250 Words: Steel City
Wednesday, September 7, 2011 | 1:20 PM
GYTR (Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing) is Yamaha’s performance and racing accessory brand. GYTR products are developed and tested to the highest standards by Yamaha’s in-house factory engineers. Used extensively by the Yamaha Race Teams, these factory parts are readily available to every Yamaha rider.
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In last week’s Bench Racing Ammo, we covered the fact that no team, ever, has swept all 12 rounds of the 125 (now 250) class in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki stands on the precipice of such a feat. The team has already wrapped up first, second, and third in the championship, something that has only been done once before. And that only happened when Honda swept the points in 1974, which was the first year for the class in AMA National competition. Most of the manufacturers didn’t field teams in that first season of the championship.
Tomac challenged Wilson for the overall at Steel City, can he seal the deal at Pala.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
So, if any other brand wants to find some solace in the summer, they’ll have to get a win this weekend. DNA Shred Stix Star Racing Yamaha can at least claim a moto win courtesy of Gareth Swanepoel at Southwick, but two other riders who were expected to be winning races all season long seem to be surging just in time for the finale.
GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac was expected to have several wins by now, but his career total still stands at one--dating back to Hangtown 2010. After a rough summer of 2011, he’s found his groove after making some bike changes, and showed the speed to run with new champion Dean Wilson at both Unadilla and Steel City.
“Obviously we want to get a win, but they’ve been on their game all year,” explains Tomac. “It kind of sucks that I’m just now getting on my game. Before Unadilla we made the bike a lot better, and it seemed to give me a lot of confidence.”
As for Musquin, he was about to take the lead at Freestone when Justin Barcia crashed on the first lap. But Barcia’s bike ended up flying right into the Frenchman and ended his day right there. At Washougal, he returned from the broken thumb incurred in that crash, but it wasn’t until Steel City that he showed his true speed with a third overall.
Musquin is finally getting back to form after some early season injuries.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
“I feel like I am getting better and getting stronger,” explained the Frenchman. “I just need a holeshot!”
It’s a little late for either to reach the heights they were expected to this season, but it’s not too late to salvage something by preventing something from happening for someone else: preventing Pro Circuit from winning every race this year.
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Ok I am ready to see our USA boys get back on top of the 250 class. I like Dean, and Ratra etc. and they deserve it but Damn I am patriotic ! lets GO boys these guys are good for us , can they make us step up to the plate ?
@Jason You forgot who headed up that Honda onslought in 1974! Give props to Maty Smith the first American Legend??? Even though I had to race against those Hondas with my YZ that year Smith, unless you ever saw him in his prime, ther is not even anybody today that could rail a berm like him!
Ya YA all props to Procirciut though I am glad for you! I for one never have , never will buy or race a Kawie..... It is ingrained in my racing roots no offence BillC ......
Kawasaki can't be beat this year! Probably next year as well seeing how they have the best riders and the company is actually investing and developing its MX bikes unlike "Bold New Graphics" some of the manufacturers are putting on their bikes.
Welker, yes about Smith. If only he had come along a few years later or not had the hip injury. Hannah became the enduring character from the era, but never had anything for Smith while on similar equipment.