[BrentMartell]

Max and I are on the same club team, super nice and fast kid.
One thing you guys might like to know is that the entire group shares in the cost of the USA container. One of the big expenses that we deal with is the fee to get the container to the site. Part of that expense is the shipping but also the fuel and other multitude of supplies that the team manager puts together for us. For example, tools, tire soap, tranny oil, tire changing irons and stands, ez ups, etc. It is amazing to be part of something so much greater than yourself and I am really excited to once again represent our country.

Also, as part of my fundraising efforts my support group is helping me put together a Casino Night. We will have several games and raffle items at this event. One thing that I decided to do is have a gun raffle. If you like guns I am raffling off a Glock 9mm and a Remington 30-06 rifle. You don't have to present to win but I beleive I can not ship the guns due to ATF restrictions.

On another note I have a couple of thousand miles now on the 2011 Gas Gas 300 and for the past month I have been helping ready the Idaho City 100 enduro. This event has been a qualifier for the ISDE team for as long as I can remember, except this year. This year the event was too late in the year. Bummer! It will be epic though. 127 miles of Idaho mountains. Ok, my point, the GG rocks that terrain. I have ridden others bikes to compare and can not wait to get mine back. So far, I have had zero mechanical failures and the power delivery is smooth and perfect. What a bike!

I do need to inform this group that I will not be riding my Gas Gas or a rental Gas Gas at the 6 days. I will be riding a KTM. I had a dead-line to rent a KTM or Husaberg by May 15th or take a chance and not have a bike at all. I was forced to pull the trigger and submit my reservation for a 2012 KTM XCW 6 days model. If we had known Spain was going to, in fact, supply bikes for the 6 days rental I would have submitted my reservation for the bike. Some may ask why I did not ship my bike: it is simple for me, COST. I have 1 bike and if I shipped it I would not have a bike for 2 months prior to Finland. Not riding for 2 month prior to the ISDE is a bad idea. It is tough enough to finish that race with plenty of seat time.

So, if you do not wish to donate to the fundraising because of the choice of bike I will be riding I completly understand. Regardless of the ISDE I will be enjoying the training on my GG and look forward to riding it after I get back as well.