Practice on a YZ250F
4/16/05

It had already been a great weekend, but this weekend was special because I got to ride my dad’s YZ250F for the first time in a big bike practice. I felt great because my Dad trusted my riding skills enough to let me ride his bike. It was a sunny, cool day at Hollister Hills, perfect motorcycling weather. I had been riding fast all day on my 85, even faster than all of the intermediate riders. Exhausted, I returned to camp and sat down in my chair on the hill above the track to rest and watch my dad practice. As he rode up to me after his ride, he asked me if I wanted to ride his next practice on the 250. Of course I said “Yes,” and I was very excited because I had never ridden this class before.

I could feel the butterflies in my stomach beating hard as I prepared to get on his bike. I rode down to line up at the starting gate with the other big bikes, but since the 250 was so tall for me I couldn’t touch the ground. I had to lean up against a fence to avoid tipping over completely. Waiting nervously to get out on the track, all I heard was the deep roar of this huge engine.

Finally, they let us out! I took a couple laps, cautious, because I was so nervous. My confidence built as I passed other riders on the rough track. As I flew by these riders, I got more and more comfortable and started jumping and riding even more aggressively. About half way through the practice I felt like I was riding my 85 instead of the 250, not feeling timid at all. There were only a few riders out there faster than me. One very cool thing was that I passed my uncle and my friend’s dad, Steve. It felt great! By the end of the practice I successfully cleared every jump. I was thrilled with my performance. When I got back to camp, my dad was completely proud and beaming with a huge smile! He said I had been faster on the 250 than on my 85. I will always remember this day as a turning point for me, reaching a new in the motocross ranks.