Miller 1

You Will Always Remember Your First Time!
	I wasn't real clear of what actually had just occurred, but I did know that I was in
terrible pain.  I laid beside the supercross track for at least 20 minutes answering the
questions of very eager Emergency Medical personnel.  
	"Leave me alone! I will be all right." I said to the medical guy that was tugging at
my chest protector.
	If there is one thing that I can not stand is twenty medical people trying to take all
of your clothes off for a little cut or scrape.  As I was put on a backboard and taken to the
ambulance I couldn't help wondering what had went wrong.  All I remember seeing was
my body tumbling with my bike to an abrupt halt.
	I laid in the ambulance for what seemed like days.  All I could hear were engines
revving at high Rpm's and the roar of the crowd when someone styled for the crowd.  It
was very disheartening to know that I was in the back of an Ambulance at my first
professional supercross.  The only thing I could do was play the past events over and over
in my head.  
	I couldn't believe it as I looked at a shiny gold and silver card. This card signified
all of the rights and privileges of a professional supercrosser.  Now I would have the right
to race with the worlds best. 
	"Dad look it finally came!" I  shouted.
	My dad looked at me with silly grin and said  "Well you knew it was coming, you
won your 25th race last month."  
	As I stood there with a smile bigger than the sun on my face I said "I know but I
am still excited about it. Just think I will be racing side by side with  Damon Bradshaw and
Kevin Windham." 
	

	                                                                                                                  Miller 2
	He just smiled and patted me on the back as I turned and walked to my room.  I
sat dreaming of the race I will enter next month.  I had no idea what was in store for me at
this spectacular event.  
	As D-day drew nearer my mind overflowed with anticipation.  I gathered my riding
gear and my lucky Bart Simpson doll and headed out the door. I won my first race the day
I sat my Bart Simpson on my handlebars between races. I have done it ever since to bring
me good luck. The ride to Charlotte Motor Speedway was what I thought a trip that
would never end.  As we entered the pit area I was given a special pass to wear around my
neck.  I couldn't stop looking at the card that said "Professional Supercross Rider".  The
pit was filled with racers walking around and talking to various people while there
mechanics worked hard in the hopes of bringing home a victory. 
	I walked about, talking to few people as I tried to get use to this new environment. 
My stomach felt like a squeezed orange when I heard the announcer say " Is everybody
ready to see the bad boys of supercross!  Well ladies and gentlemen get ready to hear the
engines roar as 250 riders bring out there talent and go to work!"  When I heard this I
knew it was time to lay all the cards out on the table.  
	" O.K. ladies and gentlemen her comes the 1st 250 semi final heat.  Starting on the
right we have Kevin Windham, Jeremy Mcgrath, Doug Dubach, Jeff Emig, Mike
LaRocco, Ryan Hughes, Brian Swink, Mike Brown, Larry Ward, Greg Albertyn, Kyle
Lewis, James Dobb, Damon Huffman, Phil Lawrence, Jimmy Button, Ezra Lusk, Buddy
Antunez, Mike Craig, and from Charlotte North Carolina, Everyone give a big round of
applause to your two home riders The Beast from the East Damon Bradshaw and new
comer Shawn Miller."  The crowd came to there feet and roared like a pack of lions. I
knew that they were mostly cheering for Damon but I enjoyed being right next to him. 
The thirty second card went up and my stomach fell to the ground.  I knew the gate would 

                                                                                                                             Miller 3
be dropping soon.  I stared for what seemed like an eternity at the gate that was holding
all of us back. With all of the skill I had, I tore off the start line the best that I could.  As 
fast as I was in Pro motocross these guys left me like I was a rookie. Come to think of it I
was a rookie.  The first race I worked my way through the pack and settled into a fifth
place spot.  As I came upon the last lap I was amazed at the capacity of the crowd
watching this Spectacular event. These were people who paid good money to see us race.
I felt proud just to be out there with these masters of Supercross.  
	"O.K., I made it, here comes the final finish line double." I said.  As I crossed this
medium size jump I laid the bike sideways in the air ,and for the first time in my life I had
dozens of cameras flashing at me like stars in the dark sky. 
	I rode slowly to the pit area where my father waited with a huge smile on his face.
" I can't believe you have done so well in your first supercross event!" 
	I smiled and said " Well I still have to race the main event to really make my
mark."
	I got off of my mechanical wonder and sat down to eat a banana.  As I peeled back
the outer shell of this yellow fruit of wonder, I realized how excited I was and could not
bare to eat.  I was having a new emotion every five seconds.  It was like a dream that you
never want to wake from. Here I was, a Professional rider at a professional event.  This
was the dream that my friends and I buzzed about when we raced as amateurs.  I almost
felt guilty because I am getting to live our once shared dream. 
	I was quickly rattled out of my thoughts as I heard the announcer ring out, "We
need the 250 Class to stage for the main event in ten minutes".
	I was so nervous that I felt like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.  I
am not sure but at the time I think that I was more scared than anything.  My father
quickly handed me my riding gear and told me to put on my race face.  This is a term used
to get a rider into his racing attitude.  My arms were more shaking than a old time washing 
                                                                                                                             Miller 4
machine.  As I approached the staging area, all of the thoughts of winning and losing were
forced out of my head.  I knew that it was time to make my mark in the world of
supercross.                                                                                                                  
	"O.K. ladies and gentlemen, it is time for the main attraction of the night.  Here
comes the best of the best out again for the main event.  Winner takes all!", the announcer
shouted.
	My stomach squeezed more than ever.  As much as I wanted this day to come I
was wanting it to be all over with.  I felt like a little boy in a room full of superheros.
	At the beginning of the race I started talking my way through jumps.  "O.K. I am
going to do well. all I have to do is concentrate." when I said this, the gate dropped.  The
first time I came around my pit board told me to settle down that I was in fourth.  This is
when I had to really come down.  "I need to breath and calm down.  O.K., I am settled
into my groove." As I tried to gather my thoughts I was in the middle of the largest race
of my life.  "Here comes a double  followed by the triple. Wow, look at all of the camera's
taking pictures of me."  I was amazed by how the crowd roared as I profiled over the
triple jump. It was quite amazing. why wouldn't it be, it hurled me over 65 feet off the
ground. as I settled down I realized that the race would be over soon and I have done
quite well.  "Only two laps left and here comes the finish line double.  Ooooh nooo!!!! 
ahhhh!!!!!!"  I found out that when I was landing off the finish line double the defending
supercross champ, Jeremy Mcgrath, landed on top of me.  This pain was weirder than all
others I have felt.  I really didn't feel the pain in the physical sense at first.  I felt as if my
back had just collapsed.  It wasn't till I tried to stand and return to my bike that I felt the
excruciating pain of four cracked vertebrae.
	"Leave me alone! I will be all right." I said to the medical guy that was tugging at
my chest protector.
	
                                                                                                                             Miller 5
	If there is one thing that I can't stand is twenty medical people trying to take all of
your clothes off for a little cut or scrape.  It was now that I ended my first professional
supercross................