Three questions for One rider

When I was at the US Open I got an interview with the 2nd place finisher at this years 2009 Rockstar Energy Drink US Open, Red Bull Honda's Davi Millsaps. It was just a general interview but I was stoked to say the least! :-D I also got an interview with Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki manager and 5 Time World Champion, Roger DeCoster but my recorder messed all up so I don't have the recording. I know, total "Doh!" moment! Trust me I kicked myself up about loosing plenty of times. It's okay though, because I will get an interview with him in the Supercross Season, along with a lot of other riders too. So stay tuned! Now, without further adue here's my interview with Red Bull Honda's Davi Millsaps.

Celestine Gulley: So my first question to you is, you know for such a great Motocross athlete as yourself what is your training routine?
Davi Millsaps: It changes everyday depending on what you do as far as on the track or if you don't ride. I mean if I was to do a full day of actually riding and training, I go out on a Tuesday I would go out and do my Moto's and then go to the gym or just do a light bike ride to cool down. The next day I wouldn't ride so hard and then I'd train twice as hard off the bike. It's just hard because how you feel everyday is how you train to it.
CG: Boy, do I ever know about that! :-D But so, then what would your gym routine consist of?
DM: Just the sationary eliptical, a few cable mechines for my shoulders and my back. Then maybe some abs routines and that's about it really.
CG: Okay now a little bit of funny question. Do you have any rituals before your races? Like things that you feel you always have to do and you feel jinxed if you don't.
DM: Uh yeah I do a lot of rituals before I go out and ride. It's just thing I've been doing since I was really little like I always get dressed the same way all the way up to my helmet. That's all I really do, the same thing every time.
CG: Cool. And my last question is, what are your hopes for next year?
DM: I just want to be more consistant. I like to be on top more. Just be on the top a lot more then I was last year and hopefully give Bubba and everyone else a run for there money!
CG: Okay great, thank you SO much and good luck tonight!
DM: Yeah no problem.

Rockstar Energy Drink US Open

I just got back last night from Las Vegas, Nevada. When gambling usually takes the center stage there, Sin City had a different type of adrenaline running through the town as the 12th annual Rockstar Energy Drink US Open took place. So marks the end of another awesome Motocross year. However not without the small taste of a Supercross/Arenacross style race that leaves you wanting so much more.

While the race was pretty gnarly with a lot of Bar-Bashing and T-Bones in the corners, I couldn't help but notice the lack of people there. Now, I've been going to this race since '04 and I can't seem to understand why each year there's less and less people. I know the Economy is really bad right now but each year the turn out hasn't been what I've been expecting. The only thing I can think is that, the "Rockstar Energy Drink, US Open" makes too much of a spectacle of Motocross as a sport. I mean, this year the US Open had a "Mechanics Race" where the mechanics of certain riders would have to change a back tire without any power tools and get it across the line before the others. It was cute and funny to watch but that's what I mean, the show ends up making more of a spectacle of itself than anything and not very much stays the same in the show lineup.

However the racing did stay the same.

The first night of racing started with Heat #1 and Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto taking the clear win. Heat #2 had Red Bull Honda's Davi Millsaps charging through a bit of the pact before taking the win. And heat #3 had last years winner US Open winner, San Manuel Yamaha's James Stewart taking the win. As the night progressed the smell of testosterone and gas became more apparent in the air and by the Main Event time it was completely engulfing.
_______________________________________________________________


In the Main Event James Stewart got the holeshot and Ryan Villopoto went down in the first turn crash and after completing a few laps he had to pull off with mechanical problems. Davi Millsaps and Daniel Reardon were battling for 2nd for a few laps before Davi Millsaps passed him and checked out and GEICO Powersports Honda’s Daniel Reardon sat comfortably in 3rd.

Friday Night Open Class Results

1. James Stewart, Yamaha
2. Davi Millsaps, Honda
3. Dan Reardon, Honda
4. Matt Georke, Yamaha
5. Christian Craig, Yamaha
6. Cole Siebler, Honda
7. Tyler Bowers, Yamaha
8. Nick Wey, Yamaha
9. Chris Blose, Honda
10. Michael Byrne, Suzuki

______________________________________________________________

The second night of racing was way more action packed! Starting out with Heat #1 and again Ryan Villopoto taking the win. Heat #2 had Daniel Reardon pulling out the win. And of course the heat #3 winner was James Stewart.The Main Event had GEICO Powersports Honda’s Daniel Reardon taking the holeshot with San Manuel Yamaha's James Stewart being pinched out of the top three. Daniel Reardon was putting a pretty good gap between him and the 2nd place rider, Ryan Villopoto but that would soon go away as the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto would lay on the heat and take it away. James Stewart was now hounding Daniel Reardon for 2nd and when his usually T-Bone in a corner didn't work, he actually had to rely on his skill and determination to take away 2nd.

Villopoto would keep the lead with James Stewart trying everything to presser him into a mistake but Ryan Villopoto held strong until he couldn't anymore. Back in 3rd, it was getting gnarly as Daniel Reardon and Davi Millsaps were passing each other back and forth with serious Bar-Bashing happening. Red Bull Honda's Davi Millsaps would take 3rd away however with Daniel Reardon keeping close behind in 4th as to wait for a mistake from the Red Bull rider. That mistake never really came and the results are as is.

Saturday Night Open Class Results
1. James Stewart, Yamaha
2. Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki
3. Davi Millsaps, Honda
4. Dan Reardon, Honda
5. Michael Byrne, Suzuki
6. Matt Boni, Honda
7. Nick Wey, Yamaha
8. Ezra Lusk, Suzuki
9. Tyler Bowers, Yamaha
10. Chris Blose, Honda
________________________________________________________________

Overall Open Class Results
1. James Stewart, Yamaha, 53
2. Davi Millsaps, Honda, 44
3. Dan Reardon, Honda, 40
4. Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki, 31
5. Michael Byrne, Suzuki, 27
6. Nick Wey, Yamaha, 27
7. Tyler Bowers, Yamaha, 27
8. Chris Blose, Honda, 26
9. Matt Boni, Honda, 25
10. Matt Georke, Yamaha, 18

The 2009 MXoN

The Motocross of the Nations is truly the most prestigious event in Motocross history. All different walks of nationality's come together to find out who is the most dominate Nation around and an eager crowd of 90,000 over two days at Franciacorta in Italy got treated to the event.

The event involves the three best riders from each of the 36 entered countries competing in MX1, MX2 and Open categories. After qualification heats on Saturday whittled the field down to 20 nations, three motos on Sunday (40 riders in the gate for MX1+MX2, MX2+Open and Open+MX1) determined the final classification. From the six results recorded the five best counted towards the overall score with the points system reversed - the winner gaining 1 mark and last place 40 - and the crew with the lowest total earning the grand prize of the Chamberlain trophy.
This year's USA Team consisted of Ryan Dungey as the #1 rider riding aboard his 450cc. Jake Weimer as the #2 rider riding aboard his 250cc. And Ivan Tedesco as the #3 rider riding aboard his 450cc.
I had read something about James Stewart being asked to compete on his 450 but obviously he chose not to ride. I don't know what's up with that. One would think that a person should feel tremendously honored to ride for their nation at such a prestigious event and anytime they would be asked, they should humbly except. Especially when they (James Stewart) is the reining world Champion. I don't know, maybe he had some extenuating circumstances that made it so he could not go. I don't mean to place blame, it's just seems rather strange.

So the days events played out like this....

Australia's Chad Reed the 2009 AMA Motocross Champion enacted a thrilling race-long duel with MX1 World Champion Tony Cairoli in Moto1. The former Supercross champion showed the front wheel of his U.S. conquering RM-Z450 several times to the Sicilian but could not force a way past. Dungey was a distant third in his first competitive foray on an MX1 motorcycle.

Chad Reed chasing down Antonio Cairoli

Race 1 (MX1 & MX2)

1. Antonio Cairoli (Italy/Yamaha)
2. Chad Reed (Australia/Suzuki)
3. Ryan Dungey (USA/Suzuki)
4. Clement Desalle (Belgium/Honda)
5. Marvin Musquin (France/KTM)
6. Josh Coppins (New Zealand/Yamaha)
7. Tommy Searle (Great Britain/KTM)
8. Jake Weimer (USA/Kawasaki)
9. Gareth Swanepoel (South Africa/Kawasaki)
10. Ken Roczen (Germany/Suzuki)
11. Billy Mackenzie (Great Britain/Honda)
12. Jonathan Barragan (Spain/KTM)
13. Tyla Rattray (South Africa/Kawasaki)
14. Steven Frossard (France/Kawasaki)
15. Joel Roelants (The Netherlands/KTM)
16. Davide Guarneri (Italy/Yamaha)
17. Brett Metcalfe (Australia/Honda)
18. Antti Pyrhonen (Finland/Honda)
19. Rui Goncalves (Portugal/KTM)
20. Andreas Hultman (Sweden/Honda)

In the second race, Germany's Ken Roczen found a better rhythm compared to the first sprint in which he started excellently before experiencing some arm-pump. Ken Roczen was 10th (the fourth best MX2 rider on his Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2 RM-Z250) but later improved to eighth (second highest MX2 competitor). His efforts gave him second place overall in the MX2 class and pushed Germany to 4th in the final list of Nations. Steve Ramon began his programme as part of the MX Open category for Belgium with seventh spot partly due to a small crash in the formative stages.

Ken Roczen making his way to 8th

Race 2 (MX2 & Open)

1. Gautier Paulin (France/Kawasaki)
2. David Phillipaerts (Italy/Yamaha)
3. Ivan Tedesco (USA/Honda)
4. Tanel Leok (Estonia/Yamaha)
5. Marvin Musquin (France/KTM)
6. Max Nagl (Germany/KTM)
7. Steve Ramon (Belgium/Suzuki)
8. Ken Roczen (Germany/Suzuki)
9. Brett Metcalfe (Australia/Honda)
10. Tyla Rattray (South Africa/Kawasaki)
11. Joel Roelants (The Netherlands/KTM)
12. Scott Columb (New Zealand/Suzuki)
13. Shaun Simpson (Great Britain/KTM)
14. Tonus Arnaud (Switzerland/KTM)
15. Carlos Campano (Spain/KTM)
16. Antonio Balbi (Brazil/Honda)
17. Tommy Searle (Great Britain/KTM)
18. Harri Kullas (Finland/KTM)
19. Matiss Karro (Latvia/Suzuki)
20. Jeffrey Herlings (The Netherlands/KTM)

Drama at the start of Moto 3 witnessed Cairoli crash out and Reed also slip off on the first corner. The champion fought back to ninth from last. Dungey was able to escape to his first chequered flag by riding smart, consistant and strong- in his first race appearance outside of the U.S. and his first Outdoor ride on a 450cc - while Ramon was a lonely second place for a Suzuki 1-2. Dungey won the MX1 class while Ramon was second in MX Open.Ryan Dungey riding strongly all the way through to victory

Race 3 (MX1 & Open)

1. Ryan Dungey (USA/Suzuki)
2. Steve Ramon (Belgium/Suzuki)
3. David Phillipaerts (Italy/Yamaha)
4. Jonathan Barragan (Spain/KTM)
5. Steven Frossard (France/Kawasaki)
6. Josh Coppins (New Zealand/Yamaha)
7. Ivan Tedesco (USA/Honda)
8. Max Nagl (Germany/KTM)
9. Chad Reed (Australia/Suzuki)
10. Shaun Simpson (Great Britain/KTM)
11. Tanel Leok (Estonia/Yamaha)
12. Julien Bill (Switzerland/Aprilia)
13. Aigar Leok (Estonia/TM)
14. Billy Mackenzie (Great Britain/Honda)
15. Luis Correira (Portugal/Yamaha)
16. Harri Kullas (Finland/KTM)
17. Andreas Hultman (Sweden/Honda)
18. Gregory Wicht (Switzerland/Honda)
19. Antonio Balbi (Brazil/Honda)
20. Mike Kras (The Netherlands/KTM)
    

Team USA defended their title and walked the podium ahead of France and the Flemish

Team USA winning for their 20th time at the MXoN.
Congratulations guys!

Overall Results:

1. USA - 22 points
2. France - 30 points
3. Belgium - 39 points
4. Germany -55 points
5. Great Britain - 55 points
6. Italy - 59 points
7. Australia - 73 points
8. Estonia - 78 points

Well that's it for the MXoN this year. Next year will be at the Thunder Valley track in Colorado. I am beyond super stoked for it because that means I can go to the Motocross of the Nations! Yippie! All that's left now is the Rockstar US Open of Supercross this weekend, which I will be attending. Keep watch for my post-press pass pictures! Hehe.

Music and exercise go hand and hand

Music has always been a powerful and motivating tool for me and a lot of others out there. I remember when I was little, I couldn't fall asleep without Aerosmith playing in the background. It wasn't so much about it being loud rock music that would put me to sleep, it was the fact that I liked the melodic sound of the songs. They just happened to be about sex, drugs and Rock 'n Roll but I didn't know the difference. Or maybe I did.... Hehe. Either way, music has always been a great way to get me going. All sound resonates different in each person but each person has their own tone which effects them and gets them into their heads.

I remember being out at the races earlier this year and watching Mike Alessi (before his crash) with his headphones on before the race would start. I would watch him getting into his zone. I could almost feel his adrenaline pumping through him. I knew he was getting his concentration and focus together with the helping hand of melodic rhythms. I wondered what he was listening to to get him pumped-up before the race. I know if I want to get pumped for a ride, then there's nothing better than a combo of Linkin Park before my ride, Aerosmith during my rides, and then a nice decompression of The Beatles afterwords. Motocross really truly is a mental game, and music really helps the mental game play out fairly.


Music also plays a big part in gym workouts too. Some days I can't get going at all but then I'll turn on AC/DC and somehow I now feel more motivated to hop on the stationary bike or go for a run on the treadmil or to lift weights. The list is endless. The fact is, music really helps so much to get in that last rep or go that extra mile. It just helps a person to push yourself through it and go for your own hardest. Music and exercise will always go hand and hand for me.

Couscous and Zucchini and Chickpeas oh my!

I was bad. I splurged and had Angel Food Cake with strawberry's for my breakfast this morning. Hey that's an aphrodisiac in some country's but all the same, it was the first thing I put in my stomach this morning.
So because of the bad morning meal, I was looking around for a good nutritional lunch that's light on the stomach, super healthy and rather easy too. And voila, I found this great Couscous recipe. This is also a great recipe if you're a vegetarian or vegan too. :-D

Mediterranean Couscous with Zucchini, Chickpeas & Feta


1 pound zucchini and/or summer squash, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 1/2 to 3 cups total)
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups plain Couscous
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 1/2 to 2 lemons)
3 medium garlic gloves, pressed or finely minced
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
W cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
5 medium scallions, thinly sliced
4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 1/2 Kosher salt
Fresh ground black pepper

First
Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add half the squash in even layer and season with salt and pepper. Cook without stirring until golden brown on one side – 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool. Repeat with remaining squash.
Next
Bring water to a boil in medium saucepan. Remove from heat, add couscous and 1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher salt (3/4 teaspoon table salt), and stir. Cover and let stand 10 minutes. Transfer couscous to a serving bowl and fluff with fork.
Meanwhile, whisk together lemon juice, garlic and olive oil in a small bowl. Add lemon juice mixture and chickpeas to couscous, toss well to combine and cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
Last
Stir in parsley, scallions, feta and squash. Season with a generous amount of fresh black pepper and Kosher salt.

Game Over

So it sucks that the 2009 Lucus Oil AMA Motocross Championship is over. Another year has ended, with two more classes to be put in the books and two more Champions crowned as Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki takes hold of both titles as Chad Reed is the 450 Champion, and Ryan Dungey is the 250 Champion. Words cannot even express how excited I am for those guys and Suzuki as a whole! Way to go guys, you've all earned it! :-D

But oh how I'll miss Geico Powersports Justin Barcia and his wacky, heart pumping crazy attempts to be number one.
"Gettin' a little sketchy there,"

I'll miss Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Jake Weimer and his super-ultra relaxed attitude on the podium.
"Um yeah, I just go out there to ride. There's not really much strategy behind it." says Jake Weimer.

I'll miss watching the reporter Erin Bates swooning over Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Christophe Pourcel like a school girl.
"Pourcel having just lost the Championship."

And mostly I'll miss Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey and his "Never Give Up" attitude. You are a true Champion in full form!"Sizing up his last battle on his 250cc at Steel City"

I'll miss hearing that Mike Alessi is coming back after breaking his patella just 19 days earlier. Only to have JGR Yamaha's Josh Grant swipe him out at the next race in Thunder Valley.See Mike, you just need to heal!

I'll miss the thrill of never knowing who's going to finish second in the 450 class.
"Honda Red Bull Racing's Ivan Todesco getting 2nd at Millville."

And I'll miss Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Chad Reed and his fading accent through the year. Only to come back in strong Aussie form in 2010.
"Aw Reedy."

But oh, how I won't miss Alli stupid broadcasting feed that makes it so you can only hear a quarters worth of either race.
I won't miss hearing/reading the stupid assumptions from the journalists and reporters who are actually supposed to be a creditable sources in the sport.
And I won't miss being depressed that I can't be at each race each weekend.

It's really cool how Motocross can become apart of a persons life and now that that season has ended, it feels weird and my life feels more shallow and boring. Well at least I've got the Motocross of des Nations to look forward to, then the US Open and then before you know it, it's Supercross time all over again. Ah, I love Motocross :-D

Shake recipe

Diet and nutrition are very important factors in ones fitness. It's always important to fuel your body correctly in order for it to run correctly. I like to start my mornings off with a high carb. low fat breakfast with fruits and grains. Then go to a high protein lunch, fallowed by a low fat dinner.

Here's one of my staple shakes that I make for my self most mornings.

1-1/2 cup milk

One whole peach
One (two if there small) banana(s)
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1 tablespoon of flax seeds
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon Spurlina
Add ice

For the love of Motocross.....

Okay here's the deal...

I'm a huge fan of the sport of Motocross! I love everything about it. I think Motocross is truly one of the greatest sport out there. (And if you ask any other fan of the sport, they'll say the same thing.) It requires such skill, dedication and determination for any rider out there. I, myself, am a rider and a devout fan. I am the #1 Rockstar Makita Suzuki Cheerleader (my Dad having grown up riding Suzuki's) and I go to basically all of the races on the West Coast (as me being from CA). I also give FULL admiration to all the professional teams and riders out there, who are busting their butts to be #1. You guys rock so hard core! I know I couldn't put in TWO 30 min. Moto's and still be standing! Really, the kind of endurance that it takes to do this sport, week in and week out is really impeccable. I know how hard it is to truly become a Champion but there are some who are just Champions at heart. *hea hem* See, Ricky Carmichael for The Greatest of All Time.....

The reason I'm starting this blog, is for two reasons. One, I love Motocross and want to share my passion with others by putting out little bit's of information, adding my iRide music mixes, putting out different articles about the sport, giving helpful tips ect. Then two, I want share a little bit of myself in hopes of giving inspiration for others out there.

So lets start here..... In 2004 I was on top of the world with my riding. I was putting in two hours rides every day and 30 min. Moto's every other day. My body was completely ripped and as far as I was concerned, I could take on fighting ninjas with the strength I had. The world was my oyster and I was getting ready to light it on fire.
Then in the later part of the year.... I got a headache. Not a normal headache, but a headache soooo painful that makes one not have headaches, for almost three years after that. Well, after trial and error and some process of elimination, I was diagnosed with something called an AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) that was in my brain, wrapped around my Thalamus. (Here's the wiki page about it if you want to look at it.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arteriovenous_malformation). What an AVM is, is an extra cluster of blood vessels that can be in any area of the body but mine just happened to be in my brain. See, normally the blood flows from your arteries to your capillaries to your veins, but what the AVM does, is it cuts off the capillaries. So, basically in terms of the blood flow, it was like a fire-hose hooked up to a garden-hose. Well, as I was saying, one day in 2004, that connection burst and I stroked out on my right-side. Luckily the blood went into my ventricles and never touched the actual Gray Matter (otherwise I'd be dead). That year I went to Stanford and eight surgery’s and seven months later the AVM was occluded off from the rest of my brain and was in the process of dissolving.

Now since then, it's been up's and down's and at times, I've let the sorrowful side of myself get the better of me. But all along I've been pushing through! And my riding has been the one thing that helped me so much. Even just going out to a race, still gives me that flutter like my first ride.

So come and join my blog if you're into Motocross and you'll get the actual news about the sport of Motocross.