Evomo Takes 1st in Arizona
by Matthew Connors on March 7th, 2008
Last weekend I had another state series race of the year. It was at Estrella Mountain Park, everyone hates this trail. It is the rockiest and most technical out of the entire trail we race on. I was not looking forward to race this trail, expediently on a hard tail.
I got to the start line 10 minuets before the start of the race and I was the last person to get a spot on the start line. I don’t know if it is just me but the first 50 feet of the race always scares me because it seems like no one knows how to hold a line.
After we go through that mess I got one the wheel of one of the guys I train with and two people got on mine and we just pulled away from everyone. After a couple of miles into it I realized that there is one guy in my class and the other two are in the class above mine. After that I realize that everyone is on a full suspension bike but me. The three of them pulled away from me a little I know it was a long race so I didn’t want to kill myself to stay with them. The best part of it was I saw them at the bottom of a long downhill. I don’t think I used my brakes that whole downhill.
I caught them in the feed zone, got my new bottle and past him. We were going into the tech loop for the second lap, and the week before I had a really bad crash on that loop; I cut my knee and elbow but that was not the bad part, it was the handle bar to the chest about one inch below the soft part of my neck. So let’s just say I was not going that fast. But second never past me, they just caught me and I say they, yeah second and third place are right on my butt.
Going into the last lap, I was in so much pain. I know I had to push through the pain. I never looked back to see if anyone was on my wheel, I just kept telling myself “you can’t give up, just keep going keep going” and that is what I did. I just went for it, I started to past the pro riders that took off 2 minutes before me, and that kept me going. I started to climb the last long hard hill of the race, and once I got to the top, I know I did it, I won the race. Well almost, I down shifted and kept the bike upright, I got to the bottom and finished. I was so happy; I finally won an expert state race! It seemed like 30 seconds till second came in but I put 2 minuets on second, and 4 minuets on third. I was in so muck pain though; my back and knees were killing me.
I was so happy to win the race but it was not easy, my competition pushed me to pull out all the energy out of me. I can’t wait till next race to try to win back to back races. Till next time. See you in AZ Matt
March 8th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Awesome! simply awesome.
Matt… i have to say, you look like you belong
up on top of the podium…. great job and cool story.
March 8th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Awesome job. Great to see EVOMO kicking some ass this early in the season.
March 8th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Great job!! Can’t wait to see the destruction you cause in mid-season! Best of luck!!
March 8th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Way to go dude - congrats!!!
looks nice and sunny there…its pishin rain here haha
March 9th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Matt I must say, it is so hard to be hearing all of this. after having a few glasses of wine with Phill Ligget and Paul Sherwin I am amazed there are people out there racing. Great job and I hope you hand fun. I look forward to seeing you again this year..WITH NO MECHANICALS…Rubber sde down brother.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I knew this was going to be a good year for you. Congratulations! More to come I’m sure.