Roof open in Phoenix | Photo: Kyle Pesci |
Another first this week week would be the return of free practice sessions. Mother Nature made the Dirt Wurx crew put in overtime leading up to having to actually water the Phoenix track. The track was technical, fast and big...very big. During free practice sessions many riders skipped the whoop section and struggled with the larger than normal triple along the back wall. Practice would claim riders like Jeremy Martin, Tyler Bowers and Weston Peick. All would miss the night show. At the end of timed sessions it'd be Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Justin Hill setting the fastest time in the 250 class and Rocky Mountain KTM backed Blake Baggett topping the 450 times.
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Jeremy Martin post practice crash | Photo: Kyle Pesci |
With both Championships wide open the main events were sure to offer good racing. The 250 main was 15 minutes plus one lap of edge of the seat action between Shane Mcelrath and Justin Hill. Hill's Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammate, Austin Forkner grabbed the holeshot but would be passed by Mcelrath. As the KTM lead over 10 laps, he'd be stalked by Hill's Kawasaki. Hill would make the pass late to take the win with Mcelrath on his heels. Forkner would hold on to third. In 450 action the race for the win looked over just out of the gate. Plain and simple, Eli Tomac was on another level. He'd holeshot and leave the field. The KTM of Ryan Dungey worked past Honda's Cole Seely but had a charging Chad Reed ready to pounce. Reed looked aggressive and of old form as he took over 2nd and gapped Dungey. Tomac, Reed and Dungey would finish in that order.
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Justin Hill was the guy in Phoenix | Photo: Kyle Pesci |
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Rider: Cole Martinez | Photo: Kyle Pesci |
And now...The Others
250
5. 87 Chris Howell
6. 138 Blake Lilly
7. 448 Broc Shoemaker
8. 797 Robin Kappel
9. 149 Tallon Lafountaine
10. 275 Johnny Jelderda
11. 68 Heath Harrison
12. 321 Bradley Lionnet
13. 388 Brandon Leith
14. 262 Connor Pearson
15. 271 Kyle Frey
16. 712 Kyle Russell
17. 976 Josh Greco
18. 973 Jean Marrone
19. 277 Kordel Cato
20. 203 Zac Commans
21. 383 Casey Brennan
22. 705 Steven Tokarski
450
5. 314 Alex Ray
6. 792 Bracken Hall
7. 848 Joan Cros
8. 526 Colton Aeck
9. 181 Dustin Pipes
10. 722 Adam Enticknap
11. 151 Dakota Tedder
12. 291 Kyle White
13. 918 Michael Akaydin
14. 723 Tyler Enticknap
15. 606 Ronnie Stewart
16. 509 Alex Nagy
17. 96 Vann Martin
18. 80 Cade Clason
19. 801 Jeff Alessi
20. 614 Geran Stapleton
21. 713 Chas Cook
22. 981 Austin Politelli
The series heads back to California one last time as round 5 takes place in Oakland.
-Kyle Pesci
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