Like every top athlete, Jett analyzes his performance after every race. He is coming to the realization that while less riding during the week is saving his foot for the weekend, the lack of riding is also holding him back on race day.
“I think so, spending more time on the track, I think like anything, the more laps you spin at a place the more comfortable. You know the lines and at the end of the day you kind of know what your bike is going to do more. Obviously, it caught me out because I was feeling really, really good. But I think I just need to suck it up during the week because, I need the time during the week because being familiar with your bike and being with it is a big thing. And I think that’s why, today especially why I crashed a lot because I can’t really get into the positions I want to to begin with, and then I’m not ready for them as much. Because when I ride during the week I am not pushing hard. We just need to get some ride time and be careful of my foot and just make it to the weekend. That’s the biggest thing. And I think a little bit each week is kind of taken its toll on me. So, I just need to get back and get to, a little bit closer to the regular schedule I normally do.”
To his credit, Jett seemed to be in good spirits after the race where he went 2-5 for third overall. Maybe it’s because he was riding so amazingly before his second moto crash. Maybe it is the confidence of having a plan to change things during the week. This time, he reflected on his attitude in the stressful moments, like when he was seen slamming his helmet down after the first moto at RedBud.
“I was just really frustrated because normally those conditions at RedBud I love. Normally those are my conditions where I would really show my technique, and I could find my way around a track that’s normally so difficult very easily. So, I think I had a spoonful of reality of what it’s normally like and I didn’t like it very much. I was pissed off because I couldn’t do what I wanted to do on the track. Obviously after that I kind of lost my cool and during the week I was still bummed because I was not able to do what I wanted to do. I know what is needed to win a championship and I know what I need to do to get that Jett Lawrence that everyone knows, but I physically can’t right now because of my ankle and the limitation I have.”
After RedBud Jett was concerned enough to go re-visit his doctor.
“So, we got X-rays and I got to meet up with the doctor who did my surgery and I got a step by step, basically where the screws are he put in, everything like that. And obviously asked him a bunch of questions about what I am going through. And he gave me some good hope, he just said, ‘Be patient with it, it’s going to get better.’ I asked him, ‘What I’m doing right now is that good?’ He’s like, ‘In the doctor’s world, no! You shouldn’t be racing. But it’s going to be pretty hard to convince you not to race.’ He’s happy with it because I have done a good job of keeping it from being really badly hurt. But also, just the day to day of is is probably another reason why I lost my crap at RedBud is, since December 19th I’ve been in pain every single day. Waking up, going to the bathroom when I first wake up, going to brush my teeth, getting food, going to the truck, just having constant pain with walking. So, I think those months and days and days, it kind of takes a toll on you a little bit. So, I think I was allowed to lose my crap a little bit at that stage but obviously got to tune it back a little bit.”