June 2025...The Journey Continues
From Road America Highs to Supermoto Thrills: Back with the SFLMINIGP Family!
Fresh off an exhilarating weekend at Road America for the MotoAmerica Talent Cup, I was itching to get back to my roots and reunite with my SFLMINIGP family! It had been far too long—since early February, to be exact—and the thought of hopping back on my supermoto had me buzzing. The paddock was a sea of familiar faces, and I loved catching up with everyone, especially getting the chance to coach the new riders. Witnessing their progress throughout the day and helping them hone their skills is always incredibly rewarding.
Clutch Woes Can't Stop the Fun!
It felt absolutely incredible to be back on my sumo, rediscovering that perfect **slide feel**. I threw on a fresh set of tires for Sunday and immediately laid down some scorching laps, clinching **pole position** for the heat race. The heat race itself was a blast, and I won by a significant margin! Unfortunately, my triumph was cut short when my clutch started slipping badly towards the end of the race. With my clutch completely fried, I hopped on Mr. Zulu's FS450. It was a thrill, even though it was completely stock. Pushing a stock bike to its limits was a fun challenge in itself! Every event with SFLMINIGP is a blast, and I'm already counting down the days until the next one!
Trading Racetracks for Birthday Cake: A Sweet Detour
Right after the SFLMINIGP excitement, I swapped my race leathers for a party hat to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday a little early. Why early? Because her actual birthday would find me across the pond in England—not ideal, I know! Still, it was incredibly nice to get some much-needed quality time with her and her family. Those two days were a fantastic recharge.
Sun, Smiles, and (Almost) Fishing Success
Next up was a fantastic day out on the water with my USA Crew Chief Timmy, his son Ryan, Gray, and my dad. We tried our hand at fishing, and while the fish weren't exactly biting, we reeled in plenty of sunshine, laughter, and great vibes. It was the perfect way to unwind before diving back into training.
Full Throttle Ahead: Snetterton Prep!
With the birthday celebrations wrapped, it was straight back to full focus on Snetterton. I hit the road bike for some serious miles, mixed in some intense gym sessions, and even squeezed in a few rucks. By the end of it, I was feeling super prepared and absolutely ready for the upcoming weekend. The anticipation was building, and I couldn't wait to see what Snetterton had in store!
Trading Goodbyes for UK Adventures!
Leaving home always means saying goodbye to family and, let's be real, my unbelievably comfy bed! But the excitement for what was ahead quickly overshadowed any sadness. Plus, having my dad along for the journey was a huge bonus! We touched down in the UK early Tuesday morning, and our awesome team boss, Rich, was there to scoop us up. We spent a chill night at his place before making our way to the track on Wednesday afternoon.
Game Plan Locked: Snetterton, Here We Come!
The drive to the track wasn't just scenery—it was prime time for a crucial chat with Coach Torres. We dove deep into the weekend's strategy, outlining our goals and targets. By the time we arrived, everything was crystal clear, and it was time to shift from planning to executing.
First Taste of Snetterton: On Two Wheels and Two Feet!
Thursday morning kicked off with helping set up the awning. Once that was done, I hopped on my incredible Alcavi bicycle for a fantastic hour-and-a-half cycle around the track. Getting that first taste of Snetterton before anyone else was epic and instantly boosted my confidence for the following morning. I even participated in a BTC running test that many riders skipped—it was a great way to get moving before the official track walk. After all the briefings and a thorough track walk with a full track map in hand, I was practically buzzing. Bring on the FP1s in the morning!
Finding My Rhythm: Promising Starts at Snetterton!
Stepping onto the track for FP1 at Snetterton, I instantly felt at home on the bike. The initial laps felt fantastic, and I was consistently dropping my times. I held a decent position throughout most of the session, though the gap to the front was a bit of a head-scratcher. Back in the paddock, my team and I dove deep into the data, overlaying it with my feedback. We pinpointed a few things to try, and I also sent my dad out to get a different perspective from trackside.
Bridging the Gap: Ready for Qualifying!
FP2 brought even better feelings, and I could tell I was making progress. While the gap to the front still felt larger than expected—just under two seconds, which seemed like a lot given my lap times—I knew what I needed to do. The rider in P1 was already setting lap record pace, and that just fueled my determination. My dad's insights from his trackside observations gave me some great pointers to work on. I'm feeling ready and energized for this morning's qualifying session! The challenge is clear, and I'm looking forward to pushing hard and seeing that progress on the stopwatch!
Qualifying Pains, Race Gains: A Podium Finish!
The team and I laid out a solid plan for qualifying, and I put in a really strong lap. Unfortunately, it was only good enough for P7. I was a bit puzzled by the gap to the front-runners, but I know I'm always a stronger racer than a qualifier, so it was time to dig deep and focus on staying with the lead pack.
Battling On and Learning More
The race start was fantastic, and I was right up there, battling with the top guys. But then, they just started to pull away. It quickly became clear I was losing a ton of time on corner exits. I tried to adjust mid-race, and that led to an awesome two-way battle with my teammate for fourth and fifth. I ultimately crossed the line in P5, which, honestly, I wasn't thrilled with at the time. I immediately debriefed with the team, sharing my feedback and what I'd learned so we could strategize for the next day's race.
Then came the surprise! After some post-race inspections, three riders were disqualified for an illegal bike modification. Just like that, I was bumped up to P3! My first podium of the year felt great, and I was definitely pleased with that result. Still, it highlighted the work we need to do to truly close that gap to the front. We're getting there, and every race is a step forward!
Sunday Reset: Chasing Those Elusive Front-Runners!
After a good night's rest, I woke up on Sunday feeling refreshed and ready to hit the track with a complete reset. Warmup felt significantly better, and I knew a strong race was within reach.
Relentless Battle, Tough Result
My start was absolutely wicked, rocketing me up to P3 right off the bat! I held my own in the fight for about two laps, but then, frustratingly, the front group pulled away from me again. I found myself in another intense battle, this time for P3.I kept fighting hard throughout the entire race, pushing to close the gap and hold my position. Despite my best efforts, it wasn't quite enough, and I ultimately crossed the line in P6. That's definitely not what we wanted whatsoever, especially after feeling so strong earlier in the day. Every race is a learning experience, though, and we'll be dissecting the data to come back even stronger next time.
Reset and Recharge: Finding My Flow Again!
I've been doing a lot of reflecting on the season so far, and I've realized something important: I haven't quite been myself on the bike. That familiar confidence and feeling just isn't there, and I know I'm not riding the way I truly can. But that's exactly why I'm here in Spain, training and improving every single day!
All In: Adapting and Aiming for Brands Hatch!
No matter the training, I'm pouring my everything into it, focusing on adapting and transitioning to get back to that peak performance. I've got a couple more weeks here in Spain before heading to Brands Hatch at the end of the month. My focus is absolutely locked in on bringing back the "old juju" – the rider we all know can win any given race. I'm prepared to give it my all, and I can't thank you enough for all your support. Let's finish this season STRONG!
