Listening to: Danzig "Mother" (in honor of finally getting to see my favorite rider, Drake McElroy, in action)Last night's freestyle motocross contest was totally sick!!! I couldn't be any happier. I had a front row seat and I got to go the pit party, which is sorta a backstage pass to the FMX world. You get to walk the track and meet the riders. The ramps look so huge when you're standing next to them; the dirt bikes were pretty big too. I got autographs from Niki Danielson, Brian Foster, and a sport bike stunt rider nicknamed "Teach." I was in line to get an autograph from Chuck Carothers, X Games Big Air GOLD MEDALIST, when it was time for the riders to head back. :( Not getting to the pit party earlier was one of the 2 drawbacks that prevented tonight from being perfect.
Did I ever say how much I love Rob (in a sibling sort of way)? On a last minute's notice, he drove me back from Reliant Stadium. I was so nervous that I had to ride the METRO alone (knowing self-defense wouldn't have helped too much) b/c the people that went w/ me totally bailed. Grr, how in the world can you be bored when you're told that there will soon be riders who backflip their bikes?! I was kinda glad they left though b/c then I was able to go totally crazy (I did refrain from jumping up and down though since kids were behind me). I so should've made a sign. B/c I did have to ask Rob for this big favor (I tried Dennis 1st since, as my relative, he's obligated to give me rides, but he wasn't there), I couldn't wait around for autographs. I also had to miss some of the doubles contest. Oh well, you win some and you lose some.
The show had a little bit of everything: whip contest, street bike stunt riding, trials, the freestyle main event, mini-bike race, and doubles. Everyone was blown away by the street bike contest (street bikes being those big and colorful motorcycles you sometimes see on the road), and trials (where you maneuver a specialized dirt bike over an obstacle course) was big w/ the crowd too. Chuck won the whip contest (where you have to get your bike totally flat), but his bike broke down during the freestyle finals.
I was stoked like no other to see Drake, Chuck, Dustin Miller, and some of the other big names from the X Games-- in addition to the guys I had seen at my 1st event: Derek Burlew, Jake Windham, and Jimmie McGuire. There were also some new guys, whose names will now stick in my head like Niki and Gabriel (forgot his last name, but he's 16 and from Chile). My mind's a bit hazy right now b/c the adrenaline is still pumping so I can't quite recap everything. Niki was flipping like crazy. Dustin had sick extentions. However, neither could put together a solid run. On the other hand, Jake was just on fire last night, which was why he won. I'm still impartial to Drake (who got 2nd) b/c I love his style and how he tweaks everything just so. It would've been a dream come true to have met him, but I'm totally satisfied w/ having seen him live.
The minibike race was cute. Picture tough 20-something year olds who usually ride 250s, on little 50 cc bikes that come up to your knee. I wish I could've stuck around for all of doubles 'cuz that's twice the insanity. It's basically where 2 riders play "Follow the Leader" w/ their tricks.
It's been a memorable night. I'm trying to refrain myself from raving about it to my roommates. I'll get my pics up as soon as I am done w/ my homework (which may be a while). I seriously need to find myself a boyfriend w/ a car. Actually that wouldn't help much if he wasn't a total FMX fanatic. Such a shame, I thought I had found someone at Rice as into it as I am. Anyway, thank you Rob (for the millionth time) for saving my butt and driving me back. Thank you to all the riders for putting on a sick show. I was so happy during the show that I almost cried. This makes a great prelude to the X Games next week. ^_^
FMX insanity!!!