Sign of the (Lap) Times: Steel City
This past weekend riders faced what was probably the most dynamic track of the season thus far on the AMA Toyota Motocross tour. Heavy rains Saturday night led to very wet conditions from practice throughout the first motos on Sunday morning. But as the day went on, the soil tightened up which translated into much faster lap times.
Lites
The first Lites moto of the day was probably the toughest conditions these riders faced all season. Deep ruts and very soft dirt meant the lines would be drastically changing every lap. This is one moto you wouldn’t want to have to work up through the pack, yet several top guns, including our points leaders, were forced to do just that after a huge first-turn pileup.
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In the second moto RV was able to log a blistering 2:03.901 on the second lap of the moto, which is almost seven seconds faster than his first moto lap time. The track was probably in its best condition all day long, as the track crew touched it up a bit over intermission. BT101 picked up the pace as well with a 2:05.353, followed by Stroupe and Metcalfe. Check out the top 20 fastest Lites riders.
Pos.
|
Moto 1
|
Moto 2
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
1
|
02:10.763
|
02:03.901
|
Kawasaki
|
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2
|
02:15.324
|
02:05.353
|
Ben Townley
|
Kawasaki
|
3
|
02:16.992
|
02:06.760
|
Kawasaki
|
|
4
|
02:13.238
|
02:06.625
|
Kawasaki
|
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5
|
02:17.270
|
02:09.016
|
Suzuki
|
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6
|
02:17.056
|
02:09.798
|
Honda
|
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7
|
02:18.288
|
02:06.943
|
KTM
|
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8
|
02:14.965
|
02:06.271
|
Yamaha
|
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9
|
02:19.193
|
02:10.106
|
Honda
|
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10
|
02:16.131
|
02:07.372
|
Honda
|
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11
|
02:19.092
|
02:11.124
|
Yamaha
|
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12
|
02:14.250
|
02:06.870
|
Yamaha
|
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13
|
02:17.357
|
02:07.177
|
Honda
|
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14
|
02:18.841
|
02:10.368
|
Honda
|
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15
|
02:18.308
|
02:10.396
|
Yamaha
|
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16
|
02:21.975
|
02:08.603
|
Zach Osborne
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KTM
|
17
|
02:18.516
|
02:10.423
|
Kawasaki
|
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18
|
02:20.537
|
02:12.518
|
KTM
|
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19
|
02:21.571
|
02:10.084
|
Joaquim Rodrigues
|
KTM
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20
|
02:22.398
|
02:11.562
|
Yamaha
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AMA Motocross
Everything was clicking for Red Bull KTM’s Mike Alessi in the first moto at Steel City. Not only was he able to log the fastest first-moto lap time on his 450, but he also took his and KTM’s first-ever moto victory in the AMA Motocross class. It was an impressive moto for Alessi. Kevin Windham was second fastest the first time out, with Langston behind him.
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Pos.
|
Moto 1
|
Moto 2
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
1
|
02:10.269
|
02:06.941
|
Yamaha
|
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2
|
02:08.945
|
02:06.860
|
KTM
|
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3
|
02:09.913
|
02:06.061
|
Honda
|
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4
|
02:13.285
|
02:07.759
|
Honda
|
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5
|
02:10.479
|
02:10.208
|
Kawasaki
|
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6
|
02:13.663
|
02:08.512
|
Suzuki
|
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7
|
02:15.145
|
02:08.926
|
Honda
|
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8
|
02:14.747
|
02:12.852
|
Suzuki
|
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9
|
02:15.304
|
02:10.046
|
Yoshitaka Atsuta
|
Honda
|
10
|
02:17.536
|
02:11.498
|
Honda
|
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11
|
02:14.574
|
02:11.566
|
Kyle Keylon
|
Honda
|
12
|
02:17.729
|
02:14.412
|
Kawasaki
|
|
13
|
02:19.437
|
02:11.947
|
Honda
|
|
14
|
02:16.934
|
N/A
|
KTM
|
|
15
|
N/A
|
02:12.121
|
Honda
|
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16
|
02:18.847
|
02:12.296
|
Honda
|
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17
|
02:16.585
|
02:14.320
|
Suzuki
|
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18
|
02:18.826
|
02:12.338
|
Michael LaPaglia
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Yamaha
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19
|
02:23.811
|
02:13.352
|
Honda
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20
|
02:20.132
|
02:14.150
|
Chris Whitcraft
|
Honda
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It’s interesting to note that the Lites riders completed a 17-lap moto, while the AMA Motocross class’ second moto was only 16 laps.