Well this was not my week end.  I was really excited about the new location.  It had some good technical areas and a lot of dust.  This race uses a dead engine start which I had been practicing.  I had it dialed in on my 4 stroke, or so I thought.  The flag dropped and I could not get it started, I was last off the line by about 15 seconds.  By now the leaders were gone.  By the time we headed off road I had moved into 8th place (out of 22 pro's).  I just kept focused and charging.  I was able to pull into 5th, I had been riding hard and it was tough with the dust.  My pit told me I could catch the 4 front runners.  I knew I was starting to run out of time in the 3 hour race.  I  came up on 4th place and then I saw 1st, 2nd and 3rd.   I knew if I was going to have a decent finish I had to make the move now.  I should have been patient a little longer.  I lost my front end and cartwheeled the bike.  I broke the front brake line, bent the handlebars, broke the subframe.  My race was done.  I 'm ok a little banged up, but just more disgusted with myself.  Sometimes you have to take chances and this time it didn't pay off.

 

My next race is August 11-12.  Have a nice summer.

 

Justin Soule'