A QUICK RECAP: I trained really hard with Steve Hatch for 4 weeks in the beginning of winter in order to give myself a great base to grow on during the winter. I then trained and practiced all winter to prepare for the first GNCC round in Florida. The race started out very well, but ended in a freak accident and a broken collarbone. I missed the next round in Georgia while I laid in bed healing from surgery. I had the collarbone plated and screwed and was back for the 3rd round in North Carolina. racing in 3 weeks. I surprised even myself when I pulled a 9th in the Pro Lites class with a collarbone that was still technically broken other than the plate and screws holding it together. Trust me, I felt every last braking bump! The next couple rounds went just as well with two more top 10's. 

    Now moving onto the muddiest race I've ever had to expose my poor bike to...the GNCC round in Millfield, OH, The John Penton.  I started the race morning off by going out to watch the morning class race.  I was going to walk different sections of the track and soon realized that it would be an absolute waste of my time since track was constantly changing due to all the mud. I came across one of my buddies, Jason Raines, while watching the mud fly and he most definitely agreed with my decision to go back to my van prep my bike for a mudfest.

    The flag dropped and the race was on its way. Only one guy was behind me when we entered the woods and I had already peeled off my goggles and was dodging roost.  I already knew the race was not going to be won by guys who just flat out pinned it. It was going to be won by the guy who picked the smartest lines. I put my head down and did just that.  This race was about not sticking your bike in a nasty mud hole and making sure you didn't abuse your bike so bad that it would not finish. There were plenty of guys out there with overheated bikes and fried clutches. You could not tell who was who out there or where you were in the standing until you saw the score board at the end of each lap...6th, 6th, 4th, 6th, and then, there it was...4th! I finished 4th in the Pro Lites from the back of the pack! Apparently the mud and I get along. However, the bike did not fair as well. Let's just say that I had to run an ad: For sale 2008 KTM 250F...low, low hours...

    Thank all of you for your continued support!! I know I would not be where I am today without people like you helping me to achieve my goals!

Eric Bailey