This week started out a little crazy for us as Monday I started to go into labor with our second child.  We spent a few hours at the hospital Monday night and were able to hold off the delivery for another time…hopefully when we are scheduled which is February 5th. 

Joe spent the rest of the week training and getting himself and the bike ready for San Francisco.  Joe worked on this bike all day on Thursday so that he could take it over to Kyle and Justin Mace’s house for them to take to San Francisco.  It just so happens that a lot of racers live by us and with us all traveling and paying our own way, we always try to help one another.  Joe got his parts, gear and bike over to the Mace’s Thursday night just in time before they left around 9pm.

We started on the road at about 10am the next morning and drove to Fresno to pick up Joe’s parents who are out west for a few months.  We drove through snow, ice and tons of rain on our way to the hotel Friday night.  We arrived in San Francisco at about 6pm and found our way over to Chili’s for dinner. 

Around 8:30am, we headed down to the lobby for breakfast only to find the Yamaha of Troy and San Manuel Yamaha team grabbing some food as well.  Joe was able to get a ride with the YoT guys so that our 1 year old could run around the hotel for as long as possible, especially with the rain delays. 

Joe’s parents, our son – Leum and I headed out to the track around 3pm.  The AMA held their 2nd riders meeting to discuss the schedule for the night.  It was determined the night show would run as normal, despite the slosh of mud they called the track.

Joe ran practice and struggled to find any good sections that suited him.  As everyone was having the same struggles, it would be up to staying on the bike the whole race that would determine the winners.  Joe ran the first heat and ended up going off the track in one of the rhythm sections.  He ended up running the LCQ and was in 7th when again he struggled and fell over in the whoops.  Joe would end up 11th in the LCQ for the night. 

With all the problems and outcomes that we have had these last few weeks, these results are not helping Joe out.  He pounds away during the week on himself and his bike which just so happens to be his race and practice bike.  He spends the later part of the week getting his “race” bike ready for the weekend and preparing himself for racing.  It is beginning to wear on him already as he is unable to get support in the way of bikes.  It’s sad as he is a national number rider and can’t find the help that he needs to put himself back out there. 

If there was a route in this sport that you didn’t want to take because of the obstacles you would have to overcome…Joe’s route is just that one!  We hope that things will start turning around for him and something will come his way…but with these results on a beat up practice bike, it is getting old very quickly!  Anaheim 3 is up next, so with a little bit of luck and some dry gear – Joe should be ready to get back to where he feels comfortable and that’s in the main event!