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January in Vancouver ! 12deg C so nice to go play around! RPM

This looks like a great time!

Really excited to be going back for training at Jimmy Lewis Riding School this weekend. I did this Instagram live broadcast talking about it you're welcome to watch here: As much as I ride I really need to devote more time to training and I'd recommend you not only drill for a few minutes before each time you ride off road but do a class like this at least every two years. I'll be posting up more photos of the class once it starts this Saturday but here are some videos and photos from the last two times I went. This was my first time way back in Nov of 2011 with my shiny new Starbucks bike the GSA Most of his classes happen on a dry lake bed that skirts the CA/NV border in Pahrump, NV which is about a 4 hour ride from SoCal where I live. Many people also fly into Vegas with Pahrump about an hour away and Jimmy has bikes you can rent as well. Video from my first time in 2011 This is Jimmy doing a log crossing demo at Horizons Unlimited up in Yosemite in 2014 Here's my last time there in 2014 when I first met Ken Mooty who unfortunately passed away two months later . This is when I finally "got" what he means by riding sand in the neutral position, not with your butt on the back of the bike.

You are spot on about seeing better lines at night. 90 degrees with no sun beating on you is much more doable and can feel much cooler.

Here's a little more from a press release today... ABOUT SONORA RALLY Held deep in the expansive deserts of Sonora, Mexico, the Yokohama Sonora Rally is a five-day off-road navigation rally and a true Dakar-style adventure. Created by Dakar veterans Darren Skilton and Scott Whitney in 2014, the venue has brought rally raid, a mainstream attraction in Europe and Africa, to the forefront of the North American automotive world. Organizers have fueled the passion and growth of the sport authentically, bringing decades of experience in the form of world-class road books, pre-event navigation classes, and professional logistics management. The region’s uncharted territory, massive sand dunes, and spectacular landscapes lend perfectly to rally raid, and nuances of Sonoran culture render it an authentic international venue. The Sonora Rally is also the only North American race to be deemed an official “Road to Dakar” event. This prestigious affiliation with Dakar has landed it squarely in the center of the global media stage. Traditionally open to dual-sport motorcycles, UTVs, and four-wheeled vehicles, this year they are introducing a non-competition Adventure Raid component to the rally. The Raid Adventure Raid is designed for those that want to experience rally raid and navigation without the stresses of racing. This guided trip is open to street-legal four-wheel drive vehicles such as Jeeps, Raptors, and Tacomas, as well as dual-sport BMWs and KTMs. On the first day, after the racers make their way through scrutineering, Adventure Raid members will join competitors in an instructional navigation class. The next day the group will travel at an easy-going pace, allowing time to take in the scenery and absorb the full Sonora Rally experience. At pre-determined points, they will turn off on lonely two-tracks that intersect the racecourse to get close to the action. Participants have the choice of following their guide or venturing out on their own, navigating via provided GPS tracks. When the sun dips toward the horizon, they will head for the nightly bivouac to experience rally raid at its finest. The Bivouac Sonora Rally is renowned for its unique bivouacs. Erected deep in the desert or near sandy beaches on the Sea of Cortez, they are a place of camaraderie where world-class competitors, amateur racers, and crews mingle and share tales of their exploits. Adventure Raid participants will enjoy locally sourced food and artisanal beer, as well as Mexico's famous Guadalupe wine provided by celebrity chefs. Some nights will be spent in hotels (four nights are included with registration) while others will be spent camping under the stars. After the morning gathering for breakfast, participants will head out for another day of exploration. The Guide This year’s Adventure Raid will be led by Chris Collard, an internationally recognized journalist and adventurer. He began traveling in Mexico in his youth, has crossed all seven continents by four-wheel drive, and is an Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee. You will be traveling in good company.

I'M IN! My understanding is that we will start in San Luis Rio Colorado (adjacent to Yuma) and end this year in Hermosillo for a killer finish party! Deeper into Sonora than the rally has ever been.

Interview with Skyler on his stage 3 yesterday