Morocco 2009

I have competed in most of the NPO events and I have to say they are a great group to race with. Owner Stephane and his wife Emma are personally there at the event and always concerned that everyone is having fun. I have met some great people at these events and developed some great friends.

Morocco was a tough event for me only because the bike was so bad. The bike was a stock KTM 690 enduro.

My mechanics showed up late with the bike,they were tired from their long drive, one did not want to be there at all and the other was having personal issues the bikes were not prepared at all properly. I would say this was one of my worst experiences with support,They sent me out one day with dampening screw turned all the way in so I had no suspension. Everyday something new fell of my bike.

The bike was horrible, it handled like crap, the rocks of  Morocco were beating the crap out of me and my freshly broken finger, I just held on everyday managed to finish 4th, I was only 3 seconds off the podium.

Adding to everything was the terrible car accident that took the life of some of the organizations people. Particularly hard was that one of the people killed was a young 20 year old fellow, whom was on his first rally and I believe his first time away from home. Natalie had taken him under her care and had dined with him the evening before he was killed. The other was a lady FIM inspector whom  I had worked with at other rallies and who had helped me many times.  It was a very emotional time.

I was glad to put his event behind us.