AGP Eagleswood October 19th Race Recap!!!

Round #7 of the Atlantic Grand Prix Series (AGP) was held this past Sunday in Eagleswood, New Jersey at the Sahara Sands Plant. With the season slowly coming to an end and the weather starting to put a chill in the air, you could still sense the excitement in the riders who were all lined up waiting for the flag to drop. Needless to say that this piece of property is one of the best that I have ever raced on, and if the series promoter got their act together and were able to put on a top notch event then I would have no problem saying that it is one of the best places to race in the north east. The AGP is known for its wide trails and fast hour and a half race pace. This location is that same spot where a national harescramble was held just years prior so you know that there has to be some prime riding terrain for racers with top notch abilities. I’m glad that they went back to the old track loop which was about 10 miles of grass track, motocross track, tight woods, sand, pebble hills, and nice open fast trail through the woods. Although this set-up can sound fun it was just a little too fast out there. I saw riders crashing a lot and I know that there were some serious injuries that took place. I think that the tracks can be fast and open in safe spots but when you get going that fast in the woods all’s it takes is one little mistake and you’ve got yourself a lot of hurt. The track is really the only reason why we keep going back there, it’s just that awesome. The promoters year after year can’t seem to figure out how to put on a quality event. I spent more time sitting around due to time differences than I did actually riding. Nevertheless, it was a great day of racing.
The big bummer on the day was that DHaggs Sr. had to miss out on the trip due to some bogus meeting that was mandatory for him to attend. So with an extra spot in the Factory Van none other than Noah D. from D’Antonio Racing threw his KTM in the back and we made the trip over to Jersey.
The weather was supposed to warm up by mid-day but it never seemed too, so sitting on the line was a bit on the chilly side. Like every year we sit there longer than we should have too and then finally the pro line took off. I was the line behind them and then Noah D. was 2 lines behind me. I got a great jump but then got pushed wide and then pinched before the next turn. The dust was a big factor right off the start since we were in an open field. It wasn’t 5 turns into the race and my front end washed out - I haven’t rode in the sand since spring to I was riding the front end a little heavy. I gave a good ground shot to my hip and elbow, it looked like sand but it was hard as concrete. Fired up about my early mishap I got back on the bike and started my long charge from dead last. The first lap I was working on staying off the front end and keeping it light, I learned the lay out of the track and kept trying to pick some people off. By the second lap I had things figured out and was starting to pick up the pace. Since it was nice and cool outside and we were only shooting for and hour and a half race; I felt really comfortable about pushing it a little harder than I usually do. The first couple of laps when I came around the scanner they had it so close that I couldn’t even see it, regardless of what it said I made sure to keep pushing and try to pick up some spots. The track was getting really worn in and I was actually settling in to a good flow, I mean a really good flow. I made very little mistakes and I was actually surprising myself with how hard I have been charging and for how long. What surprised me even more was that I haven’t been on my normal workout schedule because I have been working night and day on the new house getting it suitable to move in. I felt like I was just riding yesterday, I didn’t feel out of place at all on the bike, in-fact I feel so comfortable it’s crazy. Like everything that Rich taught me in the beginning of the season that I have been working on all year is just coming natural. It’s an awesome confidence builder and I really felt like I was riding at the level I want to be at. I finally came through the scanner on the second to last lap and saw that I was 4th! I was super pumped because I could taste third place so I twisted the throttle even more on the next lap, which worked out because when I hit the scanner for the white flag lap I made the pass and was in third and no way was I giving that spot up! One lap to go, 2 places to gain and not one to loose, I made sure that whoever came up behind me was not going to get by without a fight. Again I stayed on the charge and pushed through the 10 mile loop and when I came around the corner and spotted the checkered I was scanned and I held onto 3rd Place! Just 2 weeks ago I earned my first money winning for racing a dirt bike and in my very next race I seemed to pull it off again. Lucky for me this AGP race was one of the biggest payouts for Pro and expert classes of the year for local series. Regardless it’s not about the money, I ran another good race and I am really happy with my efforts and results.
Noah D. also put in a good ride and had some good results. He ended up getting 6th Place in the 250 Open-B class. This was his first trip to this track and he was happy that he made the trip. I was kind happy too because it would have been a long lonely ride for me and my bike. Our Pro buddy Wally Palmer who we just saw out in Ohio for Endurocross was there. It’s safe to say that he is pretty fast and I’m happy to say that this is the first race that he didn’t lap me at. He took home first place overall which got him $500 bucks for his hour and a half of work.
Net race is this weekend in Delaware for the second to last round of the East Coast Series. I am pumped to ride this track because they are saying that it’s about 12 and a half mile loop which I like, that means less laps, and that’s how it should be!
I would like to Thank my Sponsors: DHAGGS Harescramble Racing, MSR Racing, Scott Powersports, Kenda USA, DP Brakes, Scott USA, TAG Metals, Decal Works, Twin Air, IMS, Devol Eng., FMF, TM Designworks, Cycra Racing