Gibson and Klatt Struggle in the Metrodome
Riverside, CA (March 18, 2008) – The two Cernics Kawasaki team riders, Jeff Gibson and Dusty Klatt, qualified for the main event of the Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM Championship at the Minneapolis Metrodome Saturday night. Despite riding well for most of the night, both riders failed to finish in the top ten because of mistakes during the main event.
Gibson qualified for the Supercross class main event directly out of his heat race with a seventh place finish. He was able to secure a top ten start in the main event and he continued to keep pace for the first half the race. At the midway point he made a slight bobble in one of the whoop sections causing him to lose momentum. He could not clear the following double and a few riders got around dropping him out of the top ten. He continued riding strong until a hard crash in the other whoop section put him on the ground. Once he got remounted he was near the back of the pack and eventually finished a disappointing seventeenth.
“I felt good all day and had a good practice session,” said Gibson. “I rode good in the first heat and worked myself up into a qualifying position so I was happy with that. In the main, I was riding in the top ten but I made that mistake in the whoops and a few guys got by me. Then, I made the big mistake that put me over the bars. But overall, I felt strong and I’m looking forward to heading up to Canada next week.”
Klatt rode well in his heat race until he over jumped one of the triples and veered off the track. By the time he was able to get back on the track safely he was well out of qualifying position and went to the last chance qualifier. Some good fortune in the LCQ helped him earn the top spot and he transferred to the main event. Klatt’s main event start was tough since he had the outside spot on the starting gate. He struggled to find a rhythm in the main event and he finished in eighteenth position.
“The guys rode well tonight,” explained team manager Derek Sorenson. “Dusty is continuing to find his rhythm after his injury and Jeff had some bad luck. Jeff has been riding strong all season, but he just needs to get rid of those little mistakes that cost a lot of positions. We still have a few more rounds to get those kinks worked out.”
The team travels to Toronto, Canada next week for round twelve of the Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM Championship. Visit www.cernicskawasaki.com for team news and updates.
Team Sponsors
Cernics – Kawasaki Motors Corp
Pro Circuit – SHIFT – Pirelli – Athena – Silkolene – TCX Boots – M2R Helmets – Spy Optics – TAG Metals – Motion Pro – American Racing – EBC Brakes – Hinson Clutch Components – Vans – OGIO – VP Racing Fuels – Regina – Pro Wheel – N-Style – Uni – Fast 50 – Sunline – Polisport – Powermadd – Dana K Investments – SDG
