Brian Garrahan Off-Road Training Race Report- Shasta National 2012

When I jumped into racing, it was way to early and I couldn't hold onto the bike, but I've gotten stronger and now I feel better and am back to my winning ways.
When I jumped into racing, it was way to early and I couldn't hold onto the bike, but I've gotten stronger and now I feel better and am back to my winning ways.
Competitive riding can be extremely physical, especially when mixing moto racing with trail racing. Mixing this type of dirt bike riding with a shoulder injury can be disastrous, but K&N-sponsored rider Brian Garrahan has found a way to stay competitive even after missing the start of the season.

"When I jumped into racing, it was way to early and I couldn't hold onto the bike," Garrahan told K&N News. "But as the season has progressed, I've gotten stronger and now I feel better and am back to my winning ways."

Garrahan made a switch in the off-season from Yamaha back to a familiar color, the Orange glow of KTM. Garrahan had ridden KTMs for nine years prior to moving to Yamahas, so the switch back was a seamless one, and one that is paying huge dividends already.
The new Dungey bike and my 350XCF are great machines. I ride lots of moto and off-road, and they work great on all different types of terrain.
The new Dungey bike and my 350XCF are great machines. I ride lots of moto and off-road, and they work great on all different types of terrain.


"I love the new Dungey KTM," Garrahan said. "I couldn't come to terms with the Yamaha, so it was easy to jump back on the orange. The new Dungey bike and my 350XCF are great machines. I ride lots of moto and off-road, and they work great on all different types of terrain. The boys at KTM did their homework. The bike is super stable, the brakes work better than ever, and I have FOX Shox doing my suspension and those things are just amazing. When I get on the bike, I always know how it is going to react to each obstacle."

Garrahan said the recovery from his injury was more difficult then most assume as well, given the fact that he is older then most of his competitors. "It's hard to come back form an injury being so old; people don't understand how mentally challenging it can be too."

Garrahan found a way to put a smile on his face and beat the mental challenge when he took the checkered flag in the National event at Shasta Dam. "That was definitely the best moment of the year for me. I had won that event four times already, so to get number five was a great moment."

Garrahan still has a shot at a championship if he can win the last two National events, a remarkable fact given that he missed a few races. He has also stayed busy with his Northern California-based riding school, one of the most popular in the country.

Garrahan said he wouldn't be in the position he is in without help from K&N Filters. "With my races being three to four hours long, it gives you confidence to know that you have the best oil filter available in your bike. If that oil is not clean and circulating right, you can have some serious problems. Knowing I have K&N Filters in my bike keeps me from worrying because I know I have the best product out there."

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