OAKLAND,
Calif. (Jan. 24) – Eli Tomac has a bright new addition to his GEICO
Honda CRF250R motorcycle for this Saturday's Monster Energy AMA
Supercross race at O.co Coliseum – the coveted red number plate.
After
capturing the points lead following his win in last week's Supercross
Lites West race down the coast in Los Angeles, Tomac earned the right to
use the special plate on his bike, which signifies the current points
leader. It's an add-on Tomac would like make a permanent fixture of his
bike.
capturing the points lead following his win in last week's Supercross
Lites West race down the coast in Los Angeles, Tomac earned the right to
use the special plate on his bike, which signifies the current points
leader. It's an add-on Tomac would like make a permanent fixture of his
bike.
"It's
definitely going to be cool to run that red number plate," Tomac said.
"I wanted it, and now I have it and I want to hold onto it. I really
feel like I should have been in this position all season but I wasn't
getting the starts. Now we've got that part figured out and we can move
forward."
definitely going to be cool to run that red number plate," Tomac said.
"I wanted it, and now I have it and I want to hold onto it. I really
feel like I should have been in this position all season but I wasn't
getting the starts. Now we've got that part figured out and we can move
forward."
With
three of nine Lites West races in the books, the title chase is
developing into a three-man race with Tomac leading Dean Wilson by one
point and Tyla Rattray by three. The two riders sharing fourth place are
13 points out of third.
three of nine Lites West races in the books, the title chase is
developing into a three-man race with Tomac leading Dean Wilson by one
point and Tyla Rattray by three. The two riders sharing fourth place are
13 points out of third.
Tomac
said following the formula that led to success at Dodger Stadium is
still the best course of action for Oakland and beyond.
said following the formula that led to success at Dodger Stadium is
still the best course of action for Oakland and beyond.
"I'll
stick with the same program I've had all season," Tomac said. "We've
had the fastest bike in all three races. If I can get the starts and
limit my mistakes on the track, just clean it up a little bit, we can
stay out front. I like being in the lead. I worked hard to get here; I'm
going to work even harder to stay here."
stick with the same program I've had all season," Tomac said. "We've
had the fastest bike in all three races. If I can get the starts and
limit my mistakes on the track, just clean it up a little bit, we can
stay out front. I like being in the lead. I worked hard to get here; I'm
going to work even harder to stay here."
GEICO Honda's Supercross rider Kevin Windham is looking to rally from a down finish at Dodger Stadium last week.
"I
doesn't get any easier out there," said Windham, who is currently in
sixth place in the season standings, but is only five points out of
fourth. "The competition is as tough as it gets, so the key is to be as
flawless as you can on every lap. The slightest mistake will give the
other guy an opportunity to close the gap or pass you.
doesn't get any easier out there," said Windham, who is currently in
sixth place in the season standings, but is only five points out of
fourth. "The competition is as tough as it gets, so the key is to be as
flawless as you can on every lap. The slightest mistake will give the
other guy an opportunity to close the gap or pass you.
"We did a pretty good job of riding that way in Phoenix when we finished fourth, so we'll try to use that template in Oakland."
Windham
also expressed relief that American Honda rider and good friend Trey
Canard wasn't injured more seriously in a scary crash during the first
lap of last weekend's race. Another rider landed on Canard causing both
to fall hard from their bikes. Canard suffered a broken back and is
scheduled for surgery this week.
also expressed relief that American Honda rider and good friend Trey
Canard wasn't injured more seriously in a scary crash during the first
lap of last weekend's race. Another rider landed on Canard causing both
to fall hard from their bikes. Canard suffered a broken back and is
scheduled for surgery this week.
"Trey
was a member of this GEICO Honda team when he was starting out,"
Windham said. "It's always terrible to see another rider go down like
that, but when it's someone who was a teammate, it hits you like a punch
in the gut.
was a member of this GEICO Honda team when he was starting out,"
Windham said. "It's always terrible to see another rider go down like
that, but when it's someone who was a teammate, it hits you like a punch
in the gut.
"Myself and everyone on the GEICO Honda team are praying for Trey to make a quick recovery."
The
team's other Lites West rider, Gavin Faith, is looking to make another
step forward in his progression as a rider. Faith's first Supercross
experience last weekend was long on education but short on results when
he finished 18th in his first race filling in for injured rider Wil
Hahn.
team's other Lites West rider, Gavin Faith, is looking to make another
step forward in his progression as a rider. Faith's first Supercross
experience last weekend was long on education but short on results when
he finished 18th in his first race filling in for injured rider Wil
Hahn.
"Things
really didn't go like I wanted so I'm more determined than ever before
to pick it up," Faith said. "I can do this for sure. I felt pretty good
all night in L.A. I got little tight in the middle of the main but got
through it. I actually learned a lot in one race and having some time to
think about it will be good for me."
really didn't go like I wanted so I'm more determined than ever before
to pick it up," Faith said. "I can do this for sure. I felt pretty good
all night in L.A. I got little tight in the middle of the main but got
through it. I actually learned a lot in one race and having some time to
think about it will be good for me."
Faith
got limited practice time leading up to his debut last week, and he
said the extra time aboard the bike this week is going to make a world
of difference.
got limited practice time leading up to his debut last week, and he
said the extra time aboard the bike this week is going to make a world
of difference.
"I
need to get more comfortable on the bike," Faith said. "Having a full
week of practice will help. I know what I want to work on. I learned
from my teammates that the starts are crucial. I have to get better
there. I also plan to be a lot more aggressive. I let people get by me
that I shouldn't have let by, but I learned from that."
need to get more comfortable on the bike," Faith said. "Having a full
week of practice will help. I know what I want to work on. I learned
from my teammates that the starts are crucial. I have to get better
there. I also plan to be a lot more aggressive. I let people get by me
that I shouldn't have let by, but I learned from that."
Practice
for Saturday's Monster Energy AMA Supercross Race at O.co Coliseum
begins at 12:30 p.m. PST with opening ceremonies starting at 7 p.m. The
Supercross race will be televised on CBS affiliates nationwide at noon
EST on Sunday. The Lites West race will air at 5 p.m. Sunday on SPEED.
for Saturday's Monster Energy AMA Supercross Race at O.co Coliseum
begins at 12:30 p.m. PST with opening ceremonies starting at 7 p.m. The
Supercross race will be televised on CBS affiliates nationwide at noon
EST on Sunday. The Lites West race will air at 5 p.m. Sunday on SPEED.
1/25/2012 12:25am
0 comments
To post, please join, log in or connect to Vital using your Facebook profile Login with Facebook.