Posts
1149
Joined
11/5/2007
Location
Essex, CT
US
Edited Date/Time
1/27/2012 1:32am
Anyone have any updates? I just read that Willard won the lites class. What else???
they are on it!
The Shop
bike was smoking and dnf
Unless Factory Honda decided to bring the big rig to the stepping stone of supercross and risk getting hurt!
Come on dude, I know you we're joking with that comment! I hope.....
God bless Drew Wolfe!!!
bruce
Brayton did a lap on a stock honda but didnt jump anything
overall some good racing
Pit Row
First the track, because it was mentioned before:
The start was the sideways, short Des Moines start they like to do, but it was done better than they have ever done before. Few pileups and overall a very fair start. They got the angle right.
The straights were okay, but the rhythm was super basic and easy. A buddy of mine had never raced an AX before and jumped it first lap spot on - and no, he wasn't nearly as fast as the top guys. That shouldn't happen.
They had a "split corner" before the finish that made for a lot of follow the leader.
The sweeper was sand... therefore 1 lined.
They had a flat 180 on the start straight after the whoops, so it was hard for anyone to use any momentum through the whoops to make a pass in the corner.
AX is always tough to make a pass, but if a rider didn't make a mistake, there was really one straight into a bowl turn to make a pass. Even if you wanted to get aggressive, there was no where to do it.
Ames was riding well all night. Won his heat and the Dash for Cash convincingly and ran down C. Johnson in the main. He peeked inside a few times and pulled the trigger on a pass he had to know was going to get ugly... but if you read above it was nearly impossible to pass and Bowers was on the charge in 3rd.
When they got up, Johnson wheelied his bike over Ames' to get back in the race causing Ames to lose a radiator hose and be done for the night. Johnson's bike would expire before the end of the 25 lap main as well. Instead of 1st and 2nd at the opener, they both had DNFs... OUCH!
Siebler, Kevin Johnson, Daniel Blair and other top guys failed to qualify for the main event.
The show was good, and the action never really had too long of a break. A fair amount of racing, but I REALLY miss the 2 night formats.
A lot of KTMs on the line. They are paying huge contingency and it seems to be working.
The Monster Kawi guys are solid and going to be tough to beat. Gibson and Ames gave them a bit of a run.
A few guys without much mention so far.
Michael Willard was flying everytime he was on the track. The kid has great speed.
Cody Gilmore was on par with the "fast group" of former champions and winners all night, one of 9 guys to qualify with a 26 second lap time... YES! 9 guys!
Tommy Hofmaster is retired, or is he? He put his bike into the main when a lot of series favorites missed the main.
That's a lot of notes from my head - but glad I can type about it because I can't talk. Caught a cold from the cold weather - which was relatively warm for this time of year in Iowa. Spoiled by the Southwest this time of year I guess.
Forgot to mention. Over 70 entries in the AX Lites class and over 60 in the AX Class. Entry-wise, it was a strong opening round.
Oh wait, there is not a "tomorrow night", anymore!
I felt like I was at a reunion of sorts, hanging out all afternoon in the pits! Riders, Dads, Sponsors, Mechanics, AX personnel and others from the years I was part of the scene!
Great to see and chat with everyone!
(only the girlfriends had changed)
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