Posts
5301
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Party in Temecula, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
11/8/2021 5:37am
I had posted this in the other thread, but for this of you who haven’t seen it , here is the update on Dutch Racer Rick Elzinga today at the Fox national 2-
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Update- As you may know, Rick posted fast time in both his free practice and timed qualifier.
Unfortunately, his results are really my fault- or should I say my lack of planning. In the first moto, Rick’s fuel boiled from the heat, blowing off his gas cap vent hose, and spraying hot pressurized VP MR pro 6 fuel directly into his mouth and nose at about the 25 minute mark, causing him to stop and vomit in his helmet.
He was sick from the fuel in the second moto, and still rode with honor in the second moto until he was too ill to continue at the 20 minute mark.
I had a KTM technician tell me that most likely, due to the high track and engine temperatures, the fuel boiled over and blew the hose off the KTM power parts alloy cap- he advised us to use the “HT version of the pro 6 fuel next week, and to insulate the KTM tank on the bottom.
I want to thank every Vital member that stopped by our pit to offer support and positive vibes- you guys are awesome and caring, you are the best of Motocross.
I also want to give sincere thanks to all the factory techs from KTM and WP that stopped by to check on us, Davey Coombs for checking in on us several times today, and Guy B for coming by to visit.
We will re group and head to Hangtown on Thursday to do it again.
————-
Update- As you may know, Rick posted fast time in both his free practice and timed qualifier.
Unfortunately, his results are really my fault- or should I say my lack of planning. In the first moto, Rick’s fuel boiled from the heat, blowing off his gas cap vent hose, and spraying hot pressurized VP MR pro 6 fuel directly into his mouth and nose at about the 25 minute mark, causing him to stop and vomit in his helmet.
He was sick from the fuel in the second moto, and still rode with honor in the second moto until he was too ill to continue at the 20 minute mark.
I had a KTM technician tell me that most likely, due to the high track and engine temperatures, the fuel boiled over and blew the hose off the KTM power parts alloy cap- he advised us to use the “HT version of the pro 6 fuel next week, and to insulate the KTM tank on the bottom.
I want to thank every Vital member that stopped by our pit to offer support and positive vibes- you guys are awesome and caring, you are the best of Motocross.
I also want to give sincere thanks to all the factory techs from KTM and WP that stopped by to check on us, Davey Coombs for checking in on us several times today, and Guy B for coming by to visit.
We will re group and head to Hangtown on Thursday to do it again.
Hammer 663s
The Shop
Was great to see him running well and despite the results, you have to be pleased with the effort you guys made, despite the unforeseen issues.
Stock motor with mods and turning the times Rick was is a massive achievement.
Best of luck at Hangtown.
Rick got to ride in America, at Pala because of your efforts and his talent.
The results will never get in the way of that part of the story.
I thank you for that. Everyone involved.
So top 10 in Hangtown??😀😀
Mx is an extremely sport and the only thing you are responsible for is the generosity and hard work to make it happen!
Sure your rider see that as well.
Bravo!
I was watching for Rick in both motos and thought he was doing great, then he disappeared and I was wondering what happened.
Good luck!!!
Good luck next race and thanks for making a dream come true for another human
From Ricks mechanic Robert
Can’t wait to see him at Hangtown 👍.
Such a cool story. Fuck Matthes 🖕🏿
Wish you’d put up a PayPal Or Venmo.
Maybe safety wire the vent hose on the cap also to at least reduce chance of face spray.
Pit Row
(1) Safety wire gas cap and vent hose (already done at the track)
(2) Insulate tank with heat shield
(3) Use MR Pro 6 HT fuel
(4) get new map for ECU from XPR Motorsports.
(5) get Vital MX stickers on bike (GuyB?)
(6) Finish in top 12 next week
But at this point, I think we will just go with what we have, and try to finish a race without gas squirting out of the bike
Because of the short week, even if they did offer, we would not have time to test anything, we have to travel Thursday to Hangtown and Rick is only riding once on Wednesday this week.
Rick is comfortable on the bike setup now, and I think we have a suspension setting as good at Vohland, we are just 10 HP down on power. I am going to XPR on Tuesday to ask for a better map for our Vortex.
If he comes back later in the year to practice supercross here, we may have more of an interest by the teams.
Rick already has multiple offers To race in Europe next year. I guess we will see what happens in the off-season
AEO has been helping us tremendously with the bike, parts and tech support, but only for these last two rounds.
Hope he lands a good ride in Europe over a sub standard one here.
The kid obviously rips and looking firearms to seeing what he can do at Hangtown!!
It’s made me want to buy a bike again after being out of the sport (riding that is) for 20 years!
Onward to Hangtown, happy to hear that's happening, and hopefully you guys have a little more luck on your side this time.
We went to the very top of the track Saturday morning, and the mud was easily 3 feet deep- I probably couldn’t walk through it - and he tells me this is his favorite track condition.
Deep mud and ruts, I guess that is his everyday practice conditions back in Holland. Anyone who rode first practice Saturday and made it out are just awesome in my book.
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