Wil Hahn Podiums Salt Lake and Earns Runner-Up Spot in the Series

AMA Supercross Lites - Salt Lake City, UT


Troy Lee Designs / Lucas Oil / Honda rider Wil Hahn
battled cold, rain, snow and an injured shoulder in Utah and still
finished third when the checkers flew. That podium spot was good enough
to put Wil second in the series championship, an impressive
accomplishment for Hahn and his team. Cole Seely
looked good put crashed on the opening lap and had to work his way up
from the very back of the pack. He would end up eleventh on the night
and seventh overall in the series.

Wil crashed on Thursday and was still nursing a badly
separated left shoulder. Still, with a mathematical shot at the title,
nothing was going to keep him from racing. The main event opened up
with a holeshot by Wil Hahn. After struggling with his starts early in
the year, Wil has snagged two of the last three main event holeshots in
the series. He led the opening lap and then dropped into second where
he spent most of the main event. He wasn't sure how his shoulder would
feel during the race and on lap eight he started to feel it.


"I wasn't able to charge the way I wanted to out there but the
first half of the race I could at least hit my lines and feel like I
was riding okay," said Hahn. "After eight laps it got really tired and
I could barely hold my arm up. I had to lean my head to the side to
pull a tear-off. It was bad."


Despite the pain and fatigue, Wil hung on to the end and only
lost one spot late in the race. It was probably one of the grittiest
rides of the series for the young Mr. Hahn.


Cole Seely looked good in his heat race and was prepared to
fight for a win in Utah. Unfortunately, Cole lost his front end while
trying to make a pass on the opening lap. The fall would put him at the
back of the pack and leave him with a lot of work to do.


"I actually felt good and I think I could have made it up a
little further," explained Seely after finishing eleventh. "A few laps
in I missed a shift and hit the triple in first gear. It was so
sketchy. I didn't even come close to making it. Somehow I saved it but
I smashed my face into the bars and I thought for sure I broke my nose.
It took me a while to collect myself after that. Hopefully I can turn
things back around in Vegas before we head outdoors."


Wil Hahn is going to make a decision later in the week if he
will race in Las Vegas or not. His shoulder is still very sore and if
he feels it is in his best interest to sit out to be ready for Hangtown
then he may be watching in Nevada. Cole, on the other hand, will come
out swinging in Las Vegas looking to shoot down the very best from both
coasts in the Dave Coombs Sr. east/west shootout.

The
Troy Lee Designs Lucas Oil Honda race team would like to thank all of
the companies that have supported our racing efforts over the years.
They include Lucas Oil, American Honda, Red Bull, PPG, Wings
for Life, Alpinestars, Avia, Couts Heating and Cooling, Dunlop, Epic
Action Video Cam, Leatt Brace, McQueen Racing, Oakley, Pacific
Collision, Pro Circuit, Rossignol, Santa Cruz, Selle Italia,
Skullcandy, All Sport Dynamics, Cycra, Fasthouse, Flexfit, Hinson
Clutch, Hot Wheels, Kahne Racing, Light Speed, Muc-Off, N Style,
Nameplate, ODI, Primm, QTM, Renthal, RK Chain, Excel, Twin Air, Vasser
Racing and VP Racing.

Follow the Troy Lee Designs / Lucas Oil / Honda team at www.troyleedesigns.com