I think I have a problem. I rode the KTM380 for the first time in a sho-nuff MX race, and, and. . .I'm in LOVE! I decided to run the Alabama Series race at Corner MX Park today, and I had a BLAST! Since everyone I usually ride MX with is getting drunk in PA this weekend, I decided to fly solo. Corner is a neat little track in someone's back yard 40 miles north of Birmingham. They actually have real live grass around the track and everything. It's a very clean, very friendly facility.

I loaded up friday night, and left at the crack-o-dawn Saturday morning. I still managed to miss practice, but there were several stragglers, and we were all given a couple of free laps after formal practice. I felt like a big goofball out there on the KTM. I tried to ride the first lap hard, but I almost crashed eleventeen times, and backed off so i could figure out the track. I didn't exactly have warm fuzzies after practice, but my first moto was #14 :scream: , so i had plenty of time to ride around and check out the track. Corner is laid out in a killer natural valley (we call 'em 'hollers') and has lots of elevation change and a very sandy, very wet soil composition. A new section has been added to the middle of the track. It's slightly uphill, and has a 30 foot double followed by a 35 foot table. Local hero Drew Askew treated this section as one big jump. . . I'm talking 100 feet. He was the only guy doing it.

Since I'm still really sore from my endo 3 weeks ago, i decided to play it safe and run the Hobby/Novice class. Hobby/Nov is an open class, but no jumping is allowed. It's still sandbagger central though. When my first moto finally rolled around, i lined up to the right of the doghouse (along with most of the 12 bike field). When the gate dropped, i bogged bigtime, but still managed to hit the first turn in third place. I held onto third 3.5 laps, and #261 got by. I passed him back, but I almost went down in a fast sweeper leading up to the finish, and he got back by. I was kinda surprised when i looked back and saw no one anywhere close to me. Hmm, thre's a LOT to be said for HP. The last race i ran at Corner was on my 250F, and I worked my a** off to get 6th. My arms felt like they were al dente , but I was pretty happy with fourth.

My second moto was much better. I got out the gate well, and i was in second at the first turn. I held onto second for .000163 of a lap, and settled into third with the whole pack right on my tail. The track had dried a lot by this point, and I no longer felt like i was flirting with disaster. I settled into a decent ryhtym, and had a great battle with #261. This time, I held him off and pulled away. #19 and #25 were nowhere to be seen, and I backed off after #261 gave up. When the results were posted, my 4-3 beat his 3-4, and i wound up with 3rd overall. :thumb:

Yeah, i think I'm gonna like the 380. . .makes me feel all tingly. :confused: The coolest part is: I got a $5 trophy, and it only cost me $4800.

Cool report, just gets me all excited about riding tomorrow!

Tomorrow!?!? Don't you have school? Man, I wish I could ride on a Monday!

Good ride report JP.

wrench

Atta boy JP!!!

Wrench, I posted that last night! Rode today, ride report to follow, if I can remember!

Dang JP... sounds like you had a great time with that 380.

What did you think in comparison with the YZF for racing? Play riding?

Ivan

The 380 BLOWS through the gears. It's a whole lot less work, but i like the 250F motor better. The 380 was set up for a 240 pound 'B' woods rider when it was new, and the suspension is way better for a fat old guy like me.

Today's ride on the piglet was a real eye-opener. The suspension is way too soft now, and I bottomed the fork so hard that i blew a fork seal. I'm going to go ahead and respring it while I'm replacing the steering head bearings and the seals. It's gonna need a big bore kit too.

The only negative about the KTM is the vibration. The brakes aren't terrific, either.

Hey JP wish I could have been there with you, love that track. I'll give you back your liver sling the next time I see you, I still need it for the recovery

Way to go Pleaser Man

Yeah, congrats Man Pleaser!