Forgot to mention on the way back from the Florida race a month ago I ended up standing in front of Hulk Hogan's best friend and former pro wrestler Brian Knobs at the airport. For some reason I was really pumped about this.
The week of March 2, I went down to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista for some UCI mandated drug tests. I really love it down there. Great people and an unbelievable training grounds make it one of my favorite spots.
Directly from Chula Vista I headed to Phoenix, AZ for the 5th stop of the ABA National Tour. This race has always been my favorite because it's held on the smoothest track we race on all year and the speeds are so high, not to mention it has one of the largest crowds of the year so the atmosphere is hot! On Saturday's UCI race I placed 6th. On Sunday's ABA race I came back to get a 1st. There's a cool part to this story though. On Sunday's we race three laps for our final and lowest points gets the overall win. In the first main I'm winning coming out of the second turn and my CHAIN FALLS OFF! Keep in mind I still have 3 more straightaways until the finish line. I pumped the remainder of the track without pedaling of course and I lead until two feet before the finish where I got passed by two guys. Even with my third in that race, I was able to come back and get two more second places, which still gave me the lowest points out of everyone to get the win. Check out the picture below that Dan Mooney got of my chain totally off in that race! Sorry I couldn't get a podium picture. I had to be a good friend and run Kyle Bennett to the airport directly after our last main event.
March 12th and 13th I was in Colorado Springs, CO for a USA Cycling board meeting. This was my first meeting as the Athlete Director for BMX and I must say it is quite interesting to see the inner workings of it all. I hope to help BMX Racing grow by giving my input as a competing athlete. You'll probably see me in a perma-suit and tie here pretty soon. A mustache will be in order too haha.
From Colorado I headed straight into Desoto, TX for a two-day clinic alongside Coach Greg Romero. For six hours each day we gave 24 riders our insight as to what could help them succeed at the upcoming USA Cycling National Championships that were to be held at this same track a week later. I love doing clinics as it allows for kids to get to see the "real Donny" and not so much the serious Donny that they might see on race day. Plus, we get to share with racers of all ages what we think can make them faster, all the while having some fun times and making new friends- and parents even learn too.
I stayed at my friend Jason Rogers' house during the week instead of flying home. I was able to have lunch with my friends from at&t at their headquarters in Dallas. Truly thankful for such an amazing sponsor as at&t, I am a lucky guy and I'll promote them 'till the end. I even got at&t's Lee Diaz a sweet Hyper bicycle and got him out on the BMX track for the first time ever! He said he's going to start riding now. Don't worry, I made him sign a waiver.
March 20-22 was a hard weekend. 3 full days of racing took place. Friday was a UCI race and it didn't go so well. I got pushed into the wall in the semi-finals and crashed. Saturday was BMX's National Championships. In 2007 I got the Gold. 2008 I got the Bronze. This year I came home with a Silver, but it was a really exciting race. The lead changed so much. I was third on the first straight, then I went into first in the second corner, then I got passed and went back to second and almost made the pass on the final straight only losing to my friend Jason by 4 inches! Check that lap out:
Saturday night after the National Championship race, Sun Bru (a local tanning supplier) put on a huge action sports party honoring BMX medal winning athletes Mike Day and myself. There was a bikini contest, a band, break dancing, freestyle show and even a car wrapped with both me and Mikey's likeness! It was definitely a fun night. Thanks to Brandon Shaw at Sun Bru for doing this for us. And yes, I had to be a judge for the bikini contest. Rules are rules...
I have about 5 weeks off from racing now so it's time to really get in a good shape for the end of year title run.
Check all the rad pics out below:
Thanks,
Donny
*Appreciate it. First main, no chain, let it rain.*
*Desoto qualifying*
*National Championship podium. Jason Rogers' first win ever. Congrats buddy*
*Sun Bru hookin' the left side of the car up for me*
*Mikey's side*
*I was a judge at the bikini contest. Only looky, no touchy*
*Me, Mike Day and Cru Jones. Don't trip, he's a regular on the scene now*
*Phoenix qualifying*
*Desoto*
*That's my bro Lee. He works for at&t, but will be a racer soon.*
*Sunday podium Desoto*
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