June 21

This by far has been one of the most enjoyable summers for me. I came out to Minnesota a little over a month ago to work with Mark and Steve. They own the Go Fasters dealership here in town, and they are also the parts distributor for Gas Gas motorcycles in the US. Mark was the one in charge of getting me signed on to race for Gas Gas this year. But the two of those guys have so much knowledge in there heads about the proper race setup for these bikes, that its ridiculous. I almost cant keep up with everything they have to say. So needless to say just in the first week of coming out here, we were out testing every day. It only took a few days, and the new bike setup they had me try was like night and day, compared to the setup I had ingrained in my little brain! haha

But we have been going to a few local events out here. The last one was an AMA D-23 Harescramble at the Millville MX track, and I won the race by a couple minutes. It was a good test to make sure I really had the bike right. And then before that I did my first ever real time keeping enduro, and finished one point off from first place. If it hadn't been for two slide outs in one test, it would have been a flawless day, and probably a win. It was just a simple mistake. But Craig, the guy that beat me was really riding strong, we were neck and neck all day in each section, so that made it fun.

Unfortunately just about a week ago I re-cracked my collarbone. It's the same exact break I did in the beginning of the year. But I am laid up for a little while. About another week I'll be riding again, and tearing it up. I was planning on going to the Snowshoe GNCC event next weekend to tackle the difficult track they have setup, but that isn't going to happen now.

In the next few days we should be getting one of the '09 450s in the shop. I'm very excited about riding that bike, it's going to be a blast riding the four stroke again. I may even race it at a few local events and see how it goes.

Well I need to really thank these guys around here. I've been staying at Brian Hasslen's place, and he has been kind enough to put up with me, and give me a nice bed to sleep in while im out here. And I've been able to experience a lot more things coming out here like taking Lisa's Segway for a spin around the shop. And going out on the beautiful lake out back, Wakeboarding and Jet Skiing. It has just been a very fun eventful summer so far.

As of right now my plan is to do all of the GNCCs after the summer break, there my favorite ones out of all of them anyways. And I want to do a couple endurocross events. I guess we will just see what happens.

And last but not least, we have a new video out, so check my video page. Steve Berkner did all the filming and editing. We are going to try and put a bunch more videos together, so stay tuned.

- Justin

May 2

It's probably going to sound strange to a lot of people, heck it's really weird for me to think about it. But I won't be attending this weekend's GNCC in TN. I never thought in a million years that I would be missing a GNCC. But to be honest, I'm not close to being prepaired. So instead i'm going to take a step back and go out to MN and stay with the Gas Gas guys and just work with them on some development ideas. I'm at a point in my life where I need to be very careful with what I'm doing, and If I dont think I'm ready to perform at the top level like I know I can, then I'm not going to waist my money going. Like they say, money doesn't grow on trees.

I'm very excited to go out and work with them on bike setup and just become more knoledgable about these bikes. I like them a lot, but I know I will make big strides with a little help from guys that have been around them for a long time, and know what they are doing.

I will deffinetly be hitting the rest of the OMA races, and some other Nationals.

Another thing that just came to me when a buddy mentioned it, is how much bashing I received about my Ian's Abandoned house video. He told me to check out Thumper Talk and see what people wrote in and said. So I did. I was amazed by how many people thought it was wrong or disrespectful to my bikes, or how we were such goon riders. I couldn't help to laugh at those people who wrote those things. If I had it to do over again, I would do it in a heart beat. I had so much fun challenging myself something most people only get to dream about doing. My friend Ian set the whole deal up. It was their old house that they hadn't used in a long time, and his dad was actually going to burn it down. Ian told his Dad he wanted to ride in the house before it got demolitied. So we did, and it was by far the smartest idea Ian has come up with. And to everyone that though it was bad for the bikes, I didnt even break any plastic let alone something expensive. I am definitely not a spoiled rich kid that just got things given to me because I was special. Some people need to do some resarch before they open there mouths and make themselves look silly. I've had to work for everything, and it has really paid off, not too many people can say they were on a factory team for two years and won a Pro national Championship. I just want to say that I am far from being done! This has been just the first chapter of a long career that I have.

PS. I want to thank everybody that has stuck behind me, and enjoys following my career. I'll have more good non harmful videos out soon, I'm tired of not showing how much fun I have.

Here's my video link : here

Here's the thread for trash talkin: here

April 15

Yesterday was my first day back riding since the last GNCC in SC. My foot that I bruised really bad a few weeks ago has finally seemed to become bearable for me to finally start riding on again.

So yesterday the track was just a big mud pit. But Kenny Gilbert and I decided we were going to go out and just pin it through the mud. We had a blast getting in a great practice in some very slippery conditions.

Then today we went back to the turn track and it had dried up a lot, and was actually really tacky. We rode thirty minute motos flat out over and over. I felt great on the bike, and was able to push the envelope and still feel like I was in control. When you can do that, you know your comfortable with your bike.

I've finally seemed to get a good suspension setting right in the middle. I have gone from one extreme of being to soft, then the other extreme of being to stiff, but know I think I have found a good setting. I guess we'll see how it feels in the race conditions this weekend in TN. I have also taken the spacer out of my bar mounts, which lowered my handlebars almost a quarter inch, and that has made my cornering so much more faster and precis. I want to thank Gas Gas and the Go Fasters guys for sticking behind me and really doing a great job with everything.

See you at the races!
Justin

March 25

Today is going to be a no ride day for me. Yesterday I was riding up in Ohio, and I smashed my foot against a tree and my bike. It's just really bruised I hope, not broke. I can hardly walk on it today, but I can tell it's getting better.

Yesterday I realized that during the race this past weekend my rear shock spring loosened all the way up. The two rings that lock the spring must have vibrated loose during the race. So now I know why my bike felt a little weird during the race. But I got it all figured out now.

So today is going to be a serious gym session, I'll be doing all the exercises that don't hurt my foot. Also I'll be able to get some of my paper work and stuff that I've been putting off. Hopefully I will be able to ride again tomorrow.

March 19

Today was a great day. The suspension that Drew Smith at WER has revalved came in. I put the shock and forks on the bike. I went out for my first ride on the new stuff, and I was blown away with the improvements. The bike felt much more stable and planted to the ground. The biggest change he did was stiffening the compresion.

Tomorrow I'm going to do another day of riding and testing on this suspension, then I'll get the bike all cleaned up and start heading down to North Carolina for the GNCC this weekend. I'm much more confident after these past two weeks of getting things sorted out, and looking for a good race. See you there.

March 16

I rode up in Ohio today and it was perfect weather. The track is nice and loamy with some good woods sections and a little moto track. It has some good variety, and I have my setup feeling a whole lot better.

The preload adjustment on my forks come stock all the way out. And just a few days ago I made a tool to adjust it, and now I have it turned in all the way, and that feels a lot more stable on the fast rough GNCC type courses.

I actually raced a AMA district race in West Virginia yesterday, and I felt strong the entire race, and my suspension felt great. I am very happy about how well the bike is handeling now with these minor adjustments.

I'm going to get some good sleep tonight so I can get up and hit the gym bright and early again tomorrow morning.

March 14

Sorry it's been awhile since my last blog entry. It's very hard to update my site when I'm not in an area that has internet service. Luckily I came over to my girlfriends house for Dinner with her familiy tonight and was able to use the internet to give you guys an update.

Georgia GNCC started out well, but I struggled with my setup a little because of lack of test time on the bike. So luckily the series takes a few weeks off before round 3 in NC. I have been testing lots and feeling much better with the stock setup. I had to send a set of suspension to My friends at WER. Drew is going to set-up a set of suspension for me to try. The stock suspension that comes on theses bikes are great for the normal riders. But I hit things really hard and need very stiff suspension, so I will be having Drew stiffining the compresion to help that out.

Everything else has been great on the bikes. So when I get this new suspension back I will be ready to go with just a little more testing. I'll be sure to keep updating as often as I have internet. Monday I'm going to my apartment so I'll be able to update every day again. Thanks

-Justin

March 5

I got up to GA today and stopped by Durhamtown riding area to do a little pre race testing for rnd 2. I just got my second bike yesterday, and all day today I was just getting it all setup with the parts and stuff I like. Tomorrow I'm going to doa little rejetting and just put a little bit of ride time on the bike to make sure the suspension and setup is ready to go for the race.

I just got done eating with the Rowland family at a Steak house tonight. Then I came over to the Loves truck stop to see whats going on, on the web, and also to update my site. I'm pretty pumped about this race this weekend, I've been putting in the preperation to be in the top 10, so I hope it goes that way.

March 3

The GNCC had its ups and downs today in Florida. It was good because I got to realize how well the bike works under racing conditions, and also how good of shape I'm in. But I had some problems during this dusty race. Read all about it on my race reports page, I'll have it up tomorrow. After the race I came back to my Dads house so I can clean things up and start preparing for my trip up to Georgia. I hope to leave mid day tomorrow. I want to get up there so I can make sure my bike setup is goog for the terrain up there.

It was great to see everyone again, and also see everyone so excited about my new bike. I'm still working on getting totally setup with everything. I hope Rnd 2 will go much better than the first one did for me.