So after an off season of flying under the radar and the team doing a little restructuring the 2013 season is upon us. Here we are three races into the season with the smoke still oozing out of the barrels and the revolvers still hot from all the action.
It all started earlier this month at the annual USAC Opener The Pontiac TT. No wait, the Pontiac XC that was only the distance of the old TT. It was a day to test the legs, squirt some gas into the cylinders and see what would happen in the combustion chambers. It would be Diesel's first race in the Expert category so the nerves and slight twitching were in full effect. How did he do? Well out of a stacked field of 19 fast mofo's Diesel put in enough work to grab the last spot on the podium to earn his first ever Expert medal, 5th place. Although there is speculation in the paddock that if he wouldn't have slowed his roll to smile and wave to the cameras he may have been able to make up that 30 seconds Shawn S. But none the less, big congratz to The Diesel for bringing home the bacon in the first Expert race of his career.
Next up we'll talk about the mtb race rookie, Ken "The Block" Booth. Ken comes to us from the triathlete world which made him a questionable sign on for the team. Once Ken assured us he wouldn't be strutin' around camp in sleeveless jerseys and cotton cargos the team management offered him a one year contract. Being Block's first mtb race he decided to do Beginner as the Sport starts can easily turn into a Running With The Bulls. The team thought it to be a smart decision and allowed the decorated triathlete start from the basement in the Men's Beginner 40-49. Block didn't disappoint and after all the on trail antics he also brought home a 5th place medal and a chance to get the MOTOR jersey into another picture. Well done Big Fella!
Round two took place closer to the left space of the state at Fort Custer. It's a well know fact that Diesel considers Custer his home away from home. He did a day of drive over with the new Santa Cruz carbon Highball in the Nissan for the event. Because we still have another race to cover we'll keep this short. The field was 30 deep and some times it can be a whole 'nother experience racing against the Left Coast crowd. But Diesel again prevailed with another 5th place finish. The CPS Series only hands out hardware to the top three but he is still a solid winner in our books. Another day another successful race.
What's that? Another race? Why yes. Where? Island Lake. You are absolutely right, they haven't raced there since Block was in his 20's. But hey, it's back and it's baaaad! Stop #2 on the USAC Mich tour. Again, the race would be ~30 mins shorter per class than what races are used to from previous years. This puts the races more in line with World Cup times and distances. We don't seem to have World Cup material in Michigan but some one thought it was a good idea and it stuck. Talk about a fast course though. Two laps for a total of 28 miles and 24 riders in Diesel's class of Expert 40-49'ers. The only mistake Diesel made at the race was not getting a good spot on in the starting grid. He took home an 8th place edging out the 9th place finisher in a sprint finish by 0.01 seconds however, he was only about 90 seconds away from a podium finish which is not bad for a race that lasted ~1:40:00. The guy who took 5th, the same guy who finished 30 seconds in front of him at Pontiac, Shawn S. Live and leaen Diesel says though. He now knows the importance of a good starting spot.
And last we of course have to talk about our fellow T6'er, Dub9 from the Twin 6 METAL Crew. Like Diesel, Dubs upped his game this off season and is kicking @$$ and taking names. 2nd in his Expert 30-39 at Pontiac on the geared bike. 3rd at Mud Sweat and Beers in Expert/Elite SS and another solid 2nd at Island Lake....missing first place by 0.01 of a second in a sprint finish...which he did the entire race without a water bottle! Going to be fun watching this guy to see what he is really capable of this year.
Where's The A-Train in all of this? Captain Terror? Keyser Soze? Oh, they are coming don't you worry yourself about that.....they are coming.
Next up the tents travel to Stony Creek for the annual Marathon. The year it is happening in May instead of July in hopes that it won't be 100 degrees out. So keep the plastic side up and the rubber side down. The season is in full swing and the boys have a busy schedule this year!
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