I arrive. I didn’t know what to expect, literally! You see I’m from the Pro side. I love the pro side. I haven’t been to an amateur event since like ’93 at the World Mini. Many years of attending Mammoth to me doesn’t count. I remember the old place, the flat place, the windy place. I remember wearing goggles. I remember a very young RC in his Team Green days. I was there in business for myself then, taking a stab at the retail side of it all. A performance oriented deal.  

Anyway, fast forward to now! I arrive to a completely different venue. Mesquite. And yes, still in Nevada, however, it’s not  to be measured against the old local. This place is literally 3 miles from my hotel, a casino hotel, gotta love Vegas! It’s where you’d never guess it would be, but it is. It’s good too! It’s beside yet below a golf course. An elevation difference as the track is way below street level. You arrive seeing nothing! You continue on the road in and down you go. Down the road to the facility below. Nice, was my first reaction. Though cool and breezy the weather called for better things to come.  

I’m here launching my new deal, ASK OZZY, and I don’t know what to expect. I’m flying solo, but I know many industry types here. The promoter handles me with passes , so I’m in. Next, find where the Anderson’s are parked. Monday was parking/set-up day. I find Jason and company soon enough then begins my quest to meet and greet potential riders to work with. I meet mainly parents first. I have to say that I haven’t met a sour note yet. They all seem nice. I know what you are thinking, that that can’t be true across the board, but so far so good. These parents are committed. You can see it and smell it just walking up to them. The pro side is different. Sure it’s professional and all that but this is a different type of commitment and vibe. It’s a career move for the many here trying to make it such. They’re all trying to get where I’ve been most of my career. It’s refreshing to see, and so far it’s hooking me.  

Practice day was Tuesday, and I was impressed just about every time bikes took to the track. 50s through the 450s, these kids of the future rip. Many of the B and A kids look seasoned already. Many of the rigs and set-ups rival pro efforts. Despite the economy of late these deals are serious. Each and every situation is trying hard to succeed. Many of the families have trainers and coaches. Dedication is paramount here. Funny even when the youngest the 50 kids exited the track, some not happy with their effort showed it. Smacking the handlebars when crossing the line actually impressed me some. Again most here are 100% serious, no posers allowed! Novice C, Intermediate B, and Pro A, each class was good, real good. Sure Eli’s gone, he got the call, but the racing has been awesome. The support is impressive too. All the bigs are here, Pro Circuit, FMF, Dunlop, Pirelli, the OEM’s, a traveling circus of effort and pro style support, very impressive. All the press and popular media people are here too. This continues to be a very big deal, and I hope to remain a part of it. As they say, when it gets in your blood it never leaves, and I’ve been bit again. Amateur racing in the USA seems to be alive and well through my eyes.

You can join me online @ www.askozzynow.com