1credit: Simon Cudby
Ryan Clark
It has been a long time since I sat down in front of a screen and just wrote for the sake of writing. There has been a whirlwind of activity in my life, both good and bad, since the last time I reached out. As I sit here and gather my thoughts to put out for the world to see, I feel like I am in a really good place. Not exactly the place I expected or intended, but a good place nonetheless.
It is no secret that times are tough in the industry right now. People are hurting, companies are hurting and the industry as a whole is just in a funk. So what better time than now to start up a motorcycle shop? At least that is what me and my longtime mechanic/friend Jesse Black thought. So we started up The Dirt Lab in early January, and to everyone's surprise it has done very well. The goal is to expand to online retail, but for now we have our hands full with what we are doing. This has been years in the making, but we finally got our ducks in a row and pulled the trigger.
Team Solitaire, my life's work and the dream that I just could not turn my back on is still marching on, although the economy has slowed our progress. It is a tough time to race motorcycles for a living. Five years ago I was making great money and living comfortably even though I was a tenth to fifteenth place guy in the mains. There are far fewer rides available today, and the bonus money and manufacturer's contingency has gone in the wrong direction. Kudos to all of the guys out there still making a go of it and living out their dreams in these meager times. I have faith that things will turn around soon, but until they do the competition in the pits will only get tougher as more riders fight for fewer opportunities.
I always have to talk about my family. When everything else in the world is turbulent and unpredictable, there is no better feeling than recognizing the innocence and purity of my children. They are oblivious to money problems, stressors and the host of other daily drags that rear themselves so frequently. Sometimes I wish I could be like them; but then again they can play with the same toy for hours on end and not get bored. I guess you have to take the good with the bad.
I haven't ridden my motorcycle in two weeks. I thought I would take some time off after the series went to the East Coast to heal my body and find the fire again. I have realized one thing over the past two weeks that makes me appreciate even more the life I have been living: Riding a dirt bike is the one thing in my life that I am in complete control of. I can make it do what I want, when I want, 99% of the time. Aside from mechanical issues and other riders, I control my own destiny aboard my motorcycle. I am good enough that whatever I think just kind of happens. Sure I crash and make mistakes, but I also control, like no other aspect of my life, the outcome each and every time I get on my bike; and that gives me a great feeling of accomplishment.
I think I will go ride tomorrow.
RC
