I finished 3rd and took the Bronze Medal. I can’t even start to tell you what an amazing experience this was. I have watched the X Games probably all 17 years (most of my life) and I never dreampt that I would actually be competing in it someday. What a chance of a life time as a racer.

Men’s Enduro X
1. Taddy Blazusiak - Gold
2. Mike Brown - Silver
3. Justin Soule - Bronze
4. Joakim Ljunggren
5. Geoff Aaron
6. Destry Abbott
7. Kurt Caselli
8. Cody Webb
9. Taylor Robert
10. Kevin Rookstool

I went 3, 3 for 3rd overall this week end. This is also one of my favorite venues for WORCS, truly an off road race. Steep uphills, downhills, washes and more rocks then I have seen there before. The area has received incredible snow and rainfall and the run off has washed a lot of dirt away leaving rocks. The weather was perfect a little overcast on Saturday and Sunday blue skies with temperatures about 70-75 degrees. I had a lot of family and friends at the race to cheer me on so that was pretty cool.

Saturday I had about a 5th 6th place start, quickly moved into the top 4 then it was an all out battle for position the rest of the 1 hour plus 1 lap race between Kurt Casselli, Taylor Robert, myself, Mike Brown and Bobby Garrison. Brown, I guess crashed several times moving him back to 6th. Great race and a warm up for Sunday.

Sunday I had about the same start battling the same guys. I struggled with my suspension a little bit, it was hard to get it to work on a motocros track and all the rocks on the off road portion. I just never felt totally comfortable with my set up.

So all in all a great week end. I tied in points with Mike Brown for 2nd, but with his win on Sunday it won the tie.

My next race is Mammoth Mountain MX in 2 weeks.

Top 10 results: 1. Kurt Caselli (1,2) 2. Mike Brown (6,1) 3. Justin Soule’ (3,3) 4. Bobby Garrison (4,4) 5. Taylor Robert (2,12) 6. Robby Bell (7,6) 7. Ryan Abbatoye (5,9) 8. Ty Hames (8,7) 9. Bobby Bonds (11,5) 10. Destry Abbott (9,8)

DNF. I decided the day before to make the drive to Reno and race. I love this race although it has not always been good to me in the past. It is 4 hours of rocks and wide open dirt and paved roads. This year they cut out one of the best parts, or at least my favorite part, a major rock section. It had rained in Reno so I was hoping for nice moist dirt, not even close, it was so dry and dusty.

This race starts in downtown Virginia City in rows of 10, the rows are started every 15 seconds and I was on the 3rd row. There were over 500 racers, pretty amazing. By the time we hit the off road dirt I couldn’t see anything, it was insane how dusty it was. I was being pelted by so many rocks I was thankful for my chest protector, which deflected a few of them. Unfortunately I took a rock to the sideplate of my engine and knocked a hole about the size of a nickel in it losing all of my oil. I was only about 10 miles into the race of the 28 mile loop so I nursed it back to the pits calling it a day. That’s racing.

Saturday I finished 3rd and Sunday 4th for 4th overall. WORCS did a great job with the course. They had awesome technical areas with big boulders I really enjoyed riding. It was a pretty hot day and I wasn’t ready for the heat, I know most of the riders weren’t either. It was 88 degrees and when you have been training in 50-55 degrees, it was plain hot.

I really want that top spot and know I am getting closer. The intensity was crazy both days and I was in the mix both days, so I am happy about that. I have been working hard on my sprint speed so I know that podium will come.

Top 10: 1. Mike Brown 1st/3rd 2. Kurt Caselli 2nd/2nd 3. Ricky Dietrich 4th/1st 4. Justin Soule’ 3rd/4th 5. Taylor Robert 6th/5th 6. Bobby Garrison 5th,/6th 7.
Robby Bell 7th/7th 8. Colton Udall 11th/8th 9. Gary Sutherlin 9th/10th 10. Ryan Abbatoye 10th/12th.