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North Racing’s Budds Creek Report
7/31/08, N. Attleboro, MA - Round 9 at Washougal MX Park was not a scheduled round for North Racing Inc. However, NRi owner David Briggs knew the importance of this AMA national for his racer Jimmy Albertson. Brigg’s made flight arrangements for Jimmy and his brother Gregg{mechanic} to attend. Allan Brown with Moto XXX lent his assistance by transporting #702 Honda cross-country from New York to Washington State.

Saturday greeted the racers to 80 degrees and sunny skies. The Washougal track layout winds throughout the evergreens and up and down some incredibly steep hillsides. The track and scenery is a motocross fantasy for racers and fans.

To quell any rumors, Albertson was racing his NRi Factory Connection suspended Honda 450 at Washougal.

Dubach Racing’s #702 didn’t waste any time as he posted 4th fastest in the first practice. Jimmy was within 3½ tenths of a second of Honda’s Andrew Short who had 2nd fastest time . Albertson would end up 4th fastest qualifying on the day on his first trip ever to this fantastic race facility.

Sunday would start off with cloudy and misty skies and a short period of rain. The additional moisture would make for perfect race conditions. The Huffman’s{track owners} and their crew had done a remarkable job preparing the race surface for a great day of competition.

The Answer and ProTaper backed Albertson reeled off the 3rd fastest lap time in the first gate qualifying on Sunday, and was within a second of James Stewart’s best lap. He would eventually head into the main event with 4th gate pick, as local Josh Hill slid into the third position.

Moto 1 start had Albertson around 4th position rounding the first corner. Byrne would get by in the 2nd corner as Jimmy backed off, to avoid ramming a “slideways” Andrew Short as they headed up “Horsepower Hill”. #702 made a quick inside move and overtook Byrne for fourth. The #26 veteran immediately retaliated with a pass and took off after Cooper, Short and Stewart. Albertson held fifth spot until lap 4 when Josh Hill was making his way forward. Albertson and is Honda would stay running strong to the end and finish in 6th position.

Moto 2 would see almost a carbon copy start with Cooper grabbing the holeshot again with the same “players” in positions 1 through 4, placing Jimmy in 5th. Hill was making his way forward again and would move Jimmy back to 6th on lap 5. Tim Ferry had started in 9th and by lap 7 was all over Albertson. By lap 9 Ferry would make the move into 6th, and that would put the #702 Honda to finish the 2nd moto in 7th postion.

Overall result of 6th position would come from two consistent motos of 6th and 7th on the day. This would be the best national finish for Albertson. NRi owner Brigg’s was ecstatic with his racer’s performance. David shared his views of the privilege of working with Kyle and Jimmy, and that North Racing will be a team committed to excellence at the top level of the sport.

Albertson stated, “Every race I feel stronger and more confident. My speed and line choices are improving as I practice and race with the top guys”. He credited Greg DiRenzo at e Fitness Academy with increasing his physical conditioning, which is enabling him to race hard to the end.

Jimmy would like to give special thanks to David at NRi for making it possible for him to compete at all the nationals. There were no plans for an actual place to “pit” at Washougal. Big thanks to Allan Brown and his crew at Moto XXX for lending a canopy, table, and use of their power washer. The Albertson brothers shared the “loaner canopy” with the #1 plated Honda mounted Jessica Patterson. She would claim first overall on the day, while swapping motos with fellow Red Rider Ashley Fiolek. Thanks to Eddie Ray for use of his tool box all weekend!

Next Round for NRi will be at Spring Creek MX Park in Millville, Minnesota. Expect to see the #335 of Tobin and #702 of Albertson in the MX class. Dates are August 16th-17th.David Brigg’s North Racing Inc. {NRi} rolled into Budds Creek ready to repeat last week’s strong effort at Red Bud. This would be the 3rd AMA MX national for the team in 2008. NRi backed racers Jimmy Albertson #702 and Kyle Tobin #335 would compete on their Factory Connection suspended Honda 450’s.

Saturday qualifiers would go well for the young racers. Tobin took 19th fastest on the day, and Albertson got into the groove early, as he posted 7th fastest in the 1st practice. He then showed consistency with an 8th fastest lap in the next timed practice.

NRi received some well deserved exposure after Saturday’s practice. A Speed TV interview with Albertson by the lovely Miss MX Erin Normoyle would provide Jimmy’s perspective about the track, and also last weeks 7th overall results at Red Bud. This would later “air” on the “Motocross.com Pre-Show” presented by RacerX . Jimmy would post the fastest lap time by a privateer without factory assistance on his Dubach Racing Honda 450.

Sunday would greet the teams, racers, media, and all the fans with another day of warm sunny weather at the infamous Budds Creek facility. Beasley’s track crew had done a spectacular job for great racing. The corners were left with several small “berms” in each corner that would work into different ruts for all the racers. This approach led to great racing with alternative “lines” to pass in every corner.

Answer Racing’s #702 Albertson went to work Sunday morning and garnered himself 6th fastest lap time . When asked about his performance, he mentions Brigg’s brief speech that morning that really pumped him up. Jimmy stated, “David shared with me, that many people think last weeks 7th overall was a fluke, and that it was time to go out and show everybody that I belonged in the top ten. It really motivated me!”

Kyle Tobin finished gate qualifying practice in 25th position, but mechanical troubles would keep him out of the main event. It was tough break for Kyle, as he had just broke into the top 20 last week in both motos and scored 9 AMA points.

The 1st moto had Albertson with a decent jump rounding the first corner in about 10th position. He overshot an off camber corner and ended up over the berm, and would record 15th place on the 1st lap. Mistakes in the 2nd lap would put him back to 17th position. Jimmy would put his down the rest of the race and battle his way up to a 11th Moto 1 finish.

The parade lap for the 2nd moto showed signs of a slipping clutch. There was not time for repairs, and Jimmy would just have to make the best of the situation. The jump off the gate was poor, so as other riders slowed for the first corner, he “held it on” and still came out about 16th place going into turn 2, and then moved up to 13th by the end of the first lap. At the half way point Jimmy had moved into 11th and had gained considerable ground on Wey and Alessi who had started out in 5th and 7th respectively.

Laps 11th through 16th would finally move #702 Honda within bike length’s of the #801 CR450F machine, and the #27. Wey would sneak by Jeff first, and then Albertson would follow within a few corners with two laps to go. Jimmy and Nick would “go at it” until the checkers, with Wey edging him out by less than a second at the finish. Moto 2 would be an 8th place finish.

Budds Creek moto scores of 11th and 8th would place the NRi rider in 8th overall position at Round 7 of the AMA MX nationals. Staying healthy and top ten results were Albertson’s earlier goals. After two top ten overalls, Jimmy let us know that his next goal move it up another level to where Cody Cooper and Josh Hill are running.

Albertson wanted to give special thanks to David Briggs and his family at NRi, and also Factory Connection, Dr D.{Dubach Racing}, Greg DiRenzo at efitness Academy, Answer, Pro Taper, Dunlop, and his mechanic Gregg Albertson.

Next Round for North Racing is Round 8 at Unadilla Valley Sports Center July 19th and 20th.

Go to www.Jimmyalbertson.com to see all of Jimmy’s other great sponsors, and 2008 Race reports.