Rev’s blog… 9th May 2011

Rev’s blog… 9th May 2011

Hi guys,

Just thought I’d check in to let you all know how the season is going. It’s been quite good so far and I’m really enjoying working with the PAR Honda team.

My first race of the season after coming back from America was round one at Little Silver of the British Maxxis championship. I qualified in 12th place, which I was chuffed about as it got me into Superpole. In the first race I had a little crash and finish 23rd, which was not so good but race two was better, and I got a good start into about 13th out gate and raced my way up-to 9th place. The track was getting rough and the sun was getting low so it was hard to see by the end of the day. I got a good start again in the last one, although I was making a few mistakes because of the sun, but I still finished in 11th so I was pleased with that.

We went to Mallory Park for the KWS to help me get up-to my full race pace. I qualified in 2nd place behind Zach Osborne, and I felt really good. Race 1 was going well, and I was in 4th, but I had a little problem with my bike and had to pull in the get it fixed. I got back out on the track and came from dead last to 11th place. For race two the track was getting really dry and slick, and I was about 5th out the gate and pulled my way up to 3rd and was 10 secs behind 2nd. I pulled him in but could not get past him by the end of race, but it gave me quite a lot of confidence.

Then it was on to Hawkstone Park for the International, which was quite a big thing for me and I was really looking forward to it, because it’s a track I enjoy. It went really well at first for me 8th in qualifying and 11th in the first race, where I was making good progress. The race was stopped after ½ of the race due to Luke’s (Hawkins) accident. Then in race two I was again making progress, but I got taken out at the top of the hill and crashed into the bank and hit the tree. I dislocated my finger so I couldn’t finish the race, and I was pretty bashed up. It was a bit disappointing as I felt we could have done quite a lot better.

I hadn’t been able to ride during the week with my hand being so sore, and at the next British meeting (Canada Heights) my finger was still playing me up so I couldn’t hold on properly. Our aim was just to go and get as many points as possible, especially as I’d been off the bike so much. I qualified in 23rd, which was not good. My starts were good but I just couldn’t hold on due to my hand. I finished 15th overall and still scored some points, but also dropped back in the championship. It was so frustrating to want to do better but be held back by injury.

Lyng was a good outing for me, and my hand was better and not hurting as much. The track was good starting getting rough and I like it when it’s like that. I finished 13th overall I think it was but I was still pleased with that.

After Lyng we set off to Holland for the first round of the EMX-2 series. The track was hard, really hard and it was very rough with so many races in one day. Qualifying went really good on the Sunday, and I qualified 6th in my group after lying third for most of the race. It was also the biggest crowd I’ve ever ridden in front of, and the atmosphere was amazing. Unfortunately race day did not really go to well for me, as in both races I got tangled up in people’s first lap crashes and then had to try and come from further back. I crashed in the first race, and although the lap times were good, I just couldn’t come through like I wanted. Then in the second race I slipped going up a jump and put my footpeg though my boot into my foot, and I was unable to finish. I finished 23rd overall, which was a big disappointment because my pace was there, it just didn’t really come together on the day.

Then the next race was at Milton Malsor. It was wet in qualifying, and I was still recovering from the EMX-2 race. I’d got a really niggly injury during the week, like a trapped nerve, so my leg kept going dead. My physio John treated it, but I was sore so I again couldn’t train as much as I wanted. In the week I just couldn’t do the ride time I needed to. So, at Milton Malsor I only did two sighting laps and one fast lap and went straight into 7th and stayed there till the end, which meant I didn’t have to go back out so I could save my energy and my leg. I could not get into a rhythm whilst riding so was hard for me. I finished 10th overall, and I was pleased with that, as it was my best overall score so far, especially as I could not ride my full 100%.

Now we’ve got a few weeks off I’ve come home and we’ve made some changes to my programme to improve my fitness. I’ve had chance to let my body heal from the little injuries we’ve had, and now there’s a bit of breathing space to refocus for the next part of the season before France E-MX2 in June. So every day I’m training really hard and I’m looking forward to continuing to improve for the rest of the year.

Thanks very much for all of your support..

Anthony

Rev 356

www.revracing.co.uk