My thoughts and review of Hangtown

If you prefer to read, here are my "Cliff Notes" on Hangtown. 

• Well that did not take long, Looks like my doom and gloom worries about Jett were premature. It is clear that walking is still an issue, but it seems that hauling ass is no problem. Damn impressive win by Jett. Great ride on a crap track. 
• He really looked like the old Jett out there hopping and floating over the bumps. I’m still concerned about the ankle suffering a setback or holding him back at certain tracks but for now the “is Jett OK?” talk can cool down. 
• In second we have Hunter with a really solid if slightly disappointing ride. Personally, I am pulling for Hunter to win this title and the fact that his brother seemed to break his will to fight in both motos was concerning. Of course one race does not make a season, so we will have to see. After last week, I thought Hunter might just have everyone covered on speed, but the old Jett showed up and proved me wrong. 2-2 is still a great day and he kept the red plate, but I can’t think it was not a disappointment to Hunter and his crew. 
• In third place we had Haiden Deegan with a pair of solid third place finishes. Early on in moto one we all had what we wanted to see with Jett and Haiden 1-2, but Jett steadily walked away from the rookie. I would love to know what Haiden actually thought of this. His trash talk and shirt last week were pretty disrespectful, but that is probably all an act. I have to think he believes he is faster and can beat Jett and Hunter so this may have been a bit eye opening or maybe Haiden realizes it may take him a bit of time to find the lead pace. I still think he will win this Summer but if Haiden had any allusions about dominating the way Jett did his rookie 450 season he is finding out it will not be that easy. 
• In fourth place we have a very impressive showing for Dylan Ferraindis. Dylan is so interesting because it is almost impossible to remember his dominant, he was on the way to the 450 National Motocross title only five years ago. Remember Weege’s “Dylan Danger Zone” talk? He was kicking guys asses that year then he hurt his back and has never found that speed again. I mean the guy won back-to-back National Motocross titles. It really is weird that he went from elite to meh so quickly. Getting a 4th in the first moto and 4th overall was great for Dylan and great for Ducati who have the best-looking bikes in the track for my money. Those TLD bikes are sex on wheels. Great day for both parties and I am glad to see the Frenchman back near the front. 
• My surprise of the day has to be Garett Marchbanks in 5th. That is a phenomenal finish for a guy I had zero expectations for. His Supercross season was pretty much crap but he is looking much better outdoors. If he had gotten by Chase in the second moto that might have really been something to stir things up in the green truck. Great ride for Garret and a good showing for the number 2 Kawasaki guy.
• Under my disappointment of the day I have to list Jorge Prado. He was hauling ass again in the first moto and putting on a late race charge when his KTM motor let go. He was one of my pre-season picks for the title and dropping 25 points like that was a huge blow to his title chances. Then things went from bad to worse in the second moto after a terrible start had him buried in the pack. At least he was fast in the first moto, but in moto 2 he was only able to get to 13th. A 17th overall is not what the Spaniard needed. He is now all the way back in 7th in the standings a full 41 points out of the lead. With the speed and consistency of the Lawence brothers, Jorge’s title chances already look pretty damn grim, but anything can happen. I still think he will get some wins this summer and it is not over so he needs to shake this off and come out swinging at Thunder Valley.

• In the 250s you had another great showing by the boys in green. I am super pumped for Mitch and his team after so many years of blue beatdowns. Levi’s win was well deserved, and he is only seven points out of the points lead and very much in the title fight. Both Seth Hammaker and Levi Kitchen have been the class of the field on speed and the two are only a few bad starts away from running away with this. Levi’s first moto speed was crazy coming through he pack. I was really worried about Levi’s back injury coming into the season, but he looks to be 100% and ready to take this title. 

• Nice ride by Julien Beaumer in second. He is riding really well and showing great speed after having that terrifying injury last fall. He looks amazing on the bike and his One Industry gear is some of my favorite on the track. I think KTM has to be pumped by how well he has bounced back from a truly terrible injury and he is solidly in the fight for the title at 14 points back. 

• Seth showed that Pala was no fluke in the first moto and displayed tons of guts and determination in the second. Ninth may not look amazing on paper but he really showed that he is ready to put everything on the line and suffer to keep that red plate. Every point and pass is vital and that second moto may be the race that we look back on if he wins this title. 

• Cole Davies is one guy I can’t quite figure out. He is clearly incredibly talented and unreal at Supercross but the outdoor results are just all over the place. The first moto was not impressive, then he comes out and smokes everyone in moto 2. If he gets this motocross thing figured out these guys could be in trouble, but he will need to learn to race to the front to be a true title contended. 

• Joe Shimoda was my pick last week for the win and my pick for the 250 title but thus far he has left me a bit underwhelmed. A third in a moto has been his best finish and that is certainly not what I was expecting. Because the entire class has been so inconsistent, he is only 16 points out of the championship lead, but you can’t count on these topsy turvy results continuing. Joe needs to figure out his starts or his late season charge will be too little too late. 

• My disappointment in the 250 class for Hangtown is Chance Hymas. Like Shimoda, I had Chance as a title contender, and he is not showing anything close to that so far.  I thought he would come out firing last week and I have yet to see anything close to the speed he showed when winning last year. Maybe he is not yet 100% or maybe he is trying to keep from getting injured, or maybe it is just that stupid blue rear fender. Either way, it has not been what I was hoping for from Chance.