I thought I would share my Unadilla trip on the KX500 with you guys. Here goes:
I headed down with the crew Thursday afternoon for the Amatuer day racing on Thursday and Friday. I signed up for two classes, +40B and Vintage 500. I planned on riding my 2005 KTM525SX in the +40 class and my 2001 KX500 in the Vintage 500 class. The Vintage classes are for bikes 6 years and older, so the 2001 KX500 is a perfect weapon!
For those of you that don't know, Unadilla has a second track that they call U2 for the am riders. At one time we got to ride the pro track on Friday and Saturday, but I guess the pros complained that it got too hammered by the time that they got to it. Wimps!
One thing that I love about U2, when compared to our local tracks here in western NY, is that you can pit ride. At a local race even walking your bike with the engine on is considered pit riding by our track nazis! Also, I brought my mountain bike down and it was a great way to get around - they are not allowed at our local races. At U2 you can also get real close to the action at various parts of the track. It is no problem even crossing the track to get to the center. It was cool to have my friends screaming at me in some of the corners. At our local tracks everybody is pretty far from most of the action.
Anyways, in the +40B moto, I went 9/9 for 8th overall, out of about 38 guys or so. It was good enough for a plaque and 10 tearoffs that won't fit the googles that I use.
In vintage, there were a total of 16 guys, 4 in the Vintage 500 class, 6 in the Vintage 250 class, and 6 in the Vintage 125 class. We all ran together though, with one drop of the gate. I pushed my bike to the line, and was psyching myself up, when I looked up and saw the starter holding the 30 second board. I scrambled to get my goggles on and then the gate dropped, I pulled the KX500 trigger, and ...and ... and I got the holeshot! Oh yeah!! It is so cool to get the holeshot - no roost, and the only noise you hear is your own bike, and you can take any lines you want. I told my friends that that was worth the price of admission right there! Anyways, I held on to the lead for two laps, and got passed by a guy on what looked like a 98 KX250. And with half lap to go a guy on a CR500 passes me. I was tired and I kept running over my tongue!
I ended up getting third overall, and second Vintage 500.
That night I prepared for the next day of racing with some beer and quite a few Gatorade and vodkas, and excellent combination, I must say.
The next day, Saturday, in the second Vintage moto, I got the holeshot again! The KX500 is a holeshot machine! The moto was almost a carbon copy of the first. I led for the first two laps, and then the guy on the KX250 got by. With a lap to go, a guy on a Yamaha YZ125 squeeked by. I held onto third overall, and I ended up going 2/1 for 1st overall in Vintage 500. I was awarded a first place plaque, and a certificate for a Dunlop tire. Sweeeeeeeeet!!!!!
Oh yeah, some other guys raced on the pro track on Sunday. It was okay.
--Ben
