On The Pegs May 2019 - Volume 4 - Issue 5 | Page 94

On The Pegs
94
BECCA SHEETS SHINES
Becca Sheets had what she called her best race in the Kenda Full
Gas Sprint Enduro Series in Tennessee. For the first time, the Maxx-
is/KTM rider won a test from Tayla Jones. Becca credits extra work
the past few months for her performance.
“I’ve just been working really hard,” Sheets told On The Pegs. “I’ve
been working really hard all winter just to get my speed going, and
working on my sprint speed because it’s something I’ve always
struggled with. They call me “The Diesel” because I just get faster
later. So, I’ve always struggled with sprints. Since Tayla Jones came
around in 2017, it’s just been a challenge. This year I was asked by
Antti {Kallonen] at KTM to do the whole series, and so I just kind of
felt like I needed to figure out what I was doing wrong and just try to get faster. I’ve b
erally just gives me the smallest pointers and it helps so much. I’ve just kind of gotten
definitely gotten a lot faster and a little more aggressive. I’ve also made drastic impro
just feel a lot more comfortable. This was my first race with that big suspension chan
I think I just did well because I was able to pedal the test with Kailub. All I did was ped
He just kind of explained turns to me where before I wouldn’t even think twice to do
would just follow the track where it went, but it’s crazy how many different lines the
pros’ lines are not burnt in, so it’s hard to see those lines, even when you’re taking off
ously that suspension change was pretty major. I’ve never been able to challenge Tay
seconds ahead of me. n
LAYNE MICHAEL’S RETURN
The Tennessee round marked Layne Michael’s second race back from a shoulder
injury that has kept him off the bike for months. “So it’s been kind of a process,” said
Michael. “I broke my collarbone and I took a little extra time with it, not much longer.
Technically I’m not even supposed to be riding yet. I just wanted the bone to be healed
before I started riding again. While I was out I went ahead and had arm pump surgery
done. So it was good. I started riding the week leading up to Steel Creek GNCC. I felt
pretty good considering. Unfortunately, on lap one I clipped a tree. I didn’t know at
the time, but I ended up splitting an incision open from the arm pump surgery. Lap
two someone was yelling at my arm, and I looked down and saw the amount of blood
and it wasn’t good. I had to get some staples put in it. I was able to ride once this week
and come out here and do some riding. I kind of started off a little timid, obviously,