Well, another week down I guess. Joe has been keeping up his training regimen with Gerald during the week at the practice track and on the road bike rides. He spent Tuesday and Wednesday at the KTM test track and Thursday at the Competitive Edge SX track.

I spent the week again running around trying to get everything done. I received a new position at the track this week that makes working two days a week seem like a breeze! I now work a regular five day a week at the track and have had to cut back on my involvement with my other position. I am still working at Acorn Woods, but just a smaller version. I hate to reduce myself from such a promising position, but right now, I need to do what I think is best for my family.

Joe and I have been together for 10 years now and the only true vacation we have been on is our honeymoon in Hawaii. When I say true vacation, I mean non-motocross related! For 12 years now, Joe has been a pro rider in both SX and MX. Just this past SX in 2006 was his only season that he missed – due to a broken neck. With that said, we made a New Year’s resolution to make sure that we have date night every Wednesday – and don’t think that he gets out of any of those days!

This past Wednesday, we had the grandparents who are visiting watch Leum and our dogs so we could go to dinner and a movie. We haven’t been to a movie since our son was born…which is coming up on 5 months already! For most of you reading this, that really isn’t that interesting, but for me it was great! Just being able to spend time together is precious during the season.

Over the years, fans have come to appreciate what these riders do. They risk their lives to do something that most can only dream about. They live the life of basically a traveling salesman…never knowing if they will get that big sale today or walk home empty handed. I think the biggest misconception that people don’t realize is that these guys are just your average people. They have a special ability, don’t get me wrong, but they are still just one of us. We, as fans of the sport, get to watch these riders at their place of work. Can you imagine trying to do your job with your supervisor and 20 other people scrutinizing your every move? That’s intense!

This past weekend is still part of Joe’s uphill battle he is facing since July 2005. I feel like all the hard work he and Gerald are putting in is just making them feel like they are keeping up with the sport, but not gaining anything. As you can imagine, it’s hard to not advance to the spot you know you deserve and work for. Now imagine being that “support system” that has to keep putting that positive spin on things so that the rider doesn’t feel like his dream is getting further and further away from him.

Joe finished 15 th in the heat and 6 th in the LCQ in Houston. Not even close to where he should be or deserves to be. Just like those other riders that you see from 3 rd to the end in the LCQ. They are pissed that they didn’t make the main because they are doing everything in their power to make that spot on the gate for the main event, theirs.

I am so grateful for those fans that have stuck by Joe through everything. His sponsors that stayed with him through his halo and off time on the bike – it is greatly appreciated. Joe does this job to succeed at the goals he set forth for himself. Hearing the roar of the crowd is just a bonus when you think that nothing else can go wrong…it feels like you are still supported by the sport you love and makes you want to continue to work to make it better.