Amazing, I looked at my past race reports and realize that Monsters was the last report I'd written. Sorry for that.

This was the 4th year I've lined up at Monsters, and while it's still an "early season" race in many respects, it's a good gauge of fitness. A bonus, this year was fun.

I lined up in both the 30s and 40s, but sadly had to miss the 1/2s. That race sounded like fun, and I've enjoyed a couple years of Top 10s at Monsters, so I was bummed to not be out with the boys in the afternoon.

In the 40s you expect a breakaway, with Verizon ('Druber, Dave Stone, Chris Mosora), MobSquad and Marc Zionts all liking to be off the front. After many, many tries, and as many chases, nothing was sticking until Stone and Zionts, with one MobSquad, slid off the front with 3 laps to go. One last attempt.

I know Stone and Zionts to give their all, so, in the spirit of fun and risk, I bridged forward and pulled through with them. We worked hard and stayed away until 150 meters before the line, oh so close. Nearly enough for the podium, but that 10th place was a lot of fun, more fun than I would have had in yet another bunch sprint.

In the 30s, I immediately noticed the difference in tactics and experience. The 40s will put everything behind the right chance. The 30s didn't attack as hard, and chase much more readily, not wanting anything to get away. That made the average speed higher in the 30s, and the intensity of the surges much less.

With about 5 laps to go, after a few futile attempts to join a break, I found myself restless again. So, I took a flyer off the front, attacked up the backstretch, thinking someone, anyone, would come with. Nope. Just me, alone for 2 laps of TV Time? Cable, maybe? YouTube?

I got caught with 3 or so to go, and settled back in to start looking for the right wheels. I know Patrick Fasse to be an excellent closer, and we'd have a touch of a headwind finish, so I planned to be within a wheel or so of him and 4-5 wheels deep out of the last corner.

There was a bit of expected ruckus in the last lap with guys re-adjusting position, but Mike Seguin pulled around the field on the backstretch, put his nose in the wind and lined it out nice and safe, taking us through the final two turns single-file.

I was in fair position through the final turn, swung wide with the line and started to hop wheels forward. Fasse moved up the far right side, but there was only room for one by the curb and I had to go inside. I swung left, got by enough of the group to slide across the line in second place.

It was a nice day for racing, and Monsters again provided a solid venue, well organized and a good time to race in front of friends and family.