Storm Lake Honda/GPS Update

Des Moines Arenacross, November 7-8, 2009

Storm Lake Honda/GPS Racing riders Kurt McCabe and Ricky Draper put in a strong weekend at Des Moines, Iowa's Wells Fargo Arena.

Friday morning's press day featured both riders on Des Moines Channel 8 local news broadcast.

McCabe and Draper qualified for the night show through timed practice sessions Friday afternoon. The first heat race of the season was won by McCabe in the Lites class. He also went on to qualify for the AX1 main event as well. Draper, a rookie Pro, struggled with back row starts and did not make either main event Friday. McCabe was on his way to a spectacular 2nd place finish in the Lites main event until a lapper struck a tuff block which McCabe could not evade. The mishap put him back in 4th, still a strong finish. He backed it up with a nice 6th place in the AX1 main, which was won by TUF Honda'a Josh Demuth.

Saturday looked to be different for Draper, with a couple bike set up changes, the day qualifiers saw him inch up the leaderboard into the 14th position in AX1, earning a front row start in the heat which he did not waste. He got a 2nd place start and finshed 4th, right into the main event. A second row start in the Lites heat race didn't matter either. Draper soldiered himself into 6th and again, directly into the main. McCabe also put himself into both mains as the team was all set for the gate drop. McCabe finished 4th in Lites and 5th in AX1, while Draper finished 14th and 13th, respectively.

It was a great weekend for us, most definitely a stepping stone event. Next up is the Midwest Supercross in Brookings, SD and then on to Grand Rapids, MI where the fun REALLY starts.