you will always remember your first time

Miller 1You Will Always Remember Your First Time! I wasn't real
clear of what actually had just occurred, but I did know that I was interrible
pain. I laid beside the supercross track for at least 20 minutes answering
thequestions of very eager Emergency Medical personnel. "Leave me
alone! I will be all right." I said to the medical guy that was tugging atmy
chest protector. If there is one thing that I can not stand is twenty
medical people trying to take allof your clothes off for a little cut or scrape.
As I was put on a backboard and taken to theambulance I couldn't help
wondering what had went wrong. All I remember seeing wasmy body
tumbling with my bike to an abrupt halt. I laid in the ambulance for what
seemed like days. All I could hear were enginesrevving at high Rpm's
and the roar of the crowd when someone styled for the crowd. Itwas very
disheartening to know that I was in the back of an Ambulance at my
firstprofessional supercross. The only thing I could do was play the past
events over and overin my head. I couldn't believe it as I looked at
a shiny gold and silver card. This card signifiedall of the rights and
privileges of a professional supercrosser. Now I would have the rightto
race with the worlds best. "Dad look it finally came!" I shouted. My
dad looked at me with silly grin and said "Well you knew it was coming,
youwon your 25th race last month." As I stood there with a smile
bigger than the sun on my face I said "I know but Iam still excited about it.
Just think I will be racing side by side with Damon Bradshaw andKevin
Windham."
Miller 2 He just smiled and patted me on the back as I
turned and walked to my room. Isat dreaming of the race I will enter next
month. I had no idea what was in store for me atthis spectacular event.
As D-day drew nearer my mind overflowed with anticipation. I
gathered my ridinggear and my lucky Bart Simpson doll and headed out
the door. I won my first race the dayI sat my Bart Simpson on my
handlebars between races. I have done it ever since to bringme good

luck. The ride to Charlotte Motor Speedway was what I thought a trip
thatwould never end. As we entered the pit area I was given a special
pass to wear around myneck. I couldn't stop looking at the card that said
"Professional Supercross Rider". Thepit was filled with racers walking
around and talking to various people while theremechanics worked hard
in the hopes of bringing home a victory. I walked about, talking to few
people as I tried to get use to this new environment. My stomach felt like
a squeezed orange when I heard the announcer say " Is everybodyready
to see the bad boys of supercross! Well ladies and gentlemen get ready
to hear theengines roar as 250 riders bring out there talent and go to
work!" When I heard this Iknew it was time to lay all the cards out on the
table. " O.K. ladies and gentlemen her comes the 1st 250 semi
final heat. Starting on theright we have Kevin Windham, Jeremy Mcgrath,
Doug Dubach, Jeff Emig, MikeLaRocco, Ryan Hughes, Brian Swink, Mike
Brown, Larry Ward, Greg Albertyn, KyleLewis, James Dobb, Damon
Huffman, Phil Lawrence, Jimmy Button, Ezra Lusk, BuddyAntunez, Mike
Craig, and from Charlotte North Carolina, Everyone give a big round
ofapplause to your two home riders The Beast from the East Damon
Bradshaw and newcomer Shawn Miller." The crowd came to there feet
and roared like a pack of lions. Iknew that they were mostly cheering for
Damon but I enjoyed being right next to him. The thirty second card went
up and my stomach fell to the ground. I knew the gate would
Miller
3be dropping soon. I stared for what seemed like an eternity at the gate
that was holdingall of us back. With all of the skill I had, I tore off the start
line the best that I could. As fast as I was in Pro motocross these guys
left me like I was a rookie. Come to think of it Iwas a rookie. The first
race I worked my way through the pack and settled into a fifthplace spot.
As I came upon the last lap I was amazed at the capacity of the
crowdwatching this Spectacular event. These were people who paid good

money to see us race.I felt proud just to be out there with these masters
of Supercross. "O.K., I made it, here comes the final finish line
double." I said. As I crossed thismedium size jump I laid the bike
sideways in the air ,and for the first time in my life I haddozens of
cameras flashing at me like stars in the dark sky. I rode slowly to the
pit area where my father waited with a huge smile on his face." I can't
believe you have done so well in your first supercross event!" I
smiled and said " Well I still have to race the main event to really make
mymark." I got off of my mechanical wonder and sat down to eat a
banana. As I peeled backthe outer shell of this yellow fruit of wonder, I
realized how excited I was and could notbare to eat. I was having a new
emotion every five seconds. It was like a dream that younever want to
wake from. Here I was, a Professional rider at a professional event.
Thiswas the dream that my friends and I buzzed about when we raced as
amateurs. I almostfelt guilty because I am getting to live our once shared
dream. I was quickly rattled out of my thoughts as I heard the
announcer ring out, "Weneed the 250 Class to stage for the main event in
ten minutes". I was so nervous that I felt like a long tailed cat in a room full
of rocking chairs. Iam not sure but at the time I think that I was more
scared than anything. My fatherquickly handed me my riding gear and
told me to put on my race face. This is a term usedto get a rider into his
racing attitude. My arms were more shaking than a old time washing

Miller 4machine. As I approached the staging area, all of the thoughts of
winning and losing wereforced out of my head. I knew that it was time to
make my mark in the world ofsupercross.
"O.K. ladies and gentlemen, it is
time for the main attraction of the night. Herecomes the best of the best
out again for the main event. Winner takes all!", the announcershouted.
My stomach squeezed more than ever. As much as I wanted this

day to come Iwas wanting it to be all over with. I felt like a little boy in a
room full of superheros. At the beginning of the race I started talking
my way through jumps. "O.K. I amgoing to do well. all I have to do is
concentrate." when I said this, the gate dropped. Thefirst time I came
around my pit board told me to settle down that I was in fourth. This
iswhen I had to really come down. "I need to breath and calm down.
O.K., I am settledinto my groove." As I tried to gather my thoughts I was
in the middle of the largest raceof my life. "Here comes a double
followed by the triple. Wow, look at all of the camera'staking pictures of
me." I was amazed by how the crowd roared as I profiled over thetriple
jump. It was quite amazing. why wouldn't it be, it hurled me over 65 feet
off theground. as I settled down I realized that the race would be over
soon and I have donequite well. "Only two laps left and here comes the
finish line double. Ooooh nooo!!!! ahhhh!!!!!!" I found out that when I was
landing off the finish line double the defendingsupercross champ, Jeremy
Mcgrath, landed on top of me. This pain was weirder than allothers I
have felt. I really didn't feel the pain in the physical sense at first. I felt as
if myback had just collapsed. It wasn't till I tried to stand and return to my
bike that I felt theexcruciating pain of four cracked vertebrae."Leave me
alone! I will be all right." I said to the medical guy that was tugging atmy
chest protector.
Miller 5 If there is one thing that I can't stand is
twenty medical people trying to take all ofyour clothes off for a little cut or
scrape. It was now that I ended my first
professionalsupercross