Well this weekend wasn't much fun for me.  I have been struggling with some issues the last couple of weeks and I finally got them worked out this weekend.  I had a lot of confidence going into the weekend, thinking it was time to turn the season around.  I felt really fast all week in practice with some new bike settings, and riding good during the week usually makes for a good weekend.  Ah, but it wasn't to be.

Practice was decent but not great for me.  I didn't feel very comfortable but was jumping some big obstacles.  I just wanted to find the rhythm I had during the week but was struggling.  I was stressed out, along with my dad and team owner, Forrest.  I know I have the potential to ride much better than I was showing, and just wanted to let it out.  I qualified around 20th or so, not what I was looking for.  I made a change that I thought would help for the night's racing, so I looked forward to that.

When I saw the lineup for my heat, I was not happy.  Tedesco, Hansen, and Langston had pulled out due to injury and the AMA didn't feel it was necessary to even out the heats.  So, it worked out that one heat was really stacked and the other was really weak.  This has happened many times over the last few years and the AMA refuses to do anything about it.  The result is people who normally wouldn't qualify end up in the main event and some guys, even factory guys sometimes, don't qualify.  I was riding awesome in my heat, finally, and was moving up.  I had gotten into 9th and looked up to see who I could catch next.  All I saw was full factory guys!  This heat was so stacked!  Even worse, I saw my buddy, Tim Ferry, behind me!  The 3rd place rider in the series last year was behind me and we were racing for the last qualifying position.  That's not a good situation to be in... for anyone.  He made a pass on me with less than a lap to go and I had no chance to pass him back.  I rode back to the truck extremely frustrated, one spot out of qualifying.  

Going into the LCQ, I knew I had the speed to win.  I needed a good start and to disappear.  I finally found the pace I had been looking for all year and I needed to show it.  I came out of the gate near the front... I was probably 3rd or 4th going into the 2nd turn when it all went wrong.  Ryan Clark tucked the front end in the sand and high sided right in front of me.  I had nowhere to go and down I went.  I couldnt believe it.  I wasnt going to qualify!  The amount of frustration I felt can't be put into words.  I just wanted to start the race in San Diego right then.  It's tough sometimes to deal with failure when everyone is putting in so much time and money to help you succeed.  I want to make it all worth it, and I won't stop trying until I do.  My next chance is in a few days in San Diego.  I will be ready.