I feel guilty saying this but for the last couple of days I’ve done naff all. I’ve had a tough couple of weeks on the road and racing and now I just need to chill out a bit.
When I last wrote I was slap bang in the middle of racing Hell’s Gate and the final round of the SuperEnduro World Championship. In the days leading up to Hell’s Gate I was in Spain doing the official photo shoot for KTM and promptly got a dose of the trots. Ending Hell’s Gate almost comatosed on the podium I still needed to pick myself up and get ready for the final round of the SuperEnduro in France, just three weeks later.
For the last couple of days I’ve done naff all.
Getting home from Italy midweek I checked in with my doctor to make sure all was ok before the final round of the British Extreme Enduro Championship that coming weekend. Like all doctors he aired on the side of caution and advised me to lie up for a couple of days. I laughed, explained that wouldn’t be possible, and took things as easy as I could before getting back to racing.
With the BEEC being a short-two round series I knew it was going to be tough to defend my title. Finishing second behind David Knight at round one was a decent effort but with David on top form and myself just a little worse for wear I knew it wouldn’t be easy.
Getting home from Italy midweek I checked in with my doctor.
After a good start I binned it in the rocks. I lost a lot of time but managed to fight my way back into third position by the time the chequered flag came out. However, Knight won so it wasn’t enough to keep hold of the title.
With the Hard Enduro races done it was time to get back into SuperEnduro mode. My goal was to end it on a high. Entering into the final round in Tours, France only one-point separated Knight and myself for the runner-up position in the championship. Taddy was too far out front for me to think about winning the title. But after finishing second overall in 2012 I really wanted to repeat that result – especially after David got one over on me in the BEEC!
I arrived into the stadium on the cab of a truck wearing some ridiculous costume.
Practice and qualifying went good. The guys from the US EnduroCross series built the track. It took longer than usual to get dialled into it was so grippy. After the crazy opening ceremonies, in which I arrived into the stadium on the cab of a truck wearing some ridiculous costume, it was down to the business of racing.
I hooked a massive holeshot from the inside gate in Final #1 and led for half the race. I was going for the win but my arms pumped up. I could barely hold on and faded back to third. The other two races went good but after trying everything I could think of to pass David for the win in Final #3 it didn’t happen and I ended the series third overall.
On the bright side, Blazusiak and Knight are two of the world’s most experienced EnduroCross riders. This was still only my second season of indoor racing so to be mixing it with them is something I’m proud of. The past couple of weeks have taken their toll – travelling, training, riding and racing – so now it’s time to take my Doc’s advice and chill out a bit. Erzberg’s coming soon, and I want to be in tip-top shape to try and defend my title…
Jonny