POST GLEN HELEN TEAM REPORTS: What The Teams Think Happened At Glen Helen; Canidae, KTM, Kawasaki, Suzuki
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“It definitely feels good to be back outdoors. I think overall it was a good day. We had solid practices and finished first-fastest in both. Ended up second in the first moto, had a little bobble in a corner, and kind of lost the lead. Going into the second moto, not such a great start, but I worked my way through the pack and was able to work my way up to first. Two-one today for the overall. I think it was solid.”
“It was good. First moto we got a really great start and were out in front and pulling away big time. Just all of a sudden, I hit a turn and got stuck — literally got stuck and couldn’t get out. That put me all the way back to fourth. I charged back to third to try to salvage points. Second moto, got a great start, was out front and pulled away from everybody, and was riding a good pace and my own race. I led it ?til the last couple laps when Ryan caught me and took the lead. We’ll come back strong next week.”
“It was good. I got flashes of brilliance. There are some things I need to work on with me and I think we’ll be real good. I feel confident. The results on paper aren’t really as important to me as what it means to me. I was really more comfortable than I expected to be. I didn’t expect to be the fastest guy in practice, and I was. There’s a realistic side of things, and we tested twice and came racing. We made a lot of changes throughout the weekend that were positive ones. It’s promising.”
Michael Byrne:
“It was okay. I got points, and that was the main goal. I probably don’t even know if I should be really racing yet, but you got to be in it to build those points up for the championship. I felt like I rode stronger in the second moto than in the first moto. The first moto I got a good start, but my shoulder just wasn’t used to the jarring of the hills and stuff. It got a little weak and I just kept falling back. The second moto I felt like I kind of maintained and caught the guys ahead of me. All in all, it was okay.”
MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI’S VILLOPOTO WINS 450 CLASS MOTOCROSS DEBUTÿ
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Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto started off the 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Racing Motocross Championship just as he finished the 2009 supercross season, on the top step of the podium. Villopoto went 1-1 in his motocross 450 class debut making it 26 straight moto wins for the Kawasaki KX450F. In the 250 class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel won the first moto and finished seventh in the second while his teammate, 2008 MX2 World Champion, Tyla Rattray went 5-2 in his first race on American soil. Jake Weimer went 6-9 and Austin Stroupe finished 13-5. Timmy Ferry started the first moto in the 450 class but was unable to finish as he continues to recover from a broken heel he sustained in March.ÿ
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Take a Bow
Villopoto joined elite company as he went 1-1 in his first motocross race in the 450 class. After winning the last three 250 class championships, he became only the second rider to then sweep both motos at Glen Helen in his 450 class debut. Ricky Carmichael also achieved the feat on a Kawasaki in 2000. It wasn’t easy for Villopoto who had to fight his way to the front during the 30 minute plus two lap motos.
Mind the Gap
During the second moto Villopoto worked his way up from 10th at the start to second on the sixth lap. When he moved up to second he was 16 seconds behind the leader.ÿ Over the next five laps, Villopoto caught up to and passed the leader to take his second moto win.
First Podium
Tyla Rattray’s first race in America was a good one as he finished fifth in the first moto and followed that up with a runner-up finish in the second moto. Rattray came across the holeshot line in fourth during Moto 2 and then rode a patient race to slowly move up to second.
“I really enjoyed the race today especially the second moto,” said Rattray. “In the first moto I got a little arm pump so I just rode as best I could and I’m happy to get third overall. The second moto was a lot easier to pass. The track was rougher and there were more lines to choose from. The first moto it was more difficult to get by guys, but I think everyone did a great job. The track was awesome.”ÿ
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Familiar Ground
One of the advantages of racing in Southern California is getting plenty of track time before the season starts. Nearly every rider in the race had tested and practiced weekly at Glen Helen Raceway. Though the track was familiar, it was prepped different for the national.
Moto Win
Pourcel found a familiar position after the first moto, the top step of the podium. The French rider rode a smooth and patient race to get the win. “The first moto was good for me,” said Pourcel. “I didn’t get a great start and it was kind of crazy. I was in fourth when the leaders made a mistake, and I got by them. I just rode really smooth until the end of the race.”
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26 Straight
With Villopoto’s two moto victories, the Kawasaki KX450F now has won 26 motos straight.ÿ
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Coming to America
After winning the MX2 World Championship in Europe last year, Rattray came to the United States to race against different competition. New tracks aren’t the only thing that is different for Rattray. “The track was really rough and the intensity was more than I’m used to,” said Rattray. “That is the biggest difference racing here in America, other than that it is pretty much the same.”ÿ
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Tough Track
The rutted conditions combined with an already difficult track made for a long race day at Glen Helen. For Weimer, the tough conditions made it difficult for him to overcome mid-pack starts, but he knows there is still a long season ahead.
“It was tough,” said Weimer. “I just struggled with the starts. It was tough to pass because everybody is so fast here. Having to restart the first moto after the red flag was kind of a bummer. That was my best start of the day and we had redo it. The track was rough and I didn’t get the results I wanted.”
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Long Layoff
Since winning the MX2 title in October, Rattray has not competed in a race. The South African rider joined the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team early in 2009, but did not race during the supercross season.
“I know racing is different than just riding, so I just wanted to go out and get the best result I can,” said Rattray. “My fitness isn’t at 100 percent yet because I haven’t raced in seven months, but I know it can only get better.”
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New Bike
Glen Helen not only marked Rattray’s first race in the United States, but also his first race on the Kawasaki KX250F.
Looking to Improve
Though Villopoto swept both motos, he still sees areas for improvement. Not one to rest on his laurels, the 20-year-old rider is planning to work hard during the week to put in another good performance at Hangtown.
“Nobody likes to come from the back but that’s what I had to do today,” said Villopoto. “We are going to work on our starts. I don’t think I come from the back all the time, but when I have too I can. I’m just hoping for some better starts to come.”
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Still Recovering
Ferry came to the race still recovering from a broken heel and rode the first moto. After the moto Timmy and the team decided it would be best to concentrate on his recovery.
TEAM CANIDAE/ MOTOSPORT KAWASAKI KICKS OFF OUTDOOR SEASON WITH A BANG!ÿ
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When the 2009 Outdoor National Season shot out of the gate at Glen Helen Raceway in Southern California this past weekend, nobody knew what to expect. The CANIDAE Motosport Kawasaki team had been working overtime to get ready for the grueling series and it showed!
First race up was Moto #1 for the 450MX class where CANIDAE rider Tommy Hahn would face off against 40 of the toughest riders in the world. Tommy would enter the famous “Talladega Turn” inside the top 10 and finish lap 1 in 8th place. Hahn would battle with Chad Reed and Mike Brown for most of the race and take the checkered flag in 7th place. A great ride for Hahn and CANIDAE Motosport Kawasaki.
Moto #1 for the 250MX riders was next and CANIDAE riders P.J. Larsen and Kyle Cunningham would take their shot at the fast and rough track. Cunningham would only make 7 laps due to a broken finger he obtained while testing for the event just days before the event. Larsen, who suffered from a poor start showed his speed while coming through the pack even with a rear flat tire that he suffered in the first 10 minutes of the race. P.J. would crash while pushing it to the limits in a fast, soft corner sending the bike all the way off the track. Somehow, the rookie rider pulled the bike back onto the track, under the banners and fences and remounted to finish a remarkable 18th place.ÿÿÿÿ
Moto #2 for the 450 guys was almost a replay of the first with Hahn jumping out to a great start and holding his place inside the top 10 for the exhausting 30 minutes + 2 laps moto. Mixing it up for most of the race with the factory “Red Riders” Hahn would improve on position from the first moto and finish in 6th place which would net him a 6th place finish overall, a fantastic way to start the new season.
Moto #2 for the 250 “Lites” riders was exciting and the CANIDAE Motosport Kawasaki riders bounced back to show they will be riders to contend with all season long. Cunningham would fight through the severe pain to finish 13th on the extremely rough SoCal track. Larsen would finish just outside the top 10 in 11th place, a great finish for this rising star.
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KTM GLEN HELEN RACE REPORT: TOMMY SEARLE AND MIKE BROWN ARE TOP TEN
Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM Factory rider Tommy Searle earned a top five finish in his debut in the Lucas Oil Motocross Championship Series.
Searle had a great start when the gate dropped for the first moto coming around the first turn in 2nd place. He was still inside the top three as the first lap was coming to an end, but unfortunately, that race would be red-flagged and the riders were sent back to the starting gate to begin the race again.
The second attempt was just as successful for Searle. He came around the first turn in 3rd and remained up front. His teammate Wil Hahn also had a great start rounding the first turn in 5th and the third member of the team, Martin Davalos, started mid-pack around 15th place. The Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM riders continued to turn in impressive lap times. Searle spent the majority of the race in 5th position but moved up to 4th right before the checkers. Hahn maintained a steady pace and finished 11th overall while Davalos dropped back due to a leg injury that became inflamed during the race and finished mid-pack. A newcomer to the 250 class, J-Law Racing’s Max Anstie, started around 20th and worked his KTM up to 13th before a crash sent him over the bars and ended his race day. Anstie was taken to the hospital for further evaluation and is hoping to return for the Hangtown National.
In the second moto Davalos got the holeshot on his KTM 250SX-F machine followed closely by Searle. The Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM teammates led the first couple of turns together until Justin Barcia was able to get around. Davalos again faded back due to a lingering injury and eventually had to pull off while Searle was able to maintain pace and stay close to the #151 bike of Barcia. Hahn got pinched off on the start and came around the first lap in dead last. Hahn pushed through the pack and by lap six had moved up ten positions and was sitting in 25th position. Searle held second until lap four and then remained in 3rd position until the half way mark. A mistake on lap nine allowed another rider to pass moving Searle back to 4th. Searle then began a five lap battle with Austin Stroupe for 4th position. On the final lap after swapping positions twice, Searle won the battle taking 4th place by half a wheel length.
The 450 class marked the debut of Jagermeister/MDK/KTM Justin Brayton’s first full-time 450 season and the return to motocross racing for the 2001 125cc Motocross National Champion and Shock Doctor/KTM rider Mike Brown. The Jagermeister/MDK/KTM ride of Josh Summey also returned to racing since his hand injury which left him sidelined for half of the Supercross season.
The gate dropped for the first moto and the crowd cheered loud for the #3 bike of Brown who rounded the first turn in 3rd position. Brown showed the crowd why he is a past champion as he continued to battle within the top five for the first few laps of the race. Brayton wasn’t as fortunate as Brown on the start and came around the first turn in 20th. Summey was a little farther back in 25th. Near the end of the moto Brayton had moved up to 13th position and was closing in on the 12th place rider when he suffered a crash on a downhill in the back of the track. He was able to remount but had lost valuable positions and finished 21st. Brown rode a solid moto and finished 8th.
In the second moto, Brown was up front again in 7th position while Brayton was a few spots back in 14th. Summey started near the bottom twenty and began to move his way up. Brayton quickly caught up to Brown and the two KTM riders began to close in on the front of the pack. At one point Brayton passed Brown for 8th position and pulled a few bike lengths ahead. Near the end of the moto Brown passed Brayton back and took over the position. With two laps to go Andrew Short, running in 6th, made a mistake that allowed Brown and Brayton to pass. Brown held his pace and finished an impressive 7th overall while Brayton finished a solid 9th place. Summey encountered a bike problem and was forced to pull off the track on the fifth lap.
“I had a lot of fun out there. It has been a while since I raced a motocross race in the US,” commented Brown. “I feel that I did pretty well today although I would have liked a top five finish. I hope to be at a few more motocross events if they don’t conflict with my current race schedule.”
Next Event: Hangtown Motocross ? May 30, 2009
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