Rider Diary: Monarch High Cross 2011

Monarch High Cross

The race this weekend, Monarch High Cross, was a good race. I had a good start, and by the first turn I was in second, only behind my teammate, Torin. He led into the sandpit. We both ended up running three quarters of the way through. We rode together for a while, and then I passed him. When we got to the first barrier, I ran my bike, but Torin tried to bunny hop it. He hit his back wheel hard, and I was surprised he didn-t flat. I passed him back in a few turns. After the race he said that he had blown up right then. I ended up towing him around until the short run-up. I think that I gained time on him there and he couldn-t close the gap. At the start/finish, I went almost all out there to keep him from catching me. I rode the whole sand pit, so I was happy. Then I carried my bike over the horseshoes backstop. Then there was the death spiral. When I was a little more than halfway through, I saw Torin coming into it. I hit the gas and railed the rest of the corners. Then I went over the barriers and the sidehill that felt like it was at a 45 degree angle. Then I came around the last corner, and won the race.