ITP Quadcross Yamaha Raptor 250 Event
lance.schwartz
- September 09 2008
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One of the coolest things about being a contributing writer for QUAD Magazine is the fact that I often get the opportunity to check a few random things off my “bucket list”. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by our friends at Yamaha to see whether I’d be interested in jetting to California to participate in an ITP Quadcross event held at Glenn Helen raceway, near San Bernadino, CA. Yamaha is a title sponsor for the Quadcross series and since the announcement to include a 250 stock class in the lineup, the guys at Yamaha thought it would be a great way to give us media types an opportunity to try their new Raptor 250 out on the track. I immediately accepted, partly because I had never actually been to Southern California, partly because I hadn’t ridden a Raptor 250, and mostly because I absolutely love to race and I’m ill equipped to say no, given the opportunity to participate.
As with most things in my life, there is a bit of a back-story that goes along with this story. It’s the type of information I try to avoid telling my wife! First, I had never raced an MX event in my life, let alone have my first competition be on one of the fastest MX tracks in the desert, three thousand miles from my house. Although I’m a seasoned east coast woods racer, I’m a fish out of water in the desert. Secondly, I’m 6’2” and approach 195 pounds with all of my riding gear. I was certain that putting me on that Raptor 250 would be the equivalent of trying to stuff ten pounds of s*%t into a five-pound bag. But, having spent thirty-six years on this planet, I also realized this scenario was exactly the perfect recipe for the makings of a good story. So, I was bound and determined to roll the dice and see what happened.
With all the attention the new Yamaha Raptor 250 has garnered, it only seems fitting that a stock class be created for racers wanting try them out on the track. Stock classes are awesome because they allow racers on a budget the ability to compete without needing to have loads of money. Since all the machines are essentially stock, with only a slip-on pipe allowed as a performance mod, the capabilities of the machines competing are also equal. This allows the competitors to focus more attention on their riding skills rather than their wallet size. To me, a 250 stock class makes a ton of sense because the machines are ultra-light and the speeds aren’t scary fast, like the 450 classes. So, it gives inexperienced racers the opportunity to try out the sport in the safest possible manner possible.
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