Rider,    Bryce Sowry  

Event,    R 3 National XC /R 5 North Island XC  

Class,    Vet expert    

Bike,    Kawasaki KLX450    

Date,    1st May 2010   

Team,    Sowry racing Tony Jury team green  

Woke up Saturday morning for my day off, just feed silage then get the bike ready for Sunday. The wagon jammed on the load for sunday taking almost an hour to free up. Just as I finished, my worker arrived to tell me the race was on today (saturday). So it was a mad rush to eat, load up, clean filter in bike and off hopeing I got everything. I was just over an hour late .

>.

I arrived at the track at 11.45, south of martinborough just as riders briefing started and the Jnrs were finishing. listened to briefing then went to sign in, they were'nt to keen to let me enter,but john said i was sweet to enter. Then a mad rush to get gear on and get tools etc to the pits to find my gas gone off the trailer. A run around and I was offered gas by just about every one so a big thanks. Shows what a cool bunch of guys they are, only to find my gas already in the pits ( Jnrs helping cause I was late ). 

> 

So it was off for the look 1/4 lap and to the start .The rain was getting heavy and cold .BANG and my bike didnt start till the 4th kick, so got mid pack start. got to the 1st bottle neck with 10 bikes stuck, I managed to weave my way through only to find more on the next steep hill, and more on the track. So by the end of the 1st lap I had passed over 30 bikes.

>

The second lap was much the same. The third lap one of the Odea borthers past me then I passed him in the second bottle neck only to have Luke Ramsey and Jason Moorfield pass me. I thought I wasn't doing so well, but i found I was able to follow them, pass, and pull away. Scotty waves me in for gas and tells me I'm doing good so I don't feel so bad as I wasn't being lapped and getting in the way.

> 

Out for the 4th lap and they pass me again just before the 2nd bottle neck. I follow them in but I came out alone ,so up to this point things had gone fine except the medium tire I had planned to change had let go 3 times with out warning . At the 2hr 50 mark I start my 5th and final lap.It started with me and 2 guys on a yami and a RM-Z battling, passing back and forth. At one stage you could throw a blanket over us, as one of them yelled "Waahhooooo", I nailed it to take the lead to be passed by the yami.

>

Through the next gate and then the front tyre lets go, I hit the ground hard and jumped up quick grabbing the bike before someone runs me over. I ride off adjusting the levers then pull in the brake to get a sharp familiar pain on the right shoulder. Naaa it will only be brusing so keep going but with every hill it was getting worse so I just trail rode to the last bottle neck to find 8 bikes blocking or waiting in line. I waited till I was freezing and shaking uncontrolably before I got my turn. I didn't make it all the way up this time and pushed it the last 2 metres, not good ,then it was just a short ride to the finish and get the ambo guys to have a look.

> 

Every one pitched in and either loaded my bike and gear, or stripped me out of my wet clothes, dried me off and got me dressed then got me on my way to the hospital. So a big THANK YOU to all those that helped me out. An Xray showed my right collar bone broken twice. I,m having an op tomorrow to put in a plate. I finished 15th over all ,1st vet and finished the North Island series 2nd vet, this puts me out for the final in Christchurch.

>

 I'll miss the club champs, and lose my lead in the vet class, I,d like to thank my sponsers

Tony Jury mc.    

Laskeys Autos.

the bank.

Also Stu Steven and Scotty and a big THANK YOU to my Wife Dianne.

[ 4 sale KLX450 ]