Maybe the best story of the day is the Privateer rider Steve Boniface who put in an outstanding effort. After his awesome rides in both motos, Boniface was the talk of the pits. Boniface battled with all of the Team Honda Red Bull Racing factory riders at some point, finally beating two out of three of them.
With mentoring from DeCoster this year, Alessi could put some serious pressure on Stewart. He is known for being one of the fastest starters in motocross and always a threat to get the holeshot in the beginning of the race. Read more...
Honda has won more Hangtown Classics than any other manufacturer. This year Big H comes to the race with Davi Millsaps who went 3-3 and finished 3rd at Glen Helen, alongside Ivan Tedesco who went 7-5 and finished fifth.
The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team is overloaded with talent this year. James Stewart proved he's healthy and ready to race after winning big at Glen Helen. Stewart was in a class of his own finishing 1-1 to take the overall win. Tim Ferry finished fourth after a battle with Davi Millsaps which lasted until the final lap when Ferry slid out and remounted to finish fourth.
Not holding back is Team Makita Suzuki. Mike Alessi finished second going 2-2 but just didn’t have the speed to hang with Stewart. Michael Byrne went 9-7 and finished sixth overall.
Pro Circuit Powered riders had the top two positions in both classes at Glen Helen. The Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team cleaned house. The fact of the matter is that the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team, run by Mitch Payton, is on fire and the team to beat.
James Stewart set the fastest time in the Motocross Class. Except for one small crash in the first practice session, Stewart looked very good and very fast. In the first combined 450-class practice session, Stewart was a full second faster than the next-quickest rider, Honda Red Bull’s Andrew Short. Stewart’s best time around the long and fast track was two minutes and 42.278 seconds. Short, who looked aggressive on his Honda, turned in a 2:43.294. Third fastest was Alessi with a 2:44.135, followed by Jeff Alessi, Tim Ferry, Steve Boniface, Cody Cooper, Byrne, Millsaps and Tedesco, who were all in the second session with slightly better (drier) track conditions.