With Assist From Jay LaRiviere, Dave Perez Wins Mothballs Crit
Jan 31
Okay... Race #3. Couldn't ask for a more beautiful sunny day in California. I have my wife and 3 little girls with me. Prior to the race, my wife keeps telling me, this race is "YOURS TO WIN" for you have won it twice before and you can do it again. It was good to hear but unfortunately it didn't calm the nerves. We arrive at the race and it’s packed! Let the ritual begin!... Porta Potty... here I come! Okay no added details required. 45 minutes until race and I have now found my teammates, Jay LaRiviere and Edgardo Potes.
The course is "D" shaped and very short (approx. .67 miles) and completely fast and flat going clockwise direction. Jay is adamant and clearly has his mindset in completely becoming the "Sacrificial Lamb" in today's race so that I may win. That means I MUST deliver a podium spot. Okay we line up and thanks to Tony Jabuka, I now have the most Race Ready NEW Cannondale Caad10 with a super stiff Reynolds Carbon Wheelset. I look at the bike and we are simply best of FRIENDS already. Thanks goes out to Mark Abercrombie for putting it together and making it race ready!
Pre-race Strategy - Jay and I rode around the course before the race. I knew this course so well that with Jay's "Thoroughbred Strength" and with me LATCHED onto him like SUPER GLUE, I told him exactly where he needs to begin his "Launch"… basically... to begin the attack from 10 riders back on the last lap BUT on inside lane between turn 2 and 3 for everyone in the pack will be looking to the outside where there is plenty of room for attacks to take place. Then by the time you are in the front, your speed should be at 32MPH and no one will want to "BURN THEIR MATCHES" to overtake us for the finish line is still too far off. Once you hit turn 3, go from the inside and widen up your turn all the way to the left which will force the entire peleton to the left and provide me with FAST sweeping line into turn 4 and then 220 meters to finish line.
About 75 to 80 racers along with all the big SPRINTERS have shown up (Bart Clifford, Slavador Maciel and Christopher Thompson... just to name a few). Okay whistle blows and we’re off! Pace is fast (approx. 27 MPH) and we have 55 minutes of racing. Again, as expected, race season is early so I don't expect Breakaway attempts to last for the entire field of racers are "jumpy" and are quick to react to each and every surge. FFWD... 50 uneventful racing minutes have passed... two laps now remaining... I finally am able to navigate myself through the anarchy and ride up directly behind Jay's wheel. I immediately let him know I am there and I am glued! Every ten seconds I let him know I'm there. Jay is riding smooth and WIDE. Here we go... last lap… Jay is sitting exactly in 10th and I in 11th place by the time we hit turn one, its starting to get dangerous. We are quickly into TURN 2 and "HERE IT COMES"... Jay gets out of his saddle and we are like two OLYMPIC synchronized swimmers. He takes it hard to the inside right to the curb and WE LAUNCH!!! OH YEAH... HE's FREAKIN DOING IT BABY and I have my CHOPS Salivating!!! In no time, Jay and I have passed everyone is on us like a PACK of CHASING WOLVES. Jay now has got the speed in excess of 32MPH... So fast, that he has the entire peleton in FREAKIN Single File with me in 2nd place... making it SUPER FAST and SUPER SAFE. I am lovin JAY!!! Okay... going into turn 3 and everyone is on our wheels and they are "CRACKING THE WHIP" by yelling at BIKE Palace to go faster thinking they were going to go past us on the final turn. TRUE to FORM, Jay takes sets up turn 4 by taking his line and the entire pack behind from the right side all the way to the left.
Turn 4 approaches, Jay pulls to the side... AND... ."HOUSTON... we HAVE LIFT OFF" with a FULL Tank. Okay... 100 meters down..about 100 to go but strong headwind... I hear a lot of yelling behind me. Peripheral vision has a guy coming along my left side with about 50 meters left… OH no you don't!!!.… afterburners kick in and I hold him off… BOOYAH… Bike Palace takes VICTORY!!!
Thank you Jay and forgive me if I ever gave you an impression that I ever doubted your ability to commit! You made it safe and you made it easy and most importantly, you gave me and my family a great inspiring day!... Thanks Bud
Photo by Steve Weixel. For more images from the race, click here.
