2018 Chaparral Motorsports, Precision Concepts, Kawasaki Team Report Form The Glen Helen BIG 6
Race report
by-Robby Bell
Two days of rain made for slightly muddy conditions at the 2018
Glen Helen BIG 6. The benefit was absolutely zero dust. This
allowed the hosting Prairie Dogs MC the opportunity to utilize the
surrounding mountain ridges. The end result was a much more
off-road oriented racecourse, but one that was very race-able.
In the Pro class, Chaparral Motorsports, Precision Concepts,
Kawasaki's
Blayne Thompson continues to build form. He enjoyed his best finish
of the season thus far, earning seventh. Justin Seeds suffered a
last-lap fall, which damaged his throttle tube. As a result, he had
to nurse the bike to the finish, eventually crossing in thirteenth.
In the Pro 2 class, Clay Hengeveld came from around fifteenth on
the first lap to the lead. From there, he pulled out nearly two
minutes over the final two laps, taking a comfortable victory. Team
manager Robby Bell got out front early in the Vet AA/Expert race
and never looked back, taking first place.
Blayne Thompson -
7th place WCGP Pro
It was a season-best seventh for Blayne at Glen Helen. Thompson got
off to a good start, just outside of the top-five. From there, he
was shuffled back slightly in the intensity of the first few
corners. Once things began to sort out, Thompson moved his way back
up to seventh place. Unfortunately for Blayne, he just lost the tow
of the top-six riders. Still, Blayne is making strides in the right
direction as he continues to build his form after injury.
https://youtu.be/8ILv2clG1F8
Justin Seeds - 13th
place WCGP Pro
Justin was unlucky to come away with a thirteenth-place finish.
After a mid-pack start, Seeds worked his way from around fourteenth
up inside the top ten. With the laps winding down, he was making
ground up to sixth place ahead of him. As the white flag flew,
Seeds was running eighth with an eye on gaining a couple spots.
Unfortunately, he high-sided on the final pavement section of the
racecourse. The crash not only whipped Justin to the ground, it
also damaged his throttle tube. The result was a badly-sticking
throttle, which forced Justin to safely limp it to the checkered
flag.
https://youtu.be/BTdtfcxYLxU
"I felt like I had a good jump off the start," commented Justin
post-race. "Unfortunately, I think I hit a soggy spot. So, that
kind of bogged me down and it was history from there. With the mud,
and the [number] of guys we had [going fast], it made it hard to
work through the pack. I was able to work my way up to eighth. At
the end of the race, I could see my teammate right ahead of me. I
put the hammer down to try to get better points toward the series.
Unfortunately, I hit a slick spot on the asphalt. The bike started
to lose it. I should have low-sided, but I was so eager to push
that I stayed in it. Then, it hooked and threw me the other way. I
high-sided and broke my throttle [tube], which made it hard to limp
in to the finish. But, hey, we live, we learn, and we come back
stronger."
Clay Hengeveld - 1st
place WCGP Pro 2
Clay got back to winning ways at the 2018 Glen Helen BIG 6 GP.
However, his race didn't get off to the most auspicious of starts.
Just past the starting gate, Hengeveld hit a softer patch of mud,
losing drive. As a result, he found himself buried around fifteenth
through the first few corners. From there, Clay charged through the
pack, picking off rider after rider. As time wound down, he had
made it to second place behind Tallon Lafountaine. With just under
two laps to go, Clay completed the pass for the lead. He
subsequently pulled out nearly two minutes, earning his second win
of the season.
https://youtu.be/38pQLUqGUeA
"Coming into the weekend, I was really looking forward to it,"
remarked Clay after the race. He continued, "I got a good jump off
the gate, but I got pulled a little bit. So, I [had to] make my way
up from the back of the pack. I spent the last three laps battling
with Tallon for the lead. Eventually, I passed him up on the
ridges...and I held 'er wide open until the finish. It feels great
[to get the win]. It makes me want to keep working harder and keep
training my butt off. I want to get this Pro 2 championship and
keep winning races."
Robby Bell - 1st
place Vet AA
Robby had a fun day in the Vet AA class, taking the win. Although,
he did have a nervy moment in the muddy first turn. Dirt Bike
Magazine's Mark Tilley got caught a little off balance, pushing
wide into Robby's line. The two briefly touched but were able to
stay on-course. After the coming together with Tilley, Bell made
his way into the lead on the first lap. From there, he had a smooth
ride, leading all the way to the checkers. The win kept Robby's
perfect run going in the Vet AA class this season.
https://youtu.be/UDTXFDNOeMY
An ecstatic Bell had this to say: "If you ever forget why you love
racing dirt bikes, days like today remind you why! We had a window
open up [of clear weather] so the track was so good. There was
traction everywhere. I haven't seen the ridges that good, possibly
ever. I did have that moment off the start with Mark. He just came
a little wider than he wanted and we touched. Luckily, we both
stayed up. Man, the racing in the Vet class is just as gnarly as
the Pro class! After that, I just had a blast out there. Conditions
like we had today are far too rare!"
2018 Glen Helen BIG 6 Results
WCGP Pro
- Giacomo Redondi
- Eric Yorba
- Trevor Stewart
- Kailub Russell
- Zach Bell
- Justin Jones
- Blayne Thompson
- Justin Wallis
- Travis Damon
- Dalton Shirey
- Nick Burson
- Mason Ottersberg
- Justin Seeds
WCGP Pro 2
- Clay Hengeveld
- Tallon Lafountaine
- Beau Baron
- Mitch Anderson
- Chance Fullerton
