Vital MX Pit Bits: 2023 Houston Supercross - Part One 7

It's that time again...

We're back in the Lonestar state for our first of two visits of the year and the first of four Pit Bits you'll see from Houston and Arlington. Enjoy part one from Houston.

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Michael Lindsay

Justin Cooper and Mo-Head are back in action at Houston.

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Michael Lindsay

Justin Cooper makes his 450 debut and were slightly surprised to see his 450 equipped with works KYB suspension instead of A-kit suspension.

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Michael Lindsay

Justin Cooper's 2023 YZ450F isn't under the 450 truck, but under the 250 truck.

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Michael Lindsay

LSF or PSF1 forks for Justin Cooper? We'll have to dig a little more.

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Michael Lindsay

Christian Craig wasn't too satisfied with his bike setup after A2 and he's made quite a few changes.

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Michael Lindsay

This week we noticed he went to non-split triple clamps and a WP steering damper. Which seems to be a near replica of the Showa steering damper we'd see teams using from time-to-time. Including Austrian brand teams.

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Michael Lindsay

Coty Schock is back in action, after almost one year away from the races due to a major knee injury.

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Michael Lindsay

The Phoenix Honda crew is in full force on East coast, running four riders total with Coty Schock, Jace Owen, Caden Brasell, and Cullin Park.

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Michael Lindsay

The Phoenix Honda team continues with KYB and Enzo racing for 2023. With the team being split between air forks (Park and Schock) and spring forks (Braswell and Owen).

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Michael Lindsay

Last weekend, Jason Anderson mentioned to us that they've backtracked on a few bike setup items. One such is both AC and Ando going back to a traditional shock and ditching the BFRC.

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Michael Lindsay

 Anderson's machine as an example as well.

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Michael Lindsay

While the Austrian brand teams have been using ETS for years, we're starting to see it more around the paddock with other teams.

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Michael Lindsay

After years of grinding as Team Honda HRC's test bike mechanic, spare bikes, test truck driver, and a lot of other nut-turning duties...Thomas Harris is a full-time race mechanic with Chance Hymas. Congrats Tommy.

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Michael Lindsay

See no evil...

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Michael Lindsay

Speak no evil...

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Michael Lindsay

Chris Blose deserves his chance at a Factory ride after over 15 years as a pro. Congrats Chris, live it up.

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Michael Lindsay

Waiting for the Zombie butt patches...

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Michael Lindsay

The RD Foundation had a bike build event for All Kids Bike this weekend.

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Michael Lindsay

An all-star class showed up to help build the bikes for a great cause. Learn more about Ryan Dungey's involvement in an interview with the man himself this upcoming week.

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Michael Lindsay

Haiden "Dangerboy" Deegan's first Pro Supercross lid has some flair.

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Michael Lindsay

Brent Duffe is back in the pro league. After winning a title with Christian Craig in 2022, Duffe requested to work with and help guide Haiden Deegan into the pros for 2023.

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Michael Lindsay

Welcome to the pros full-time Haiden Deegan.

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Michael Lindsay

After racing A2 on the team's amateur bike with a different chassis, engine, and suspension components... Haiden has moved to the team's full pro bike for the East region.

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Michael Lindsay

Tommy Harris has nearly thought of everything on his tool belt. Note the front brake clamps bolted to the pack.

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Michael Lindsay

Replacement fork guards with a holeshot device are a must. As low as the guys go in SX these days with grate starts, there's a lot of pressure on the fork guard and sometimes they just fail.

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Michael Lindsay

Mechanics always have stubby T-handles at the ready.

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Michael Lindsay

The Red Bull KTM crew keeps their fuel drums in a location where they can hook up a pump and even filter the fuel.

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Michael Lindsay

A few goggle straps for Hunter Lawrence, who's running EKS Brands with an A-Stars strap.

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Michael Lindsay

Jamie Ellis is quite busy at the races these days, doing engines and mapping for multiple privateers, ClubMX, HEP, and more. We spotted him under the Phoenix Honda semi, where he's assisting with mapping. The Phoenix team engines come from DASA.

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Michael Lindsay

You have to admit, going head-to-toe with a brand like Fox makes for some sweet details in the total kit.

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Michael Lindsay

Formerly known as Toyota Tom, now Honda Tom. Truck driver for Honda's hospitality rig.

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Michael Lindsay

Talon Hawkins got called up to the big leagues a little earlier than planned. Initially, Talon would've raced all the Futures events but with Jalek Swoll's injury, he was pushed up early to do the entire East region for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team.

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Michael Lindsay

Unlike the previous time we saw Talon Hawkins under the pro semi (during select Pro Motocross rounds), he's on a full pro spec bike for East region instead of his amateur spec bike that he raced at A2 just a week ago.

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Michael Lindsay

It's the little things.

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Michael Lindsay

Clinton Fowler made a unique observation this week. In the past decade, Star Racing has only won one more 250 race than Pro Circuit. However, in that same amount of time, Star has locked down eight championships to Pro Circuit's one championship. Shocking.

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Michael Lindsay

Nope, your eyes don't deceive you. That's Mike "Goose" Gosselaar back at the races. He was attending the race as a guest of the HRC crew and watching Idaho-native Chance Hymas' Pro Supercross debut.

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Michael Lindsay

Seriously, almost every team is using Starlink at the races for their internet needs.

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Michael Lindsay

With Hymas in action, the HRC truck is fuller than normal at four riders this weekend. A lot of crew is on hand for the weekend.

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Michael Lindsay

Precision rug placement.

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Michael Lindsay

Someone on the Star teams has the trickest starting blocks we've ever seen.

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Michael Lindsay

We've noticed a few more Nascar-related sponsors being added to Joey Savatgy's RWR Kawasaki over the early weeks of the season.

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Michael Lindsay

Joey Savatgy's new wrench, ex-racer Ben Lamay, stopped by the Factory Kawasaki truck to get some clutch advice from the wrench who knows Joey best, Justin Shantie.

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Michael Lindsay

Branding is everything and there's no stone left unturned on the Factory Kawasaki rig.

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Michael Lindsay

Preston Kilroy got the call up to the ClubMX team to fill-in for Garrett Marchbanks, but ultimately it was cut short as he broke both wrists in his heat race. Get well soon Preston.

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Michael Lindsay

Need a split pitboard? Simple, electrical tape.

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Michael Lindsay

Jordan Smith's longtime practice mechanic, Justin Hopson, is his race wrench at Star for 2023.

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Michael Lindsay

Even the pros need reminders.

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Michael Lindsay

The Star 450 and 250 team have had Optima battery branding since A1 and for good reason, they partnered with the brand to develop Lithium batteries for dirt bikes which will ultimately be available in local auto part stores along with motorcycle dealerships!

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Michael Lindsay

It seems like every Saturday morning, we see Cooper and Carlos doing their own debrief.

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Michael Lindsay

Welcome to the US Tom Vialle...

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And it was a rough welcome.

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Michael Lindsay

Return on Tuesday for a deeper tech dive in part two if Pit Bits from Houston!

Pit Bits 2019
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