2010 South Central Area Qualifier LLQ Race Report

2010 South Central Area Qualifier LLQ-SATURDAY SUNDAY - 3/27- 28/2010
Cycle Ranch MX Park, Floresville, Texas

The sun ever so slowly, made its way over the sleepy track, both Saturday, and Sunday mornings.  There was a brisk chill, an a soft blanket of haze ever so gently filling the air.  Turn your ears left, or right and listen carefully you could hear One, Two, Three, engines coming to life.  Riders were warming the motor, for the racing action ahead.  Crackling and Popping on the FM dial, as the announcer called for the racers, "Riders Meeting in ten minutes, Riders Meeting in ten minutes all riders to the riders meeting".  The Track is coming to life, starting to breathe, and stretch from a nights slumber.  You could smell the strong warm cup of coffee, as riders filed into the pavilion for the morning meeting.  Safety and track procedures were discussed, before the first practice of each day.  The Riders donned there gear, making last minute checks on the bikes before heading off to see the track for the first time.  The dirt was tilled, and watered to perfection.  There was no turn, or whoop left unchecked.    The track crew did there job making Cycle Ranch the place to prove who was going to advance from the South Central Area

Riders made there way around the track looking at each turn and jump.  They studied the track, as to plot each place they would make a move and gain ground on the rider in front of them.  This was to be two days of serious competition. Saturdays racing was filled with Stock classes.  Sundays racing turned to the Modified, Pro's, and Vets.

The sky clearing and sun shining the riders started making adjustments on suspension setups, and final discussing on race strategies.  Soon it's off to the staging area for the first gate drop.    Two motos for each rider, in each class saw the best rider leading and moving on to the next round.  Each day of competition brought many lead changes as small mistakes were costly.  One missed shift, one double turned into a singe, and you were passed in the air by the rider behind you.  The whoop section required many riders to change there racing lines form one moto to the next.  You could start out on the inside line setting up for the next corner easily, but by the time you were back on the track it was off to the outside line.  This made you work even harder just to get to the next corner.  Changing lines in the dirt, and burms as they built up would give some an advantage, while others were forced to take a different line.  Horsepower Hill, Catchers Mitt, and the Table Tops were all great places to make passes. You could gain ground on the competition.  Many took advantages of these places to pass, but many others found it most difficult to just get through them.  Friends, and Family alike were on the edge of there seats watching as one pass, and then another occurred.  Racers watched and used there hands to show there friends and fellow competitors what happened on that corner, or how they would have done something different.  The two day event brought out the best in all the competitors.  2:00pm Sunday the Racers honored a fellow Racer #956 Jesse Masterpool (Suzuki) with a moment of silence at the track.  Jesse raced and competed at Cycle Ranch in the 2009 LLQ, this year he watched over the events, from above.

Helmets Off to the Crew at Cycle Ranch Mx for an event that will not soon be forgotten.  Best of luck to those who qualified, and are moving on the 29ht Loretta Lynn's Amateur National Motocross Championships.

 

 

Race Report by: Jeff Lavender

Photos by:   Mr. Lavender Photos

www.mrlavenderphotos.com

Po box 483

Center Point Tx 78010

830-377-9594