The Off Season!

Hi Everyone-

It's been awhile since I've updated on this thing. Alot has happened since i last posted something on here. The last race of the year at Steel City wasn't what i was hoping for, but i ended the weekend on a good note, and injury free so I'm thankful for that. Now its off season, and I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row and figure out what the next step is. I've been trying to get down to Georgia again and start my training program again. It's getting pretty cold up here in Michigan, and I've only been able to ride here and there. The temperature has been pretty crazy with the coldest temperatures in the state of MI. I've been trying to make the best of it! Things have really slowed down and it's not so hectic and I've been able to do some sponsorship stuff and just doing alot of PR work. A few weeks ago i was feature on a northern Michigan News cast, 9&10 News and they came over and did a whole story on me, and last week i went and did a presentation with a local brownie troop to show off my bike to a group of 15 girls around the ages on 8 and 9. It really opened alot of eyes and i hope these girls really do follow through with their dreams :)! In the next few weeks I'll be doing a commercial with Teters Orthotics they do all the fitting for the CTI 2 knee braces. so they asked me to do that for them and its something I've never did before so I'd thought i would try it out.but until next time... have a good one!

Danielle #73

to the east coast and back again!

Hello Everyone-

Well with one more national to go last weekends race in Massachusetts didn't go as planned. It had rained all night Friday and all day Saturday so needless to say the track was a bit muddy. With MX Sports cutting everyone to one practice to save the track was a blessing in disguise because without that the track would have been brutal, more so than it was in our last moto.

With the women getting a 20 min. practice 5 minutes of it was free to check out the track and see the layout. Since i had raced there last year the track was practically the same, so i just went out and layed down some fast lap times hoping to get a good gate pick. after they had dropped the green flag to start timed practice i had to pull my goggles off because it was so rainy water had gotten between my tear offs and i couldn't see a thing so i had nothing to do but take them off and run the last 15 mins of my practice goggle less. after the practice had ended my face just covered in dirt and eyes pack full as well i pulled off the track with 11Th fastest lap time so i was pretty happy with that. I would have good gate picks both motos so things would ended up in my favor.

After the start of our first moto i had a few mishaps in the second corner but after that i just hammered down and layed down some good laps and battled with a few girls during the moto. half way through the moto i ended up having to pull my googles off again and ride 4 or 5 laps without them dodging roost from the girls ahead of me. but after the checkered flag had came out i pulled off the track in 11Th which wasn't bad at all. I was happy with how i rode and if i hadn't had to deal with my googles i believe i would have been inside the top ten.

Between the three hour wait till our second moto i found myself wandering around amisley to try and keep my body warm and see what i could find down on vendors row. before too long i had to start putting my gear on and start heading down to staging to get in line for our moto. after the gate had dropped the moto was just a mess. the track was terribly rough and girls just dropping like flies. On the first lap a girl fell in this rutted uphill and fell right in front of my bike and i had nowhere to go but hit the girl and i wound up on the ground and the girl stuck under my bike with nowhere to go. so i just picked my bike up and got her from under it and got going again. After that it was downhill from there i crashed a few more times and just a broken heart and pride for sure. i was just so upset with how i rode before i got off the track i had tears balling up in my eyes. This wasn't how the weekend was supposed to go. This was my some what home track i wanted to do well here and show the industry i can ride in the top ten where i belong. . I ended the weekend with a 17Th overall which wasn't that bad but i was hoping for alot better results.

Now we're on our way to our friends house in Indiana to practice for a few days so hopefully i have a few good days of practice before steel city this weekend!

Keep Checking back for updates! Thanks for all the support! :)

Danielle

On The Road Again!

Hi Everyone-

The time has come and I'm hitting the road running again. My parents and I will be making the 15 hour journey to Southwick,Massachusetts for the last two races of the Women's Pro Series. I'm really excited and can't wait to leave. Alot has happened in the last few weeks and now I'm just ready to leave and get the the track! I raced this track last year and did pretty well despite a few crashes so I'm hoping for good things this weekend! I just wanted to keep everyone updated and to be sure and watch the race online @ http://www.allisports.com/ I'll be updating all the way on my journey so please keep checking back!

Danielle

Also i wanted to give a shout out to my newest sponsor Team 131 in Traverse City We're in the process of designing some fresh new Tee's . Go Check Them Out @ Team131s.com

Down Time..

Hello Everyone-

It's been a little over a month since my last post so I thought I would drop by and fill everyone in on how the rest of my season has been going and whats in store for the next few weeks. Since my last race in Washougal,Washington I've had about a month off so its been really nice to just play ride and mess around at home. I don't have too many girlfriends at home to hang out with so I just spend time with my family. The past few weeks I've been doing some PR work and trying to get my name out there and inform people on whats been going on with my season so far. The Herald Times in Gaylord featured an article about me on the front page of the sports section. This next week The Weekly Express featured an article about me as well so I'm creating the buzz and everyone locally loves to hear about it. I see people telling me how proud they are and how great I've been doing and to keep up the good work. It keeps me motivated to do more and keep going and work on the the things i struggle with at the track. This is my JOB and like any other pro you have to work at it to become better!

In a few weeks my last two nationals are approaching and I'm hoping for a good showing! I've raced these tracks last year so I'm kind of excited to see how things go! This year both of my parents are coming with me so I'm excited my mom will be there to share and experience everything! For the last race my whole family is coming like it seems. a lot of my friends and family are going so its going to be good to share it with them as well.

As far as the last few races that I've been doing, I traveled to Lakewood,Colorado and Washougal ,Washington they both pretty much ended the same or had the same problems! I've been dealing with bike problems and just not getting a good start. For me not getting a good start just puts a bad attitude in my head and it just makes the whole moto hell for me to pick my way through the pack to finish in the mid pack. I would like to get a good start and be up where i belong up front. so lets just hope for a good showing at these last few rounds! hoping for top ten!!

well I'll be updating this more frequently because i got yelled at for not doing it sooo.. please keep checking back! :)

Danielle

busy busy busy

Hi Everyone!

Well alot has happened since I've left California, I've been traveling the country side! Since I've taken on the role to do all of the eight races of the WMA/AMA series my weekends have been flying by. I go from one state to another within a few days and get to see so many new people and watch alot of good racing with the men's classes.

Racing in the women's class isn't an easy task. Its tough all the way from last place all the way up to first. its a dog fight all the way to the finish! I train to prepare myself for strength it takes to muscle my bike around in the hot heat. I wouldn't change anything though I've loved every minute of it through my tears and all the laughter and joy of doing well. Its part of what you sign up for in the pro ranks.

As the first race approached in San Bernadino i felt that i was very capable of doing well. Come to find out the track was rough as ever and the competition was stacked. I fought for my finishes. being very disappointed makes you grit your teeth and buckle down the next week to fix your mistakes and build confidence. For me that obviously wasn't the case. I worked my but off all the way up to the day I left to head north, and it still didn't pay off. I physced myself out before the race even started. and that just adds more disappointment for myself on the way home and for after the race.

On my two day drive through the desert to Texas i had alot of time to think and to prepare myself for the weekend to come in the hot hot heat of Texas! I've been told my a few individuals that the previous year at this race a few riders had almost died because of the heat and getting dehydrated. I took it upon myself to drink drink drink, and drink some more! I wasn't ready to get so dehydrated that i would need to have an IV inserted into my vein. Once we pulled into the gate it was blazing hot, but i loved every minute of it! The track played in my favor and it was my style and my element! sand and rough ruts and high speed. I had good starts all weekend and it was just nice to finally do well and have my dad there to help me out! I missed having my dad with me to make sure everything was taken care of.

I'll Keep Everyone on my journey, but until next time be safe!

Danielle

Glen Helen Baby!

Hello Everyone-

So this day has finally come! I've been anticipating this day for a few weeks now. Today has been crazy busy. I really didn't have a moment to myself it was non stop all day. Even though the day didn't go as I planned I still finished and made it through injury free!

Going into today, I was planning on doing alot better seeing that I have been out here for about three weeks. Things happen and you have no control over. I crashed in both of my motos and had horrible starts! This week I'm going to have to do some homework and pull through next weekend at Hangtown! I wish that my dad was here to be with me on the line, I think today would of went alot smoother and had a good positive energy! I felt very nervous and had alot of things on my mind. Family and a good circle of people around you always is a must for success. I just want to thank everyone for all the support! I appreciate it so much and am very thankful to have everyone behind me. I don't want to let anyone down!

I'm very tired so I'm going to bed. I just wanted to say thanks again everyone!

Danielle #73

Train, Train, Train!

Hi Everyone-

I'm still out in California living the life, and trying to make all my career dreams come true! When you come to realize that this dream of yours is calling, you need to sit down and realize what you've been doing, and what things that you need to do to make them come true! I've been on a training program for a few years now, and now I'm sitting out in California right now riding with the best of the best out here! At a normal practice day, I've been riding with all the top pro riders! My Dream is only a finger tip reach away, this is my window of opportunity to make things happen! That's where all your training and if you've been doing your homework will come into play. Riding all of these tracks has helped me out so much, If i would have showed up on race day and expected to do well, i would of been in for a rude awakening! There is nothing like any of these tracks back in Michigan, so being able to train out here has been such a huge help!

Yesterday, I took the day to ride at our second stop of the national series in Sacramento,CA at Hangtown. The track was a cut down version of the national track but it definitely was different from anything that I've ever rode. I had a rough start at first but by the end of the day things started to connect and started laying down some pretty good laps. I think come race day things will definitely turn around , and i won't be so gun shy to let it hang out and get myself up on that podium and make everyone at home proud!!

I would just like to thank everyone that has made a donation to my racing fund, I really do appreciate everything! I'm a privateer and any little thing helps! and most of all my family for

supporting me through all of this! I love you guys and miss you as well!

See ya on SPEED- MAY 23rd

Danielle #73