JDR/J-Star/KTM Team Race Report - Hangtown MX

JDR/J-Star/KTM
rider Tye Simmonds had a decent showing at his first-ever U.S. AMA
Pro Motocross Championship Series race finishing 16^th
overall.

The
opening round of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Series
took place at Hangtown Raceway. Simmonds qualifying times were not as
decent as he expected, qualifying 28^th
fastest into moto one. Despite his poor gate pick for the moto,
Simmonds was able to come around the first corner in 12^th
position.

“I was
able to get a pretty nice start in the first moto and was very close
to the top ten as we rounded the first corner. The start is key in
every race and starting better than I typically do really helped me
in the first moto score,” remarked Simmonds.

Simmonds
moved up to 11^th
on the second lap and maintained that position for the majority of
the race. With only three laps to go he lost one position to Ricky
Dietrich before crossing the finish line in 12^th
overall.

The
second moto was a bit tougher for the Australian as he rounded the
first lap in 19^th
place. He passed one rider for 18^th
on lap two but then struggled to find his pace in the moto.
“I
was riding really tight the first few laps and wasn’t able to get
into a good rhythm,” stated Simmonds. He eventually got into his
comfort zone around the halfway point at which time he picked off two
more riders and moved into his finishing position of 16^th
overall. His 12-16 moto scores earned him 16^th
overall for the day.

“My
overall goal is to be inside the top ten. I think this is a realistic
goal for me in my first race season. I am really looking forward to
Texas as I know my conditioning should come into play at that round
and hopefully I inch closer to a top ten result.”

Next
Event: Freestone MX – May 28, 2011

Overall
Results 450 Class –

1. Chad
   Reed – 2,1

   
   

2. Ryan
   Dungey – 1,2
   

   
   

3. Ryan
   Villopoto – 3,3

   
   

4. Kevin
   Windham – 6,4

   
   

5. Brett
   Metcalfe – 5,5

   
   

6. Davi
   Millsaps – 4,7

   
   

7. Tommy
   Hahn – 8,8

   
   

8. Christophe
   Pourcel – 7,11

   
   

9. Ricky
   Dietrich – 11,9

   
   

10. Christian
    Craig – 14,10

    
    

11. Michael
    Byrne – 10, 14

    
    

12. Jake
    Weimer – 21,6

    
    

13. Kyle
    Chisholm – 16,12

    
    

14. Nick
    Wey – 15,13

    
    

15. Mike
    Brown – 13,15 (KTM)
    

    
    

16. Tye
    Simmonds – 12,16 (KTM)

    
    

17. Andrew
    Short – 9,34 (KTM)

    
    

18. Calle
    Aspergren – 26,17

    
    

19. Kevin
    Rookstool – 19,19 (KTM)

    
    

20. Robby
    Bell – 17,22