Last year, the glory and accolades were rolling Kawasaki’s way. Their Monster Energy Pro Circuit Lites Team had a loaded squad about to put the 250 class on lockdown, and Ryan Villopoto came to the Nationals packing a supercross number-one plate. The PC boys dominated the small-bores like no team before them ever had—winning every single overall and 23 out of 24 motos—while Villopoto launched the best sales pitch ever. He stayed in contention for the 450 title throughout the summer, then went to another level when the 2012 KX450F debuted. With he and Dean Wilson, the boys in green won both titles.

It’s much tougher sledding this season, with both Wilson and Villopoto out with injuries, and outdoor specialist Tyla Rattray also gone with a broken hand. Darryn Durham is also out for the PC team with a shoulder injury. Add it up, and this season will be about guts and grinding for Kawi, instead of guts and glory.

Credit Jake Weimer for trying to carry the flag. With both Villopoto and Rattray out, it’s up to Weimer to get last year’s championship 450 up to the podium. And at Freestone, he did the job, digging deep in moto one to make passes and climb up to third. That’s the first podium ever in a 450 moto for Weimer.

Weimer scored his first 450 moto podium at Freestone.
Simon Cudby photo

His chances at an overall podium were dashed early in moto two when he crashed in the first turn. But he dug really, really deep, just as he did after a similar crash early at Hangtown. Weimer never stopped charging, even passing Tommy Hahn on the last lap of the moto to get sixth. He salvaged fourth overall, which meant his last-to-sixth effort would make him the first guy to not get to go on the podium at the end of the day.

Yup, a great effort by Weimer, but just short of podium hardware (although he will likely score the Ricky Carmichael Hard Charger Award—given to the rider who made the most passes in a moto—for the second-straight week). So let’s throw a little extra accolade at the hard worker for Idaho—this week’s Racer X Outstanding Performance Award. Well, done, Jake!