The big news we have is the announcement that SPIKE Hardcore Energy has signed on as our title sponsor.  As we previously shared in the press release, SPIKE is a sugar free, carb free, and calorie free energy drink, as well as a company with a lot of knowledge in the sports supplement and training area.  SPIKE is available at GNC, and 7-Eleven stores, and becoming more available every day.  The drink comes in both 8.4 oz. ("Shooter") and 16 oz. ("Shotgun") sizes.  SPIKE is available in Original, Quila Lime, and Orange Gold flavors.  Check out the full SPIKE lineup at www.biotest.net.

On the racing front, we are coming off a good weekend with Josh earning eighth place overall in Texas, right in line with our goals for this year.  The heat was a major factor, as the temperature was easily over 100 degrees.  

Josh and our team trainer, Tim Gearhart were at the gym working out the Tuesday after the race.  Josh recounted the race. "It was 100-plus degrees, I got a good start, around eighth, and then made a couple of passes.  Tedesco passed me back, and towards the end I was feeling the heat.  With two laps to go Ferry and Byrne got by giving me ninth.  I was a little weak from the heat, but after cooling down a bit in the semi I felt ready to go for the second moto.  I had a great start in the second moto but went down in the tight first turn.  I got up and charged all moto long to finish 11th giving me eighth overall.  The track was really rough the second moto, I credit Tim and our training here for allowing me to recover quickly after the first moto and being able to charge all moto long in the second moto."

Tim Gearhart explained the training program.  "The whole purpose of the training program is to prepare the rider`s bodies to take that kind of a beating in that heat slugging around a 230 lb. motorcycle.  That`s why we incorporate the strength training, to handle that kind of punishment.  We focus on muscular endurance, we are not weight lifters, rather, we focus on lighter weights with more repetitions.  That helps with stamina and recovery.  Recovery is key in outdoor motocross because you need to have not one but two good motos.  We mix up the strength training with long slow distance cardio coupled with high intensity interval training to simulate a race, keeping heart rates at 180 - 190 beats a minute.  The idea is to make the training as difficult as possible so that racing seems easy compared to the training."

Gavin had an especially tough time in Texas, as he was still recovering from his previous ankle injury from the Vegas Supercross and ended up tweaking his other ankle.  "It was just after the halfway mark in moto one, I was going down a choppy rutted straight and got cross-rutted and the bike just went down and pulled me with it.  It happened so fast I can`t really remember the crash, I just remember looking at the skid plate with the bike on top of me and gas dripping all over me.   On the parade lap for the second moto my ankle was really stiff, and then I went down in the first turn," said Gracyk.

Our test rider Eric Sorby continues to recover from his Glen Helen crash where he was riding for the injured Gracyk.  Eric was knocked out for a few minutes, so he has been off the bike.  Eric explains, "I was excited to race such a good bike, but things went bad right away.  In practice, I got behind Bubba (James Stewart) to see how fast I needed to go to jump the big triple when a rock flew up from Bubba`s wheel and hit my thumb really hard which caused me to let off for a second, so I cased the triple.  For the first moto I had trouble hanging on because my thumb hurt so bad, so I crashed a few times.  In the second moto I got whiskey throttle before the big step up and crashed hard into the fence knocking myself out.  It was one of the gnarliest crashes for me ever, I was lucky I was only knocked out.  I plan on riding again next week," he said.

The Smith family from Northport Florida was in town and stopped by our shop for a visit.  Behind the SPIKE Hardcore Energy Toyota/Yamaha YZ450 are from left to right Chad, Jeremy Albrecht, and Mary.  In front of the Yamaha is Zachary.  Thanks for stopping in and for supporting our team.

We are preparing for High Point this weekend.  The team staff always works hard, but everyone works harder during the outdoor motocross season.  With two days of riding on the weekend instead of one, and rough, muddy and or dusty conditions, there is always work to be done.  Mark Adams (left) who is Summey`s tuner, and Alex Ewing who wrenches for Gracyk must wash the bikes and prep them several times during the weekend, and then tear the bikes down to the frames each week after the race and prepare them for the next round.  We use some different parts and set-up techniques as well, for instance, check out the trick aluminum fuel tanks we run for the long 35 minute motos.

I am looking forward to seeing the High Point track for the first time.  We will check back in soon, thanks for reading our newsletter.