For the third stop of the Pro GRT series we headed down to Angel Fire, New Mexico. Its located about an hour North of Taos. The base of the resort is at 8,000 feet with the top of the course being at 10,600. Needless to say it was quite the change coming from sea level. We flew in on Wednesday and got everything set up and the course walked on Thursday. There were a few changes to the course since I had last raced it and they all looked like they were for the better.
I made the most of practice on both Friday and Saturday with the lift being shut down for most of our allotted practice times due to lightening. I was struggling to get up to the pace that I knew I should have been at. Being a lighter weight rider on the semi flat/high speed track it was not as easy for me to carry speed through sections. With only one lap on Saturday I wasn't able to get my lines sorted the way I wanted so decided to try I few new one during qualifying. Unfortunately most of the new lines didn't work out, putting me in the back of the pack and qualifying 39th.
Sunday forecasted even worse weather than what Saturdays had been with some heavy storms rolling in around 1:00 PM, right when our practice and race was supposed to start. During the riders meeting on Saturday the event organizers decided to give everyone open practice earlier on Sunday to ensure that everyone was able to practice that day.
Sunday forecasted even worse weather than what Saturdays had been with some heavy storms rolling in around 1:00 PM, right when our practice and race was supposed to start. During the riders meeting on Saturday the event organizers decided to give everyone open practice earlier on Sunday to ensure that everyone was able to practice that day.
During Sundays practice I was able to work on a few areas where I was struggling but still wasn't feeling like I had the speed. Just as the forecast had predicted, a big storm rolled right when the pro practiced started. There was a good hour of heavy rain and hail and then another hour of lighter rain as the cloud passed above. We sat around for a couple hours until the officials made the call to get everyone up the hill at once during a break in the storm. Race run would be the first time anyone would ride the track in the mud.
I finished the race in 32nd, seven places better than qualies and a second faster with the track running a bit slower than the day before. Huge thanks to Joy Ride Bikes for helping me get down here! Excited to get back for a round of the NW Cup down at Mt Hood and then it is off to National Champs in Mammoth California.
I finished the race in 32nd, seven places better than qualies and a second faster with the track running a bit slower than the day before. Huge thanks to Joy Ride Bikes for helping me get down here! Excited to get back for a round of the NW Cup down at Mt Hood and then it is off to National Champs in Mammoth California.