Back in the racing scene for the first time in a long time and needless to say it was awesome to get the Unbound Energy/TeamVRM.com ride on the track once again.  After the shoulder injury and surgery I was off for a total of nine months for healing and rehab.  I just got back on the bike about two weeks ago when the Doctor released me to full exercise. 

I have doing some practicing up at the Motoplex in Ft. Wayne, Indiana  as it is only about 1 hour from my school Indiana Wesleyan University.  With the close proximity of the track it allows me to go ride when I get out of class.  I had practiced a total of five times and I heard that the last round of the Mid-America Arenacross series in Du Quoin, IL was coming up so I wanted to check it out.  I knew that I did not have my speed back but I thought it would be fun just to go and see where I was at.

The track was very tame and there wasn't anything technical.  It was fairly fast and was actually pretty fun to ride.  I did not feel very comfortable in practice because I pretty tense from not being in the racing scene for so long. 

In heat one of the 125's, I jumped out of the gate and rounded the first turn in 3rd position.  I made a few quick moves and was in the lead on lap 3.  I held on to the lead and won the first heat race of the night. 

The 450 heat was the same story.  This time I pulled the holeshot and led the whole way.  I was starting to loosen up and feel pretty good at this point.  I was ready for the main events.

In the 125 main, I got a great start and found myself in 2nd place on lap 1.  I was following Jason Hussy, a fast young rider from Missouri.  I made a clean pass on lap 3.  I start to flow really well and pull a small gap on the field.  I went on to win and it was amazing feeling.  To win on the first race back has felt as good as any win of my career.  The smile was from ear to ear on the inside of my custom painted Unbound Energy helmet.

The 450 main was one of the best races of the night.  I pulled the holeshot and led in the beginning.  I was feeling the pressure from Hussy and was just trying to focus.  I made small mistake trying to get around some down riders and he was able to get around.  I passed him right back in the next corner to regain the lead.  On around lap 9 he passed again for the lead after the whoops.  At this point, I was getting some serious arm pump, so I had to be fairly conservative.  I stayed right on him until the end but was unable to make the pass.  I ended up second but I was very happy with the night as a whole.  I was just so excited to be back in the saddle and doing what I love.

Shawn will finish school up this quarter and continue his recovery and racing this summer.

Unbound Energy, Unbound Lo-Carb Energy and the new Unbound Energy + Juice are available in 16 oz. cans at BP and am/pm retail locations, with more locations being added every day!  To learn more about Unbound Energy log onto www.UnBoundEnergy.com.

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