THOMAS RENDALL – RACE REPORT

Unadilla NY – Lorretta Lynns US National Northeast Area Qualifier

Last week I started my report with – I love the Mud!

That is what we had in practice, and it was really thick hard to steer in mud. They moved the 65 practice to later in the race order so I was only out on my 85. I rode the outer edges of the track and just really checked out the track for danger zones. Just like it was a sight lap or how we see all of our Supercross hero’s do before their main events. I have raced Unadilla a lot, and I know they work the track lots before the races and the sun was out and it warmed up to 20c so I know it would dry up and get super tacky.

 My Dad has told me all kinds of crazy stories about Unadilla, from the Motocross of Nations in 1996, and Nationals. I will say I have never seen any Hill People on the U2 track, or Bob Hannah.

 There were about 15 Canadians down trying to qualify in many classes.

 In Lorretta’s they have Ltd (Stock bike) and Mod classes.

 Saturday LTD Class races.

 I lined up on my KTM 85SX and wasn’t too sure how it would go, since I have only been in a few races on it. I got a great gate pick, and we were only the 2 so there wasn’t any big start ruts yet. I got a really good start, running in the top 5, it was super tacky and I was glad I picked my favorite Dunlop MX31 tires. I loved the track but then I made a small mistake that cost me 3 positions on the last lap putting me in 8^th. I was really happy with how I did!

 Next was 65 practice but I knew the track so skipped it since the 65 10-11 moto was only 4 races later. I rolled up to the gate a little late, but just in time because of announcing. Again I got a great start running in a freight train of 8 riders with another Canadian Cameron Wrozyna leading the way. I think I might have been going even faster than the 85 moto. I moved up to 3rd when I passed Cameron parked on the side of the track with a mechanical. Then I was in a battle and lost some ground finishing 4^th.

 A few hours later and I was back on the line for Moto 2. The track was really fast now, ok maybe it was my KTM 65 SXS and 85SX pulling me along.

 In 85 Moto 2 I got another good start running up front in 5^th, but really in the front group only ½ second out of 1^st. yes these races are tight. I made up some ground when someone ahead made a mistake. Then it was my turn to make the mistake, I cross rutted on the uphill straight and managed to stay up. I did lose 2 places though. Then with 2 laps to go I started to slip back with some bogging on the long uphill. It was weird because if I blipped the throttle it would react. For all you mechanics out there do you know what caused it??? If you guessed jetting it would be yes, but the real problem was a little piece of dirt that slipped past our careful eyes when doing a filter change I guess. When I was full throttle the dirt would get sucked up and cover the main jet hole and starve the bike of gas. I got 8^th, placing 8^th overall! Mission accomplished qualified in 85 9-11 LTD! Next was 65 10-11 LTD, I got an awful start and was buried in the pack after a first corner pile up. It was chase time and it was a little more challenging on the smaller wheels in the deep Unadilla ruts. All I could manage by the end was a 10^th place, but this put me 6^th overall, now qualified in both 65 and 85 LTD classes. Cameron went 17-4 for 11^th overall in 65 10-11 LTD, so will be off to another LL Area Qualifier. US rider Hunter Layton (who races Walton) went 1-1 in 85 9-11 LTD.

Sunday Unlimited (Mod) Class races

This is the Big Money day! No we don’t make money, but Mod Class race day is where you get to see all the hopped up / super trick MX bikes. Yes I am sure there are $10,000- $ 25,000 bikes on the track in the different classes. You see in the US racers travel to Area Qualifiers, then Regional Qualifiers in more than one Area with hopes to make it to Lorretta’s in July! Yes we travelled 4 hours, but there were racers from Texas, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and even a rider from Equador!

 I on the other hand do not race a Modified bike! I have a KTM 65 SXS, and a KTM 85 SX. These work for me, and yes if I make it to Lorretta’s I will have to make some changes, but remember having a Mod bike doesn’t make you go fast! Training and riding make you fast, and then when you are up to speed the Mod’s will help mostly on the start where you can pass 38 other riders!

 In 85 9-11 I got more good starts, and rode as best I could in both motos. I went 10-9 for 8^th. So I was a little surprised when I saw that I was Qualified in 85 7-11 Mod! Cameron took 1^st overall.

 65 10-11 is the more important class for me, and I think I have my best chances of making it to Lorrettas on my 65!

 Moto 1 – I warmed up with my tradition of Jumping Jacks behind the gate, then jumped on my Nihilo Concepts / Wheelsport KTM 65 SXS. I was ready and I pulled a 3^rd place start then into 2^nd in the quick right hander that puts you on the track, and boom I hit this HUGE breaking bump that kicked my rear wheel sideways and my bar almost dragging, I was feet on the pegs pinching my knees hard to stay up and did. I also lost about 12 spots, but held my Nihilo Concepts Power Blade power valve (a stock legal part) full open all the way past riders up the hill into 5^th. Then I took a new inside line that sent me headed straight for a hay bale. I had to slow and fell back. This left me running in the top 10. My Dad had a hard time picking me out, as I was wearing my ALIAS MX gear, and it is a Hot brand in the US, so he lost track of my placing. The results sheet confirmed it, I was 10^th.  Cameron took 1^st.

 Moto 2 – this was make or break for me, but it was a very long day with this race starting at 6:15PM. I was ready, well I guess I might have spaced out or something as I now had the worst start ever seen on a 65! I did wake up after everyone left and charged hard into the first corner and made like a mouse finding a small opening to get through moving into the freight train of riders in 16^th. I rode hard, and it seemed easy to pass riders on long straights, corners and anywhere I tried. It was amazing and I crossed the line happy in 7^th! Ok I wasn’t happy with my start. Cameron took 1^st overall, and is riding awesome. I took 8^th overall and another mission accomplished I am qualified in 65 9-11 Mod!

 Wait it got better than that! I had a fun weekend with friends, got to race hard, and I qualified in all 4 classes I entered, even on my new class 85!

 A shout out to my sponsors Atlas Brace and Bell Helmets, whose products kept my friend and training partner Cam Pytel safe after a big crash. Yes he crashed hard in a slow spot and the Atlas brace and Bell helmet broke, but they broke did their job, and he did not!

 Canadians who qualified:   (these are the qualifying places as you can enter the race and choose not to pay extra to qualify)

 Rob Thorton                  Senior +45 6^th

Djuro Landon                65 7-9 LTD 5^th

Emrick Ares                  85 9-11 LTD 4^th  

Cameron Wrozyna         65 10-11 LTD 8^th, 65 7-11 Mod 1^st, 85 9-11 Mod 2^nd

Thomas Rendall            65 10-11 LTD 3^rd, 65 7-11 Mod 6^th, 85 9-11 LTD 6^th, 85 9-11 Mod 8^th                      

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