AMA SoCal MX Series
Round 5, Glen Helen Raceway
7/6/14
By: Ben Meza
Glen Helen has always been one of my favorite tracks. Growing up in Southern California, it has always been a great training ground. Going into Round 5 of the AMA SoCal MX series, I was sitting 2nd place in 250A by a mere 1 point. I had high expectations to finish well.
Moto 1 I got a great jump and came into the first corner second but had to settle for fourth by the time we finished the first lap. I wasn’t really feeling the tamed down set up, but I made the best of it, finding a good flow. I threw down the whole moto, finish a solid 2nd in 250A behind Trevor Stewart.
Moto 2 was a different story…. Right off the start I came together with Nick Stover, he was fine but I was left laying on the ground. I quickly recovered getting back on my Blais Racing steed. I charged as hard as possible to get a 4th in 250 A. I rode better than I think I ever have, working twice as hard making up positions. I finished the weekend 2-4 and the current points leader Jesse Lundin went 4-2, so I didn’t gain anything but I also didn’t lose anything.
The series takes a little break now so I can regroup and come back at Gorman ready to win a championship! I can’t thank my sponsors enough for all the support! I also want to thank my whole family for coming out to support me this weekend! I haven’t had them all out at a race since I was like 7. It was awesome!
By: Brendan Crow
For the 5th round of the SoCal mx series we headed to glen Helen, which has been one of my favorite tracks since I started practicing on motocross tracks. The course gets rough and has plenty of elevation changes to keep things interesting. I knew this round was going to be hot, so I was nervous with my previous struggles racing in hot weather. I chose to ride in the HWT A and District King A classes again, and come Sunday morning was ready to get the 4 motos underway.
My first HWT moto would start off slow. I had a decent start, but got stuck behind a few riders for most of the moto. I rode directly behind for awhile, lost some ground, made up lost ground, but didn’t make any passes until the last lap. I had failed to breathe properly which led to some major dry mouth and made it hard to concentrate on my riding. Once I was able to overcome this and settle back down I made up time and pushed forward, earning a few more spots in the results.
My next moto would be for the District class, and I would get another decent start, but had to slam the brakes early before the 2nd corner as I was almost pushed off the track in a spectacular close call. I did my best to get in a groove and click off the laps, but I found myself stuck behind someone else yet again. It took me a few laps to get around, and I started feeling much better as I did. The more laps I rode the more comfortable I began to feel.
The 2nd Hwt moto I had a solid start, and pretty much rode around in position as the lead group rode away from me. I hadn’t been feeling up to par on the bike all day, and I had been messing with suspension settings searching for where it felt decent. It seemed that every time I tried to push even slightly, I would have a close call and be worried about crashing out. The track was really slimy and over-watered in spots, while others were left to be engulfed in hardpack and dusty conditions. I enjoy the glen Helen track, so I rode it in for a decent finish.
My last moto of the day would be one of my favorites. I didn’t do much better in terms of results compared to the previous motos, but I was having fun and felt much better and smoother on the bike. My start went well, and I was able to get around a few guys early in the race, but the lead group would pull away again but yet I finished with a smile.
I had a lot of fun, and am doing exactly what I had set a goal for myself to accomplish. I am gaining experience with every race and am having a blast doing so! I want to thank everyone that help me continue to gain this valuable experience: Blais racing, FasstCo, KTM, Race tech, ESR, No Toil, TLD, Alpinestars, Kenda, IMS, BRP, A’ME grips, Dirt Tricks, HBD, Rekluse, Bulletproof Designs, Fastway, Xbrand goggles, Acerbis, FMF
Blais Racing Services offers Engine Rebuilding and online parts for all your Motorcycle, ATV, & UTV needs. Owned and operated by Chris Blais, former Factory KTM Dakar Rally Racer. We specialize in KTM/ Honda, but can work on anything. I do all of the engine work myself.
No comments yet.