Hello to all -
It is Friday, almost the end of Day 5.
I have to tell you that it is SO hot today. Under the USA pit tent it was 106 degrees F. at our noon pit. Admittedly it is cooler in the mountains, but this heat has to be hard on the riders.
The USA teams are doing well. Everyone is holding it together and trying to finish. The Trophy Team has impressed me SO much! These guys are determined to be on the podium for Rich and now for Kurt! I can not believe how they have pulled together. If one has a problem on a test, the others seem to rise to the ocassion to make up for it. I'm so glad that Rich worked to get these guys together on a team. It is great to have us on the top with Italy and France. And it's not like they haven't had to overcome adversity along the way! Even today, Destry's bike wasn't running quite right and he had to clean out one of the jets. Luckily he had enough time at our main pits to get it done.
David Kamo is doing okay. This morning he was so glad it was the last day for trails and tests, he did a "heel clicker" on test 1. Someone had asked him to do it - normally he waits until Day 6 and does it during the final motocross. The heel clicker is a tradition that he started in Slovakia at his first ISDE 4 years ago. And you just don't expect a desert (Hare & Hound) racer to do that type of stunt on a jump. But it's a crowd pleaser, and he likes to do them.
Yesterday, Nathan Woods, Trophy Team, was concerned about Kyle Kubitschek, Club Team, beating him in the moto test! Nathan had a big smile on his face as he said he didn't want that little Kyle kid beating him (and Kyle is like 6'5" or so...) - Nathan barely won the test. But this morning Kyle won test 1 for Day 5! His time was 3:00.18 while Nathan's was 3:00.97 and Rory Sullivan, USA club team rider from the Portland, Oregon area was 3rd overall with a 3:01.11 - These times are crazy! Destry Abbott was also very fast with a 3:04 and Nathan Kanney and David K. had a 3:07.94 and 3:07.97 respectively - That's splitting hairs! Even though David's time was fast, he had the 36th fastest overall time. I have to remember that these are the fastest riders in the WORLD! And it's great to see the USA competing so strongly with them!
I need to comment on the fabulous job that the family and friends are doing at the various pits! Most of them would rather be off vacationing, but instead they are working hard to provide drinks, food, gas, fresh goggles, oil filters, wet rags, and so forth throughout the day! They get up early, work hard all day long and go to bed late...then do it all over again! And by Day 5, we are as happy as the riders that it is DAY 5!!! ha ha ha - yeah! Hey, you can also plan your vacation around the next ISDE in Portugal! Can you make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Can you cut up bananas and smile in adverse conditions? In all honesty it is a great feeling to get the riders in and through the pits and back out to the next check on time! I am tired, but would do it all over again in a heart beat! I know lots of you folks reading this have been there and done that! You know exactly what I'm talking about! :)
Well, the day is about done, so I need to go down and maybe prep a filter (unless Andrew brings one for David). Tomorrow it will just be the motocross and they are starting off from the Tarmac (pavement) then onto the track. Should be a great race! Tally Ho for now!
GO TEAM USA!!!
Thanks everyone - from David's Mommy (still smiling in Greece)
