Hi everyone, To be honest all I have really been doing since the AMA outdoor nationals started has been train, ride and prepare for each event. So here's how I got on at my most recent nationals.

RED BUD:

The Red Bud facility was renowned to be the best track on the AMA outdoors schedule. And to be honest, out off all the ones I have been too so far, it certainly didn't disappoint! In timed training I found myself feeling comfortable almost at once and managed to put in a great time to put me in sixth going to the line.

I got a good jump of the gate and would have been in about 5th going into the first corner but some Yam rider decided to take a dirt sample and left his bike in front of mine. I nearly got over him and his bike but Porcel managed to get his bike wedged in my back wheel.

So while his 50 Kawasaki helpers came to his rescue and got him on his way it took me another 30 seconds to start my bike. I got going again and was riding good but was mainly saving energy and looking at lines for the second moto.

I made the decision to go high on the gate and obviously the series leaders knew something I didn't because as the tractor was pulling round grooming the start area and first corner, he left a nice hard un ripped up part right down the inside!

But that didn't matter I got out to a sweet start and found myself in fourth going around the first corner. Within the next few turns and jumps I actually managed to pass Porcel, but the Dungey took a tumble and Porcel slipped by me again.

I was still in third and going into a long sandy whoop section when fellow English rider Tommy Searle tried to bang his way past me. We were even going into the next 180º corner and as Tommy was on the outside he decided to rail the rut even though I was in his path.

So we had a little bar banging and no one went down but this allowed the pack to close up on us. Tommy made a break and got away while Metcalf and Weimer were both trying to make attacks.

Just before the huge Lorrocos leap Hondas Metcalf got by me and hitting the jump 5th gear wide open I launched myself into orbit. Luckly the landing was where I landed so from then on I was getting in the mix with Weimer and Metcalf.

Eventually I would break away from Barcia who was sat behind and was catching Davalos (who holeshotted) but just didn't have enough to get around him. So putting in a strong moto I ended up 6th!

MILLVILLE

The track was sweet and the weather was nice too. Not too hot like it has been in California. I did okay in timed training but a mechanical issue pushed us into having to change a motor just before moto 1.

A horrible start put me back a long ways and I found myself struggling to get into the feel of the new motor. Finally about half way through the race I stared picking it up and felt a bit better, passing nearly 20 guys I got myself into 12th and could see that I was actually catching the guys in front, just didn't have enough time.

I made a perfect jump of the gate in moto 2, but got pushed out in turn one and was in about 14th ... I made a load of attack passes and got myself into 6th where I was battling with Metcalf and Tickle for over half the moto.

With about 5 laps to go I made a mistake in the infamous whoop section and nearly ran the whoop monster over haha going off the track. With that the last two round winner Jake Weimer managed to slip by and I was under attack by another kawi rider Tommy Searle and a yam rider.

For the next two laps I held them off but a mistake two laps to go allowed the yam and the kawi to get around me. I managed to hold off tommy for the remainder of the race.

I got really tired at the end of the moto but was pleased that I was battling for about 5th for quite some time but at the end I knew if I was to try and go any faster I would have crashed. I had some scary moments haha.

WASHOUGAL

Firstly the track, as do all of these National races looked awesome. And secondly being so high up in the country the massive pine trees made for some good obstacles to miss if you went off the track haha and the track very dark in some spots.

Unfortunately I found out in practice the track was a lot slicker than it looked and in timed training I went down on my fast lap leaving no room for another lap, I was placed in 15th to the line.

I managed to get a real good jump off the gate and found myself in 5th in the early stages. I made some swift passes and got into third behind Dungey. For the next 5 laps I really showed myself how I could ride and only really lost a few seconds on the leaders.

As the moto wore on my physical size and age started to pay its toll. I had some really good battles along the way but slipped back to 9th by the end. For me this was a solid ride and I was just looking to finish inside the top 10 both motos.

Another good jump in moto two put me right in the mix going up horsepower hill. And for the next five laps again I rode strong and held my own out there.

On about lap 6, Justin Barcia tried to make a pass but I shut him down and made another charge for 3 laps. I managed to edge out a 3 second lead on Barcia who was in 7th but the last few laps I grew weaker and wanting to finish inside the top ten without going down Barcia got around me and so did Yamaha rider Broc Tickle on the last lap.

It was a great accomplishment for me to see my name in the top ten over all. I have been working hard and each week I am getting a little stronger. As it says on the sheet everyone who was in front of me has been on the podium some time this year.

So its soon to be my time. Im only going to keep getting stronger and only going to work harder. I have a little break now for two weeks until we go into the home run and hit out the last four nationals.

I have just had word in that I will be racing the XGAMES supercross coming up this weekend... that's going to be exciting especially as I am racing along side the 450s and also Bubba.

Back to the gym...

Max