Savage Tops Husqvarna 125 Challenge
April 8, 2013 4:50pm
Corona, CA - When was the last time you saw a 125cc pro motocross race? Southern Californians might be thinking back as far as 1999, but the fortunate fans at Glen Helen got to witness an eighth-liter battle royal over the weekend, as the Husqvarna 1-2-5 Challenge highlighted the MTA 2-Stroke Motocross World Championship. Appropriately enough, it was a Husqvarna CR125 that stood atop the podium at the end of the day, with Blake Savage taking the big win aboard the Racer X/Pro Circuit Husqvarna.
Second overall in the Husqvarna 1-2-5 Challenge was wild card entry Colton Aeck. The Tri-County Husqvarna-backed rider started the day on a bone-stock CR144, which he rode to an impressive third place. After Cycle News' Jason Abbott crashed out in the first moto, Aeck was invited to ride the Cycle News entry - a Pro Circuit-tuned CR144. Aeck took to the PC rocket ship with ease, and carded another strong podium finish in the second moto to card second overall.
Beyond the podium, Husqvarna 1-2-5 Challenge riders dominated the stacked field, placing 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th and giving Husky's mighty CR125 (in 144cc trim) seven out of 10 spots in the top-ten.
Bobby Garrison took a commanding win in the second moto, but had to pair it up with a sub-par ninth place finish in the first moto to take fifth overall. "Bobby G" pulled double duty on Sunday, also racing his Steve Smith-built Husqvarna CR144 in the Open Pro class. Garrison was able to hold his own among the field of 250cc, 300cc and 500cc machines placing 8th overall with a 9-10 score.
Gary Sutherlin handled the Dirt Bike Magazine entry in the 1-2-5 Challenge, and was able to muscle his Zip-Ty-tuned CR144 to a fourth-place finish with a 5-4 score. With the help of Ty Davis, Sutherlin outfitted his Husky with Marzocchi front suspension - the same fork the team used in 2011 - which proved very effective in gobbling up the unforgivingly rough Glen Helen course.
Young gun Andrew Silverstein piloted the Vital MX entry - a Race Tech/FMF-backed CR144. Though Silverstein had his work cut out for him after suffering a shoulder injury in a practice crash on Saturday, he still pushed hard and had a great battle in the first moto with former MX World Champion Sebastien Tortelli. Andrew 6th overall with a 7-6 score.
Jamie Lanza kept himself busy over the weekend not just in multiple classes, but multiple events. Lanza took the overall win at the Hilltoppers Big 6 Grand Prix on Saturday, and then raced from 29 Palms to Glen Helen for the 1-2-5 Challenge. Lanza used his stature to his advantage, and piloted his FMF-backed factory Husqvarna CR144 to 7th overall with an 8-7 score.
FMF's own Jeff Northrop rounded out the last of the top-ten Husqvarna entries. "Norcal" used a solid pair of 10th place moto finishes to card ninth overall on the day - not bad at all considering he had the likes of Seb Tortelli, Robby Bell and P.J. Larsen behind him.
"We're really thrilled at the level of support we received from all the media outlets with this event," commented Husqvarna Marketing Manager Corey Eastman. "It was an incredibly fun day, and that's exactly what we wanted to convey - the sheer fun factor of a 125cc two-stroke. Not only are they fun, but 125s are still relevant motorcycles, even if you don't see them in AMA Pro ranks anymore. The 125cc two-stroke will always have a valuable place at the grass roots level, and that's the whole foundation of motocross."
For more information on the entire 2013 Husqvarna line-up, please go to www.husqvarna-motorcyclesna.com. Head to your nearest dealership to pick up a copy of the 2013 RiDE MORE Catalog, available now!
Be sure to follow Team Husqvarna on Facebook or via Twitter @HusqvarnaNA.
Second overall in the Husqvarna 1-2-5 Challenge was wild card entry Colton Aeck. The Tri-County Husqvarna-backed rider started the day on a bone-stock CR144, which he rode to an impressive third place. After Cycle News' Jason Abbott crashed out in the first moto, Aeck was invited to ride the Cycle News entry - a Pro Circuit-tuned CR144. Aeck took to the PC rocket ship with ease, and carded another strong podium finish in the second moto to card second overall.
Beyond the podium, Husqvarna 1-2-5 Challenge riders dominated the stacked field, placing 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th and giving Husky's mighty CR125 (in 144cc trim) seven out of 10 spots in the top-ten.
Bobby Garrison took a commanding win in the second moto, but had to pair it up with a sub-par ninth place finish in the first moto to take fifth overall. "Bobby G" pulled double duty on Sunday, also racing his Steve Smith-built Husqvarna CR144 in the Open Pro class. Garrison was able to hold his own among the field of 250cc, 300cc and 500cc machines placing 8th overall with a 9-10 score.
Gary Sutherlin handled the Dirt Bike Magazine entry in the 1-2-5 Challenge, and was able to muscle his Zip-Ty-tuned CR144 to a fourth-place finish with a 5-4 score. With the help of Ty Davis, Sutherlin outfitted his Husky with Marzocchi front suspension - the same fork the team used in 2011 - which proved very effective in gobbling up the unforgivingly rough Glen Helen course.
Young gun Andrew Silverstein piloted the Vital MX entry - a Race Tech/FMF-backed CR144. Though Silverstein had his work cut out for him after suffering a shoulder injury in a practice crash on Saturday, he still pushed hard and had a great battle in the first moto with former MX World Champion Sebastien Tortelli. Andrew 6th overall with a 7-6 score.
Jamie Lanza kept himself busy over the weekend not just in multiple classes, but multiple events. Lanza took the overall win at the Hilltoppers Big 6 Grand Prix on Saturday, and then raced from 29 Palms to Glen Helen for the 1-2-5 Challenge. Lanza used his stature to his advantage, and piloted his FMF-backed factory Husqvarna CR144 to 7th overall with an 8-7 score.
FMF's own Jeff Northrop rounded out the last of the top-ten Husqvarna entries. "Norcal" used a solid pair of 10th place moto finishes to card ninth overall on the day - not bad at all considering he had the likes of Seb Tortelli, Robby Bell and P.J. Larsen behind him.
"We're really thrilled at the level of support we received from all the media outlets with this event," commented Husqvarna Marketing Manager Corey Eastman. "It was an incredibly fun day, and that's exactly what we wanted to convey - the sheer fun factor of a 125cc two-stroke. Not only are they fun, but 125s are still relevant motorcycles, even if you don't see them in AMA Pro ranks anymore. The 125cc two-stroke will always have a valuable place at the grass roots level, and that's the whole foundation of motocross."
For more information on the entire 2013 Husqvarna line-up, please go to www.husqvarna-motorcyclesna.com. Head to your nearest dealership to pick up a copy of the 2013 RiDE MORE Catalog, available now!
Be sure to follow Team Husqvarna on Facebook or via Twitter @HusqvarnaNA.