guessing bad weekend for the grass track kings.  Their turn will come later in the season.

E1... I know, I'm all over the map!!!  But we'll save the best for last. This is 144 2stroke and 250 4stroke.  I think an easy class for the KTM powerhouse managed by former World Champion, Fabio Farioli.  The little Fin Ero Remes and newly acquired French rider Antione Meo are going to battle to the death for this title.  Both have proved to be intense competitors over the last few years, and Farioli's program is faultless. We'll see them at the top.  Italians Thomas Oldrati and Simone Albergoni, on a KTM and a Honda respectively, might prove to be the spoilers for the last podium spot, but my guess is going to be Husky's Ricky Dietrich.  An American doing well at EWC you say?  And one who couldn't catch himself falling over last season in AMA Motocross?  Let's just say that RD has been doing his homework after a misguided 2011.  He's moved on, has a resourceful team, he's got a great training partner, and also, remember that from 2006 and 2008 he was killing it at the ISDE, so he is no stranger to the tactics of EWC.

Now the tough part: E2.  Looking at the entry list is like looking at the entry list to A1...STACKED!!!!  This is what we are looking at - Renet, Husaberg, podiumed last year a number of times, and rode really well for a mx convert...future champ.  Alex Salvini, riding for Husqvarna, former MXer as well, came to the ISDE in 08 with 2 weeks prep after Albergoni hurt himself.  Italian Team Manager Fassoti made a project out of Alex, claiming that you could train a MXer how to change tires easier than you could make a off road guy go fast... Point proven! Alex HAULS THE MAIL!!!  Ivan Cervantes, on Gas Gas, former World Champ, is in the latter part of his career; he's like the KDUB of EWC - just because he is older, doesn't mean you should count him out in a race.  Cristabol Guerrero, KTM, the Frenchman, is fast and can't be counted out.  Then there is this local kid, at the bottom of the signing sheet, Vincente Israel, Honda.  We may remember him from a stint with Blackfoot a number of years ago.  The Chilean, again I'll use the term, hauls the mail, as he and his 2 brothers kept the EWC regulars honest at their home ISDE in 08.

Now, who is gonna win the E2 class this weekend?  I'm thinking its KTM's Johnny Aubert.  It won't be easy, because Juha Salminen, and his big dog Husky, is in the same class. Juha Hauls, the quiet Fin is known also as a slow starter, off to 2nd and 3rd place starts, then picks up the pace as the day and the weekend progresses.  If you race against the man, let him take the first day's victory, he's then easier to beat on Sunday!!! But beat him on Saturday, game over!!  Unless, you are Johnny Aubert.  The Frenchman has been quick since he made the transition to EWC, and, remember my little bike rant a couple weeks ago?  Johnny rode E1 for 09 and 10, losing his ability to win overalls on the little bikes.  But, let me say he slaughtered them when he rode E2 last year on his 350.  Killed them like DK did in his earlier KTM days.  I think after his injury last season, he's going to be super hungry, and take the overall for the weekend...and, get used to it, once on a roll, he'll be hard to stop, no matter who you are.

Gotta close on a sad note, though, as I think of a guy that was faultless at the ISDE's 10 years ago and won 3 of them, then didn't start winning World Championships till 4 years ago.  He was respected in whichever class he rode, and always a factor, Mika Ahola will be missed...

                So last week I wrote about the five coolest things I saw at the Daytona Supercross, and there were some pretty cool things that happened at the Indy SX too. It wasn't a mud race, but it certainly was an intense race that didn't turn out at all the way anyone expected.  

5) Barcia's Perfect Season Broken -

                Blake Wharton broke the perfect season. What more is there to say about that? I like Barcia; I like seeing him win and he's great on the podium, but I mean, it's always nice when a challenger comes up, right? When there's no challenge, the excitement isn't as high as it could be for the fans, and for the riders. You don't push yourself as much.

                Though, there is something to be said for a perfect season. But there's always next year for that, right?

4) Roczen "throwing it" away - LITTERALLY! -

                Did you see that bike go? He was leading and then there was a bobble and... Whoops! The bike was gone and Kenny was left standing in the dirt like a country kid late for the bus.

                I like Roczen; I think he has a lot of a talent, and seems quite sweet and genuine on the podium. I so want to see him win a main this year. I was kind of hoping he'd be the one to break Barcia's streak, but in Daytona it looked like Baggett was the man for the job.

                Roczen had the lead in the staggered restart, and man was I cheering for the German, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Judging from how his home country fans cheered for him in Euro GP, I'd say most of Germany was up front there with him.

                But you know what, it proved Roczen could get out front. If he can do it once, he can do it again. And hey, maybe he'll do it here this weekend? It'd be nice to see him take home a win in Toronto.

3) Brayton pulling a huge lead in the SX Main -

                He didn't make it easy for RV to pass either, did he? That was pretty awesome. In years gone by the SX class has gotten, well, boring. I mean, don't get me wrong, I LOVED watching Ricky race; the man had style, commitment and talent, and it was epic to watch him lap SECOND PLACE in the outdoors, but really, as awesome as that is, it's not really a race. It's a race for second place, and sometimes a race for fourth, and that's only so exciting.

                This year we started the season with 4 riders who could definitely take the championship; only one of them raced on Saturday, but that didn't stop another rider from getting out front early. My favourite saying is "sometimes it's better to be lucky than good," and Brayton was lucky enough to be both. When RV put the gears to him, he didn't back off. And really, to see someone (outside "the big three" of Reed, Dungey and Stewart) challenge Villopoto like that... It was awesome.

2) The Staggered Restart -

                There's a first time for everything, and this was a first for the staggered restart. It was surreal to see the bikes lined up like that, but it certainly helped some of the riders, Barcia for instance. The restart was done as per the book, it's just never been the issue that the race had been stopped in the 3 to 12 lap range.  

                It was odd to see all three commentators at such a loss for words about what it was all about. It was by the book, which was fine, and certainly helped close the pack back up nicely, which helped Barcia bust his way back onto the podium nicely.

1) Supercross Survivor -

                How many people are on the injured list now? There are over thirty confirmed injured riders, including Ryan Dungey (who is still seated second in the points standing, so you've got to be able to imagine how well the season had been going for him) and Chad Reed, who had been in third when a broken tibia, fibula, ribs, T6 vertebrae and a torn ACL in Dallas put him on the side lines for the remainder of the season.

                In Indy we saw Stewart and Windham get together, with Stewart not competing in the main due to a possible head injury. KDub pulled out but is planning to race at Toronto this weekend.

                It's been a weird season, that's for sure, with many injuries highlighting just how dangerous the sport we love can be.

                Next week Supercross is in Toronto, and I know I'll be there. I'm kind of hoping Roczen and Windham bust out and take their first wins of the season on Saturday; I think that'd be just amazing to see. Windham has a big following in the circle I run in, and to see him win at the RC would be pretty cool.  

      Are we not man enough?  Yaya, sit down and listen to another scathing story by Fry! Anyhoo, I'll do my best to entertain you with this and still present what I think is a valuable point. 

      Those that know me well, know I love 125s.  Not just  their wailing scream, but riding them as well. Why would I? When I'm a big? Firstly, same reason a lot of big guys love little bikes: I love the scream! It gives me an adrenalin rush, then I twist the throttle harder!  Secondly,  because it challenges me to work hard on my technique, to maintain momentum, and because it's so easy to move around. 

      I remember watching a show on King Kenny Roberts, whose sons were just starting to ride, and he was training other riders.  He used many different ways to train: moto, dirt track etc but the method that caught my eye was a pretzel shaped dirt track. It was devoid of jumps and he forced the guys to ride XR100s.  I couldn't help but think how much fun it would be to try it. He soon explained it was about more than fun and feeling like a big man on a little bike; it also forced the guys to maintain momentum, choose  carefully, and upped their aggressiveness.  I couldn't argue with the man. 

      In preparation for my second six days, I considered buying an XR, but my it would have been a wasted investment. Instead I bought a ten year old 125.  I didn't ride it much, but it was cool.

      The first thing I learned on it was that there wasn't engine braking. And after riding "open bikes" (I had ridden 500s for 7 years) for so long, the first ride on the 125 taught me "when in doubt, wick it out!"  It was kind of funny, as I left the truck, flat out, and as I shut off the throttle, expecting the bike to slow due to engine braking. Didn't happen! So I had to clutch it so I didn't die, which just made me go faster. This process repeated itself for some time until I finally got to a place without rocks, ledges, hills or washes, that allowed me to finally shut the throttle off. 

      What happened?  Instead of piling into obstacles, I was forced use aggressive throttle and clutch to get me over them.  In the end it was way faster and stylish than I would have ever ridden it.

      Now, today, there are few 125s left in the market, but there are a growing number of 150s. But still, hardly anyone rides them; they've pretty much been replaced by the 250f. Even still, very few "men" ride these smaller bikes; mostly kids, ladies and old men. Many argue that the little bikes just don't make enough power, so they buy a 250/300 2t or a 450.

      When I first got into riding everyone rode 250 2ts, but the fast guys all rode big bore bikes (500s) early in their career.  They ALL did!!!  Perrett, Doug Beer, Doug Gunn, Burt Petersen, Dan Watt; the list goes on and on. Why big bikes? Throttle control!  "What tries to kill you only makes you stronger " Right? I think that's how the saying goes.

      So, in my opinion, why don't more guys ride little bikes till they get to a point when they can genuinely utilize the power of "big bikes"? Just take a look at Supercross; Kevin Windham won the first main he ever competed in when he stepped up from a 125. Add Canard, Barcia, Millsaps to the list. Why? Because they are strong enough to ride a 450, and they rode it like it was a 250. 

      Today, we move up to a big bike believing that we need more power, we do it to go faster.  I believe that in doing so we sacrifice technique and subsequently it takes longer to reach our speed potential, if we ever do. 

      Rant over. 

      In closing: Ride it like you stole it, then move up.

      Fry