Adventures with Guy Giroux

Well it's OVER, the first year of the CEC is done!!!

And it probably exceed everyone hopes, the racing was great, the venue was great, and the people even better!

It was an interesting year for sure, from getting on a new bike, to racing a new format, to riding different terrain (way different). We finally had a real Canadian championship, if you had asked me at the beginning of the year, who was gonna be the rider to check, or where I was gonna finish, I would have probably say I could podium the series. Well it was harder than I thought, a bunch of guys really stepped it up, and the western terrain really had me struggling, and today after reviewing the race result, well I can say that I suck in the enduro test!!! Every race the enduro test were my low point, the cross test my highpoint, and the extreme was OK. One thing sure I heard a lot of comment of me being the most agressive rider of the bunch.:) I did try my best every test!

As far as final result, I'm really happy. After getting 11th overall at the first day in Alberta, to finishing with number 4, and getting second in E2 for the year. I think my goal and BMW goals have been achieved. Getting 4 podiums in a row in the east really helped me.

The Parry Sound course dished out its share of challenges.

Now let's resume The final round in Parry Sound. I got there with no problem, well almost no problem. After 4 hrs my stupid leg nerve was too painfull to keep driving, so Flexi became the driver for the rest of the drive til our destination: The WalMart Inn! Next morning I went shopping for stronger Advil, and off to walking the test I was. The cross test was really similar to the WEC. Same thing for the extreme test. The enduro test was really tight and brand new. Next morning I was off and ready to fight. All my tests were ok on the first lap. On the second lap, I screwed my whole day. I crashed in the enduro test, getting my bike really jammed. The front wheel and fender stuck in a tree, and my peg between some roots. I had to lift my bike up, flat like a panckake and back it up three feet. I lost about a minute and a lot of energy. So the rest of the day was spent catching up. I had a great final lap, and was able to finish 3rd in E2, and 6th overall. That stupid mistake cost me a lot.

Giroux gets the shifter shaft!

Sunday morning I was feeling really good. I went to look at the extreme test and found a few good lines. After talking to one other pro, he told me a few guys were doubling the two sand dunes at the end of the enduro test! So on the first enduro test I was really careful where I crashed the day before. I rode good but not aggressive and I did clear the double. Every other test was also mistake free but I felt I could be more aggressive!

On the second lap I was in a more aggresive mood, but at the finish of the enduro test as I was gonna shift in third to clear the double but I could not find the shifter. At the finish i looked down, shit the shifter was gone and not just the shifter the shaft too. I went back to the transfer section, and began to think about my options. The choice was easy. I had to score a lot of points so I kept riding. The next test I rode smoother. I felt like I had no more pressure and I even scored the best cross test stuck in second. I did hit the rev limiter a few times and also had a great final extreme test. Finished in 2nd place in E2, 4th overall.
 
After the trophy presentation we all went for dinner. Eight of the top pro all sitting at the same table bench racing!
 
Monday was spent driving back and today I was already training for the endurocross at the SX.Tomorrow is the first press conference and then more training at my new track.
 
I will keep you posted on the development for next week.