Best MX Finish Ever for Team Öhlins USA at Steel City, Not so Much at Pala

Hendersonville, North Carolina: Team Öhlins USA closed out its first MX season with a sound 17^th-place
finish at Steel City by rider A.J. Catanzaro, in the penultimate round
of the 2011 series. Catanzaro rounded out his final events with 21^st in Steel City Moto 1, and at Pala earned 29^th and 23^rd in Moto 1 and 2 respectively, after running sixth early on.

Teammate Garret Toth qualified for both events and had his best luck at Steel City, finishing 34^th and 28^th
in the tough conditions. At Pala Toth fell and fractured his tibia and
did not finish either Moto. Team Öhlins USA rider Michael Clarke showed
well in qualifying for both events but came up just a couple ticks short
of earning a gate at each. We send our best wishes to Toth for a speedy
recovery.

Öhlins
USA congratulates its three Team Öhlins USA riders for their
commitment, courage and tenacity, in tackling a huge challenge and for
doing it with maturity and grace all the way to the season’s end,
growing every step during this great adventure.

A.J. Catanzaro said after Steel City, “After
missing Unadilla and Southwick due to illness, it felt awesome to be
back. Steel City was a great way to come back from some down time and
show everyone what I can do. Practice didn't go super smooth. I just
felt a little uncomfortable and nerves were playing a bit of a factor.
Once the Motos came around the nerves were gone and I just had fun.

“In
the First Moto I got off to a mid-pack start and maintained position
throughout, finishing off 21st. A decent Moto, but I knew I had way more
in me, and could bring some new lines into play. Missing the top 20 by
one spot was all the motivation I needed for the second Moto. I wanted
it! The race didn’t start out how I wanted. I had a horrible start
followed by a snail’s pace for first two laps had me doubting myself.
Then something clicked and I started finding lines and really feeling
comfortable. 30 minutes later I’d passes 16 riders and moved all the way
up to 17th. My best finish ever in the ‘Outdoors.’ It was a big
confidence booster, and I can't wait to carry the momentum into
California!”

Following
the Pala round, Catanzaro said, “Overall Pala was a pretty rough
weekend. The track was extremely wide open, which doesn’t fit my riding
style. It took a bit to get used to the track in practice, and my
qualifying time wasn’t the greatest. But I made it in, so that's all
that matters

“In
the first Moto I got a great jump on the start and just held it on. I
came around the first turn in about 6th place. I quickly made my way
around 3 riders and was in 3rd. It was an awesome feeling to be up
there, and I was enjoying myself. A couple laps into the race I found
myself really fighting the bike, unlike at any race the whole season. I
just couldn't get the bike to handle. We swapped out forks and made some
changes to the front brake after the first Moto, and at the beginning
of the second Moto it was working really well for me. 

“I've
had issues with my hands in the past, but it hasn't happened for a
couple years. My hands locked up to the point where it was so painful,
holding onto the bar was just excruciating. It was frustrating, because
we had the bike working the way I wanted it but there was just nothing I
could do. I showed my speed when my body and bike allowed me to do so.
Overall the season was a great learning experience for me, and I'll only
get better from here.”

After Steel City Michael Clarke said, “Steel
City is probably one of the more technical tracks on the circuit with
many rhythm sections and different lines. I went out in fist practice
with intentions to learn the track, knowing that second practice would
be faster. I was able to work out the jumps but never got to dial in the
fast lines or the rhythms. I got a good practice though I was just
needing to pick up the pace for second practice.

“In
second practice I was starting to get the track dialed in, but I was
holding on too tight and started to pump up. I was giving it what I had
but just couldn't cut it. I made mistakes or just wasn't aggressive
enough. I knew I could have done better and I need to work on my
confidence. I dropped 3 seconds from first practice but was still out of
the top 40. I know I need to work on my mental strength as it plays a
big role in racing. The bike is good and fast and I know it’s capable of
doing. It’s all a learning experience.”

Clarke added after Pala, “I
have to start by saying what a track Pala is. Definitely one of the
best tracks I’ve ever ridden, with all the jumps and how high speed
sections. Although I didn't qualify I was glad to get two wheels onto
that track.
 
“In first practice I was trying to get the track
dialed in but also wanted to set a fast lap. I didn't really feel
comfortable as I kept letting the bike stand me up in corners and wasn't
aggressive over jumps. I was able to get over everything and by the end
of the practice I knew what lines were fast and where to go. In second
practice I had to lay it all out. I’d played the track over and over in
my head and realized inside lines were the way to go. I went out feeling
more comfortable and I did go a full second faster but it still wasn’t
enough. This season has been a big learning curve to show me what I need
to do to improve. I’m happy for the opportunity to do what I’ve done
and hope I get the chance again because I know things will only get
better. And for sure, next time I’ll be writing race reports about the
races, not just about practice.”

Garret
Toth reported after Steel City, “I was liking the track and was very
excited. The fact that its only 3 hours from my house made it even
better! First practice wasn’t the best though. I had a lap time of 2:44
and I was sitting around 39^th place. In the second practice I paced my teammate A.J. and ended up running a 2:37 lap time, which placed me in 30^th qualifying time.

“In
the first Moto I decided to wear a cooling vest. Bad idea. After three
laps the vest melted and became a heat vest. I was overheating and
started to freak out so I took off my goggles for the rest of the race.
I’m not sure where I ended up but it wasn’t good. In the second Moto I
felt terrible the whole time. I had blurry vision and was kind of out of
it. I ended up 28^th, which isn’t good but I was whooped.”

Team Öhlins USA is sponsored by: Triangle
Cycles of Danville, Virginia; Yamaha; GYTR; MX1 West; Acerbis; Ariete;
Yoshimura; Kenda Tire; No Toil; Shoei Helmets; Gaerne; Leatt; Langston
Racing Academy, which has been instrumental in providing top-level
training for the riders; HIT Center (High Intensity Training) of
Jacksonville. www.ohlinsusa.com