Short version:
Since '08 I have averaged riding my dirt bike <1X per year (sad, but true) for alot of reasons I won't bore everyone with. I have always liked this race, so I chose it for my "comeback." I got all the old, gummy pre-mix out of my bike, put on a fresh back tire & a few other fresh items & drove up there (I'm from Memphis). I got there early enough Sat. to ride the 2013 KTM 250 XC--nice bike!
I decided to ride the race nice & smooth & not try too hard, I'm too out of practice. I got lost between miles 2 & 3--went from mile marker 2 to #16--even I knew that wasn't right! & lost several minutes relocating the trail. After that I just relaxed & had fun. I was on row 17, so I got to see some REAL FINE dirt bike riding when the pros from the next few rows would blow by me in every section. I could tell that Charlie Mullins was riding faster & more aggressively than everyone else, so I'm not surprised he won.
Even though I'm pretty fit--I ride pedal bikes with some of the local racer boys, & do some little sprint triathlons--it's not the same as dirt bike riding; by the 5th section, I was tired! I was ready to do something else by then.
So I finished, had fun & didn't get hurt. I finished 22d or something like that in 50+B, but at least I beat a couple of guys & I know what I need to work on if I can find time to do another--I'm thinking hard about Maplesville, I've always enjoyed that 1 too. I remember riding it in 1976 or so, on my 1975 KTM, so it will be like stepping back in time for me.
