The Moment: Durham Makes a Big Save
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 | 11:35 AM
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When a rider finally gets good enough to win races, only one last thing can stand between himself and victory—himself. Anyone would get tight when a first win hangs in the balance, and that’s why you hear so many riders, trainers and team folks talk about confidence. Before you win, you have to believe you can win, so that when you’re winning, the doubts don’t creep in.
Darryn Durham had made the right steps toward the W this year, starting by leading some laps and scoring his first career podium at the East opener in Dallas. It was a pivotal race for Durham, who admitted he was very nervous in his first race for Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki. If he choked in Dallas, it could have sent him reeling for the whole season, but he instead left with positive thoughts. A few more solid races left him feeling that he could indeed win one, and when he took off with the early lead in New Orleans, the perfect opportunity had unfolded.
A late mistake almost cost Durham his first career Lites win.
Carl Stone photo
But then those nerves started to creep in. It was sink or swim time for Durham. Would he stay strong and hang tough for a breakthrough victory, or cave under the pressure?
His moment came when he made a mistake and landed on a Tuff Block. Right there, he could have gone down and lost his best shot at a win, but instead he barely saved it. He lost most of his lead in the process, but stayed cool under pressure from his teammate Blake Baggett to hang on and get the win.
It’s often said in racing that once you get the first win, the rest come much easier. We don’t know how many more race wins Durham will get, but we do know that if he gets more, he can thank that one big save in New Orleans for paving the way.
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Way to go double D's.......Outdoors is going to be good....
I know he was allowed, but when you cut a corner in the air lap after lap the chance for an error is increased.
Glad he saved it and got the win - just saying
Its cool how racers find their own lines out on the track. Cutting the track was a clear advantage (kinda cheating even tho they said it wasn't?) but nobody else seemed to catch on or want to try it. G1 DD!
P.S. I think you owe Baggett a steak dinner because he coulda cleaned you out in that last turn. You could see he held up from committing to the block-pass. he must like you. JS7 & CR22 woulda ended up in a heap in that same situation!
Only when a pole is placed in the corner is it cheating. He wasn't saving sh!t for time all together by doing that little, teeny shave. Glad to see DD get the W.
If he was cutting it on the ground i could see some speculation, but saving 2.5 feet, in the air, jumping from track and landing in track?...Nah.
Glad to see DD taking this opportunity with PC and running with it. I really hope he is a strong force in the outdoors.
+9this will be great for hid nationals confidence. guy already seems pretty natural at outdoors so im thinking he can make it on the box a fair share. congrats
Congrats for the win, way to go!
If that was Barcia or Bogle going for it you would never get the win!! They would ride a lot more aggressive than your teammate!!!
About DD and people saying he was cutting the track? I never thought it was cutting the track if your tires never touch the ground from lift off to landing. I have done the same thing got protested, then the promoters put up a baricade of tires so it could not be done anymore.
It's like a triple that everyone is only doubling.
One guy triples it for 20 laps, his risk to reward ratio is much greater.
Yes he picks up time on every lap, but the risk is there EVERY lap