I must say that I'm pretty disappointed in myself for not blogging about my racing for the last half of 2010, it's simply unacceptable! With that said, my New Years Resolution for 2011 is to keep this blog up to date regarding my racing shenanigans. But before I can officially begin the new year, I need to sum up the 2010 season. So here it is in a nutshell...

In October I spent the month wrapping up the 2010 National Hare & Hound Series, consistency and having a "never quit" kind of attitude lead me to my second AMA/National Hare & Hound Championship in the Women's A/B class.

Last Round of the AMA/National H&H Series
Photo by Mark Kariya

I can't wait for the 2011 National H&H season to begin! This year it's going to be pretty exciting to race alongside women like Blais Racing's Shayla Fulfer who will be rocking the N2L on her KTM this year.

Blais Racing's Shayla Fulfer
Photo by Mark Kariya

Not only is Fulfer going to be a hard one to beat, but so is District 37's very own Sarah Kritsch, who has been dominating the Woman's class for the past few years now and is ready to add a National Hare & Hound Championship to her resume.

D37 Women's No. 1 Plate holder Sarah Kritsch
Photo by Mark Kariya

Luckily for us when November rolled around we only had to drive to Las Vegas for the 2010 AMA Racing Championship Awards Banquet, which was held at the Red Rock Resort and Casino. We spent Friday night at the Red Rock paying tribute to the elite few who were inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame. 

Cameron and I at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Photo by Kinney Jones

On Saturday it was a bright and early start with us going to take a sneak peak at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Concours d' Elegance bike show, before we hit the banquet hall for the AMA Racing Awards Ceremony, presented this year by World of Powersports. We were greeted with goodie bags at the door and a buffet style lunch, prior to the actual start of the awards ceremony.

Accepting my No. Plate from AMA President Joe Bromley
Photo by Kinney Jones

Racing and receiving an award for a National Series can still feel like home when you get to celebrate your accomplishments with fellow District 37 racers, Rachel and Andrea Bosemer. Both sisters kill it on four wheels, and Rachel was being awarded the No. Plate in the ATV C Class for the AMA National Hare & Hound Series.

Rachel Bosemer after she received her No. Plate with her sister Andrea

In the past the AMA Awards Banquet has been the closing curtain call for my year's racing season, but that was not the case for 2010. After an agonizing 52 year wait, Catalina finally re-opened their island to us racers, with the comeback of the Catalina Grand Prix, sponsored by Red Bull! Right after the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Cameron prepped the bikes and drove them down to Long Beach, where their shipping containers awaited them for their 22 mile trip across the Pacific Ocean.

Pretty impressive sight, there were bikes EVERYWHERE in the impound yard Friday morning before the start of the weekend's racing events. 

We arrived on the Island a few days after the bikes did, and the vibe on the island was off the hook! Everyone was there to race, but more importantly we were all there to be a part of racing history. Cameron and I both raced on Sunday, so we spent Saturday trekking up and down hills looking for the best spot on the course to watch the race, it felt more like we were at a round of Outdoors, than at a Grand Prix Event, there were people everywhere!

It was nice to watch Cameron race for a change!
Photo by Andrews Powder Coating

The race course was epic! The course took us to the tops of mountains overlooking the harbor and casino all the way down to a motocross section that wouldn't have been complete if it wasn't for the giant mud hole. And just in case you were wondering, yes I did go through the mud hole in attempt to make a pass on someone, that mud was cold!

Making a turn onto the MX section of the course
Photo by Matt McGowen

I guess you could say Grand Prixs are not my forte, but after a crash and playing catch up for most of the race I ended by 6th in the Women's B Class. I enjoy racing the GPs because I might not be the fastest women out there, but they help me learn how to become a better rider. Racing on the Island of Catalina will defiantly be an experience I will never forget!

Well, I think that wraps up 2010.......

I promise to be back soon with a recap about my first race in 2011 as an Expert, in the meantime....

Keep it on two wheels :)

Jojo

I apologize for my lack of writing about my racing and travels in the past couple of months. A lot has happened since then! Sometimes I forget that even though I'm not on my bike I still need to check in now and then!

Getting a last minute ride in

Racing in the high desert has it's advantages; you get to race through amazing terrain that you probably would never get to see any other way, and you get to have a summer break during the race season! With temperatures simmering in the triple digits it makes racing and summertime heat a deadly combination. Mid year I was able to wrap things up before summer with a points lead in the Woman's A/B class in the National Hare & Hound Series, as well as gaining a points lead in the Woman's Expert class in the US Desert Racing Series.

But before summer could officially begin for me I had to race one more race, the kind of race you do just for fun, because you love to ride! Memorial Day weekend I had the opportunity to team up with Sarah Kristch, female off-road racing super star. Sarah is last year's District 37 #1 plate winner in the Woman's class and she is currently defending her #1 plate title this year. With all of her night racing experience from racing down in Baja I had a lot to ride up too.

Riders meeting before the night race

Riding at night is like walking through your house blindfolded, you've walked through the place a million times before, but with the lights out you begin to second guess your every move on how to get to your bedroom through the kitchen. As the sun began to go down Sarah was all geared up and ready to start us off on the first leg of the night race, after the flag came down Sarah was off with a great start! The atmosphere was spectacular, I felt like I was at Disneyland watching the Main Street Electric Parade! There were lights everywhere on bikes, lights hanging on pit trucks, and flashing lights on riders and racers alike.

Ready to race

The entire night racing experience was a great one and it was the perfect way to wrap up the half way point of the season, especially since we got to take home the 1st Woman's Overall Trophy! Special thanks to the guys over at Baja Designs for the free entry and to Cameron Brewer for not only being the best pit support out there, but for also grilling up a mean tri-tip while we were racing!

Sarah Kritsch and I with our trophies

Even though the bikes and gear bags are stowed away in the garage for the hot summer months we have a lot to get done before September. Cameron and I have purchased our very first home in Corona and we are so excited to be starting this next chapter of our lives! This past month has been spent on packing and unpacking hundreds of boxes, traveling back and forth from home improvement stores, and hours of do it yourself home projects, as well as mastering the art of gardening. Time is moving so fast that before we know it we'll be loading up the van with bikes and fuel and heading out to the desert!

Where we now call "home"

See you all in September!

~ Joanna

The month of May is already coming close to an end and so is the AMA/Kenda National Hare & Hound Series, with only two rounds left after last week's round in Jericho, Utah. Not only did the Sugarloafers MC host the 7th round of the H&H series, but they also celebrated their 50th anniversary of running this race. Terry Bland, the first ever to win the Sugarloafers' Cherry Creek National Hare & Hound was present at Friday's autograph signing session. On Saturday Terry would be aboard his BSA 500 Gold Star acting as the "Hare" for this year's National.

The start of the race was super fast! They ran us through an open field and towards the end of the bomb the course went from wide open to riding with extreme caution because of all the ditches and rocks hidden amongst the brush. I was excited for this race because unlike last year, there were a number of women racing, including Idaho racer Shayla Fulfer, who is currently running second overall in the AMA/Kenda National Hare & Hound Series. After this weekend's race, Shayla ended up narrowing the points gap between us by winning the Woman's Class. Awesome job Shayla!

This race was the LONGEST race I have ever done, coming in at 115 miles! After the Viking's National last month I started running and training more and more to gain the endurance it would take for me to finish this race. The first loop was a FAST 30 miles, taking us through some valleys and some rocky hill climbs. I came into the pits feeling pretty good, Cameron fueled me up and swapped out my goggles for a fresh pair and I was ready for loop 2. The 37 mile loop was a little different from the first one, there was a lot of weaving in and out of Cedar trees, as well as different elevation changes. At one point I went from boiling hot to shivering cold, at that point I looked across the mountain and noticed snow! As I went down the mountain the temperature began to rise. At the end of loop 2 I was welcomed by a "LEMONADE" stand, and of course I had to stop, not only was it the best lemonade, but it was the best cherry lemonade I have ever had.

Once I came into the pits I had accomplished my goal of coming through and making it to loop 3 before the race officials had closed it. Normally in a National Hare & Hound event the last loop is the most technical and difficult, but in this case it was by far my favorite! I had a ton of "close calls" with the Cedar trees, believe me when I say I did have some encounters with their branches and am now left with two bruised and battered arms. I guess no tank tops for me, for a while at least =)

If the trees weren't something new for a California desert racer, what about all the water! During the last loop there were two water crossing that could have ruined somebody's day if they weren't made during their first attempt. The first one came up unexpectedly, I followed the black and orange arrows and made a sharp left turn and next thing you know I'm starring at a water crossing that looked more like a swamp pool with two guys and their bikes laying in the middle of the mud bath. I slowed down a bit and assessed the situation, instead of charging straight through the middle of it and possibly getting stuck, I decided to take the route less traveled and veered left and my KTM was able to pull right though it with ease. The second water crossing I was a bit nervous for, because last year I ended up crashing in the middle of it. But not this year, I came in slow and crawled right through it. To be honest I think I psyched myself out a little too much for this crossing, so I literally "crawled" through it.

Coming into the finish after racing 115 miles, I started to think about all the people who have helped me along the way. Desert racing is a funny thing, sometimes it's not about being the fastest one out there, but about overcoming your personal struggles. For some it might be getting up that hill or sticking it through those last 20 miles on a flat tire. This season racing the National Hare & Hound Series has been a real learning experience for me not just in riding, but also in myself. I'm starting to learn that quitting is not an option, for all the troubles I have been faced with this year quitting would have been the easy way out.

You see this year I currently have only one win under my belt, but I have been determined to never throw in the towel. Round 1 my power valve was out of whack giving me no power, I started dead last with my throttle held wide open, it felt like I was going nowhere! Round 2 I thought was the end, my bike on it's side leaking coolant, I was able to borrow my friend's bike and start an hour after everybody else started, but I still was able to finish. Round 3 was the craziest rain storm I had ever seen causing a lot of people to pack up and head home. It's all the little things and decisions that you make along the way that really influence the end result.

Now that I am home, it is time to wash up the bike and get it ready for the first round of District 37's Night Racing Series. This Saturday I will be a Night Owl racing solo at SoCal MC's Team Night race. Then take the red eye and cross the desert to race Round 4 of the U.S. Desert Racing Series Sunday morning. Can't wait for Saturday!

The banner came crashing down at 10:30 Sunday morning for Round 6 of the National Hare & Hound Series in Johnson Valley, Ca. Saying that I was a little nervous for this round would be a complete understatement! This weekend I had the opportunity of racing against KTM backed woman MX star Sarah Whitmore. I was pretty intimidated at the start but once we were off the line all my fears went away and it was time to get down to business.

The Vikings Motorcycle Club did a great job laying out the first 37 mile loop, it had a little bit of everything from long windy sand washes to rocky single track stuff to wide open valley crossings. My only regret during the first loop is that I forgot I was going to have have to race a second 40 mile loop! During the first loop I had the chance to battle with Whitmore for a little bit, I passed her after the bomb, then she passed me, then I passed her in the rocks, and then she caught me in a sand wash and that was the last I saw of her. We came into the pits about 30 seconds apart, but heading out onto loop 2 I could feel my bodying begin to wear down from the heat.

Loop 2 was demanding, but I could tell the Vikings put a lot of thought into this national caliber course. Everything was very doable but it definitely tested your skill as a rider physically, as well as mentally. Half way through the second loop I started to realize that I am part of the "working class," because I was beginning to feel pretty winded, after this weekend I for sure need to "up" my workout regimen. After running out of water and passing several lizards basking in the sun, I made it to the finish.

Not only were my friends waiting for me at the finish, but so was the ice cream truck! Just when you start to think you've seen it all, there's always something right around the corner to throw you for a loop. I didn't get the overall win in the Woman's class, but I feel like I walked away from this round as a better rider. Round 7 is only two weeks away in Jericho, Utah which is good because Round 6 will still be fresh in my mind.

This weekend I'm going to roll the dice in hopes of winning the Woman's Amateur class and receiving my last transfer ride needed to move up to the Expert Class. Primm..... Here I come!

A Weekend for Firsts.....

This weekend I will be racing in Round 6 of the AMA National Hare & Hound Series hosted by the Vikings MC. This race has been known as "The Viking's Virgin Voyage," which definitely speaks true to WMA superstar Sarah Whitmore, who will be racing a National Hare & Hound for the very first time! Good luck to Sarah and all the other ladies who will be out there trying to earn their way up to a 2010 Championship.

Press Release taken from the AMA website:

Sunday, March 7th 2010 will be one of those days that will be filed anyway in my memory for years to come. It was the kind of day where you start off asking yourself, "and why am I doing this again?" And of course the answer is always the same, "because you love it and in your crazy world it's the only time when you get to be 110% in the moment."

Thanks to Don Emde and everyone else at Parts Magazine, I got to spend the night in a hotel the night before Round 3 of the National Hare & Hound Series in El Centro, Ca. I woke up early Sunday morning, well rested and ready for a win. This weekend's race was the first weekend this year that my bike was completely dialed in, no more coolant leaks or motor problems, and best of all Cameron re-geared it with a brand new Afam sprocket!

We headed out to the race site fairly early since it was raining cats and dogs we wanted to make sure we had enough time to get ready before the actual start. Looking down pit row it looked like a battle field of plastic bags, duct tape, and ponchos! We're pretty spoiled here in California with our desert racing as far as the weather goes, so to see everyone getting creative with their lack of rain gear was pretty comical. The rain was coming down hard, so I threw on my Moose Racing jacket over my XCR gear and a poncho on top of that, in an effort to stay somewhat dry.

The ride down to the start was an adventure within itself, so I was starting to feel a little anxious about the race. Who knew you would have to cross rivers and lakes to just get to the start! Once the banner dropped it was a race for pure survival, this didn't feel like a Hare & Hound, but more like a qualifying round for Last Man Standing. Luckily for me I had a fresh set of Kenda Parker DTs on my KTM which worked wonders in the mud! I don't have much experience racing through mud and skimming through 60 foot water crossings, but my tires kept handling whatever Mother Nature threw at us with flying colors.

For the first 30 miles I was battling back and forth with Tresa Worrell, the current Woman's point leader in the National Hare & Hound Series. She started out in front, then I passed her and ended up riding a little over my head and crashing into a mud puddle and then she regained the lead. I picked up my bike, smeared some more mud on my goggles in an attempt to wipe them off, and took off again. Within 5 miles or so I finally caught Worrell and made the pass, at about mile marker 22 there was an alternate gas pit, which I needed to stop at, so I was passed one again! Oh well, that's what made this such an exciting race, not only were the conditions out of this world, but I had the privilege of racing with some serious competition.

Racing in the desert has a funny way of messing with your head, just when you feel like you are on a roll the dirt throws something out at you to catch you off guard. The terrain would go from nice wet sand in the sand washes to total pools of seeping mud in areas that are usually hard packed dirt trails. There were times when I would come up over a hill and enter a war zone of riders embedded in the mud with their bikes laying next to them in clouds of steam. In one of these sections was where I was able to regain the lead by going to the outside of the "mud pit" and using the rocks as traction to pull me out of the mess.

All was going well, I was finally in my grove and at this point my attitude was saying, "Water? what water?" I was tapped out in a sand wash at race mile 49 when all of the sudden my bike just decided to shut off. I pulled it over to the side and examined the situation after a couple of minutes I finally realized I must have fouled a plug with all of these darn water crossing. Changing the plug wasn't the problem for me, it was getting to it! There was so much mud caked on it that that it took me a good while to scrap it off and get my spark plug wrench around it, but I finally did! Once I swapped the plugs out, I was back on and ready to continue onto the pits. I had about six miles left to go, nobody told me that part of those six miles were under water! After I went through the last check I had to ride through what looked like a swamp where alligators would hang out, I for sure thought I was going to get stuck and have to get Cameron to come out in his swamp buggy to rescue me. But luckily for me my KTM just powered through all the water and muck and we were able to make it to the pits.

Once I got into the pits the second loop was already closed due to safety reasons because the weather had continued to get worse. Saying I was a little bummed is definitely an understatement, I really wanted to do the second loop since I raced this race last year and had a blast on loop two. But rules are rules and I took the one loop finish and first place finish in the Woman's A/B class, which puts me in the lead going into Round 4 of the National Hare & Hound Series.

Round 3 has really prepared me for what's in store for Round 4 in Murphy, Idaho. This coming weekend we are going to spend tearing down the bikes and getting them ready for next week's trek up north to race the National.

Thank you to all my sponsors who have helped me along the way, without your continued support I wouldn't be able to continue to do what I love. Special thanks to Cameron Brewer for always going above and beyond in prepping my bike for race day, without you and your mad skills I would probably still be stuck out in the mud.

~ Joanna

Headed south to El Centro today for Round 3 of the National Hare and Hound series, tomorrow March 7. Since the last race, where I raced a borrowed bike, I had to replace my clutch side case cover due to it breaking behind the water pump. I had coolant leaking into my transmission and contaminating the oil. It's all fixed now and ready to rip. Adjusted the powervalve for more top end power and re-geared it taller for some more top speed and installed a fresh set of Kenda Parker DT tires and FMF Gnarly pipe. El Centro is a fast race so I feel like I have the right setup on my KTM 200 XC for a win. Stay tuned for my race report, when I'm back!