Anaheim 3 and San Diego
By: Scott Cram

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24

I am learning so much about how what it takes to be a professional racer this year. One of the things I loved about motocross was that it wasn't a team sport or so I thought. I liked the fact that a teammate couldn't miss the shot or drop the ball to lose the game for you in motocross. Little did I know that it takes a lot of great people around you that know what they are doing helping you out to become successful in this sport, even at the minimum level of racing locally!

A3 started off really frustrating, I dropped off all my equipment the night before and left it in the box van over night at the stadium. The next morning I got to the pits at about 10 am which is usually kind of late for me. I got to the box van hoping everything would be setup, just to find nobody was there. I didn't have the key to get my stuff out for tech inspection and sound test. I was really mad about it, especially having to stand there with people asking me what was going on. Everybody else had their bikes out and ready to go except for me. Finally at 11:30 the guy got there with the key, leaving only 30 minutes left until Tech inspection closes. I didn't stick around as I had to go to track walk and just left it up to the guy that is helping me out to take care of it. It is definitely one of my disadvantages that I don't have a real mechanic helping me out at the races. It just puts that much more pressure and stress on me to take care of things other racers don't seem to have to deal with. I just put it out of my mind and focused on not letting it get to me so I could ride good.

A3 is pretty much what I consider the first real supercross race I raced. I finally got the whole track down and did it within the 2 practice sessions. I did the triples the first practice and starting working on getting the other sections of the track down. I had been super busy the few weeks before the race and didn't train like I normally do, so I was getting really tired out there. I couldn't push the way I needed to get into the night show, but it was still a huge improvement. It was funny though because my second practice session set me off. I felt pretty good after my first practice, but still had to get some of the track down a little bit better. So, what happens next? I stall my bike at the start of the practice and it took me forever to get it restarted. It really made me mad because it just stalled out of the blue. My only thought was “man this is great, I am going to miss out on my last practice and suck in the race.” I was flaming by this point and as soon as I got it started I seriously thought about just leaving it wide open until it blew the motor up. Actually, I did pin it for a second because I was so mad and then just used that energy to attack the track. Everybody was laughing at me saying “you need to get mad every time before you go out and ride.”

But I just got too tired in my qualifiers. At least my bike setup felt great, I was doing all the jumps, and my riding had improved a lot. It is funny because most people think this is my third year of racing SX, but in reality this is my first year. The first year of racing SX in 04, I jumped into it at the last minute with very little practice and only did 3 rounds. The second year I got hurt and only raced two races before pulling out and got even less time on a supercross track because of the rainy season. So, this year is really the first time that I have gone into it healthy with enough practice to feel like I know what I am doing.

The song by Casting Crowns called the Voice of Truth really describes a lot of what this year has felt like for me:

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

Chorus:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

After riding good at A3 I was really looking forward to racing San Diego and improving even more. Unfortunately I got sick the Thursday before the race. I rested all day Friday to try and recover, but it didn't work. I kind of got into it with the guy that I was riding down there with since we were late again. He tried to blame it on me, but in my race experience you get everything done the night before especially if you are racing supercross. In this particular case I had to load my bikes up in the morning before the race, take them down to the guys house, and then load all my stuff into the box van before driving down to the stadium. That definitely didn't help me feel any better. So, while pulling into the pits we got into an argument, which didn't really help out either. I tried to ride the first practice, but just didn't have the energy. I was lined up for the second practice and was kind of having trouble just sitting there waiting. So, I pulled off after the first lap of the second practice and loaded my stuff up and rode home with my brother. I didn't even stay for the night event. I rested the whole week after to finally get over being sick.

So, for the third race out of six this year I had to sit out. It is very frustrating to put so much into something just to have a bunch of small things hold me back and miss races. It is also very annoying to have people around me that don't take my racing seriously. It seems like a lot of people are so quick to tell me that “I am over it” or something stupid like that if things don't go my way, yet they are the first to ask for a ticket or hook up for a part. I kind of get the feeling that I am alone in racing, kind of a “me against the world” feeling. I just don't get how people don't see how far I have come and how crazy it is that I even made it to this level… pretty much on my own too. I mean I paid for all my equipment, entries, and practice. I train and work my butt off to be able to do it and all I hear is negative, especially if I don't make the night event. On top of that I pay all my own bills. Don't get me wrong I have had a lot of help getting here from my parents and sponsors, but I am still carrying the majority of the financial burden. I don't know how to get the opportunity to ride for a team like Monster Pro Circuit without doing good, but I know that would be all the difference in the world for me.

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose"

- William James

To be honest with you, racing is just about the only path in which the door hasn't been shut. After a pretty big setback before A2 and missing out on racing, I was pretty much over it. I seriously told my friends that I was done racing SX. Yet, the first thing I did on Monday morning was to get back at it, automatically with out really thinking about it. So, I don't think I am out there kidding myself or just acting crazy trying to race since I have at least considered not doing it. I don't know if this is what I am suppose to do with my life or how far I will get, but wouldn't you keep trying if you were still improving by leaps and bounds and most importantly had the opportunity to live your dream? All I know is the job I have had for the last 5 years that afforded me to race isn't working out, but it isn't from anything I am doing. The other options I was considering doing with my life don't seem to be options anymore or at least they are taking a long time to get worked out.

I have talked to enough people in the industry that have told me I have the talent and that I look really good on the track to just fold it up now. I just need some kind of miracle to make it to the east coast, make a night show, and attract some support. I mean I went from going into Pro Circuit as a tourist in 1999 to being sponsored by them in 2002 and going in there everyday and having just about everybody know me, that is a huge deal to me. Getting sponsored by Pro Circuit was one of my dreams growing up and they have been the biggest help to me. Actually, they are the only people I really trust to work on my bikes and the only ones I listen to when I need advice on my bike setup. It is still crazy to be sponsored by the people that I use to use their products anyway before they hooked me up. I mean in San Fran I was there talking to Troy Lee while walking track wearing his name on my gear. How cool is that!?! Not to mention get to practice during the week with some of the top riders, past, and current champions on supercross tracks.

“Dear Lord, either quiet the waves or lift me above them; it's too late to learn to swim.”

-- Mary Crowley

So, I am left with trying to find a way to the East Coast to race. I already missed St. Louis and it looks like I will miss Atlanta, but hopefully I can hook up with another rider and pick it back up in Indianapolis. If not, I am for sure going to the Texas rounds, Seattle, and Vegas. But the main thing is that I got a lot of things that were holding me back out of the way so far this year. So, if worse comes to worse and I don't get to race many more races besides the last four SX rounds. I can use the experience to do better next year and make the necessary changes to the things around me.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5-6

I really want to thank the sponsors that help me out so much. Team Zoo Racing, MDK, Pro Circuit, Troy Lee Designs, Works Connection, Renthal, Dunlop, Maxima Oils, Scott Goggles, Gaerne Boots, VP Fuels, Performance Motorsports, N-Style, Pump X, Pro X/ L.A. Sleeve, Twin Air, Polisport Plastics, Ferodo Brake Pads, Truth Industries. I can't tell you how much the common phrase of “I couldn't do it with out my sponsors” is really real in my case. It is amazing that God has given me the opportunities and circumstances in my life to be able to do this.

#457 Scott Cram