Full of hotel biscuits and gravy, I slid into my rented Nissan and pushed the start button. It was 8:33 on Sunday morning, the day after Washougal. Normally at this time I’d be on a Southwest jet flying back home to Northern California, but not today. I was headed back to the track, but this time, instead of watching other people ride, I was going to experience Washougal in a completely different way than I ever had—on two wheels.
The opportunity came courtesy of Fly Racing. The gear company had launched a portion of its 2026 lineup on Thursday, and as part of the launch weekend, had invited members of the media to come test out some gear on Sunday. I was very excited, although a little apprehensive. For some members of the media, the job requires frequent riding. For others, like me, the job tends to get in the way of riding, actually, and I’m embarrassed to admit that in the last couple years, I’d been on a motocross track just once, with a few trail rides mixed in. Hey, most people ride on weekends. You know where I usually am on weekends? In the press box watching other people ride. Careful what you wish for.
I knew I was going to be one of the slowest (if not the slowest) of the media jerks on the track, which felt like being the last kid picked for sports. Damon Bradshaw, Trey Canard, Andrew Short, Weston Peick, and Jason Thomas would all be out there too, which sounds cool, but when you’re self-conscious about your lack of speed, talent, and ability, the prospect of riding with former pros is only slightly less desirable than cleaning a haggard air filter with your tongue. Honestly, I have no idea why Fly thought it would somehow benefit the brand to throw me in some gear and put me on a national caliber track the day after it’d been ravaged by the pros. Maybe they just wanted to demonstrate the outstanding protection of the Formula helmet. In any case, when I pulled in I was relieved to see a kid with a chest protector that said Boogie on the back, standing next to an 85. I wasn’t going to be the slowest dude out there after all! No way a youngster on a little two-stroke could keep up with a full-sized motocross bike on the steep hills of Washougal, right? Nah, no way.
Encouraged, I strode into event headquarters, AKA, the media tent from the day before. Only this time it was full of Fly Racing gear. Like a rat to cheese, I quickly spotted a gear bag with my name on it and I eagerly tore into it like a third-grader on Christmas morning. Inside I found a new Formula helmet, a Kinetic pant and jersey set, Pro Lite gloves, Zone Pro goggles, and some casual wear. I was pumped! Steve Matthes tried to bring my mood down by making fun of the color of my gear, but I barely even heard him. How much stock can you put in the opinion of a guy who’d lost three straight holeshot challenges, equipped with Hunter Lawrence’s Factory CRF450R no less, against a stock bike just two days prior?
As I geared up I started getting excited. My hands started to tingle and shake, and I could feel my energy levels rising. And when I slipped my helmet on I had to resist flexing my biceps (I didn’t want to rip the new jersey), letting out a primal scream, and charging through the nearest brick wall. I’d also just chugged a Monster, but I don’t think that had anything to do with it. I glanced around and noticed nobody was out on the track yet, other than the kid on the 85, so the timing was perfect to head out. I grabbed a shiny CRF250R and, like a seasoned archer nocking an arrow, threw my Fly-clad leg over my weapon with laser precision. I was temporarily brought out of my delusion when I found myself searching for a nonexistent kickstarter (my personal bike is a Suzuki), drawing several laughs from the peanut gallery, but I quickly found the start button, fired up the machine, and whacked open the throttle to drown out their laughter. Spitting dust and gravel at the haters, I tore out of the pits and bore down on the track.
After a single sight lap, on which I only got a little arm pump, I quickly realized I wasn’t going to be able to attack this monster the same way I do at the tracks I regularly ride in Marysville, California. The first clue might have been when I was rolling an uphill jump and all of a sudden I heard a small-bore two-stroke ripping up behind me, then sailing over the top of me. I looked up to see the kid from the parking lot looking down at me. I couldn’t see his face through the mirrored goggles, but I’m pretty sure his expression was something like, ‘Why aren’t you jumping this?’ I don’t often want to strangle children (who aren't my own), but I was tempted in this situation. He’s lucky I couldn’t catch him. A few laps later, in the same spot, the situation repeated itself, only this time it was Canard and he was looking down yelling, ‘Whoo-hoooo!!!’ In my entire career with Racer X I’ve rarely wanted to strangle a pro rider, but I was tempted in this situation. He’s lucky I couldn’t catch him.
Despite it all, I still came off the track pretty happy a few laps later. I was loving the gear, too. The Kinetic gear is lightweight and I like the relaxed fit. I can’t stand gear that fits tight and shows my beer gut. The pants also slid over my knee braces extremely easily. The venting was perfect too, and that’s a huge plus for me. I definitely want to feel air flowing, so I loved the venting in the legs that helped flow air in and around my knee braces. I can’t stand it when the knee area starts getting swampy. I also didn’t have any issues with the goggles not sealing around my face and leaking air in, which dries my eyes out. That’s a big one for me because I have a gigantic nose. Imagine half a pyramid hanging off someone’s face and that’s me. It makes it hard to find goggles that fit properly so I’ll be guarding these Zone Pros with my life from now on.
As far as the track goes, it’s no joke. There are plenty of fun spots, there are some really fun jumps, and there are some turns that make you feel like an absolute hero. Horsepower Hill was super fun to blast up too, although I can’t imagine being blasted with roost going up it—the dirt clods at Washougal are huge, dense, and lethal! Also, the drop offs are to be respected! A speed increase of just a few miles an hour results in dropping down much farther than you’d expect, especially on the big one leading into the switchbacks. The track changes direction after some of the jumps so if you’re not paying attention to what way you need to turn as you’re coming off the face of the jump, you’re either going off the track or cross-jumping. It requires a level of concentration that my shiny-penny brain can barely muster. Really, every journalist should have to ride a national track the day after a national. You know, like medical professionals taking mandatory education courses. Obviously they had run some equipment on the track beforehand so we didn’t get lost in the chop, but it still reminded me that yeah, the crazy things the pros do are even crazier considering how stupid rough these tracks are. Even after track work! Even the dudes who struggle to qualify will make you look like a culdesac Karen squaring up against a top MMA talent. Respect!
When it was all over I hadn’t set any speed records (except maybe the slowest lap of all time), but I’d had a blast and I was leaving with brand new gear. Other than being slow, and Bradshaw threatening to shake the outhouse while I was in it, it was an awesome day. Thanks to Fly Racing for doing it, and lastly, thanks to WPS rep Russ Sagen, who let me ride his motorcycle. Russ, your bike was awesome and I had a blast riding it. Sorry about the clutch (you’ll see) and blown fork seals!
