Two More Podiums For Jake Weimer & Ryan Morais
CARLSBAD, Calif. – Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ryan Morais pulled the holeshot in San Diego SX Lites main event at Qualcomm Stadium this past weekend and raced to a 2nd place finish, while teammate Jake Weimer scored some highly important points with a hard-fought 3rd place finish – round seven of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship.
Leading by three points heading into San Diego, Weimer now trails race winner Ryan Dungey by two points, 135-133, with two rounds of WSX action remaining (Seattle and Salt Lake City). The dual podium marks the fourth time in six WSX races that Morais and Weimer have accomplished the feat.
Practice opened a bit slow for the normally super-fast Morais, who’d wind up clocking a time barely in the top ten overall (9th at 50.200). Morais, who’s in 3rd place overall in the WSX points chase – still well within the championship picture at 124 points – would make it through his heat race to transfer to the main quite easily, finishing 2nd.
In the main Morais taped the throttle out of the start on his KX250F and got to the short first turn at the same time with a couple other riders, then pulled the right move to come away with the holeshot. Leading for a bit, Morais was caught by Dungey and kept pace in 2nd place. Weimer was one of the riders that initially was up front, but in a split second got pinched – and wound up, in traffic, around 6th or 7th out of the first turn.
With open track Morais and Dungey were able to put some time between them and Weimer, who was contending with numerous obstacles on the technical Qualcomm track. So, in essence, the race was won at the start as Weimer posted the event’s fastest Lites class time – and only sub-46 second time of the night (46.878).
“The track was real good, but tough to pass on and I had a few people to get by,” said Weimer. “Did the best I could and we’ll just have to go get ‘em next time.”
Morais would ride strong and consistent and actually hold off a spirited charge from Weimer that had them crossing the finish line at virtually identical times. All this after, again, a sketchy practice session to open the day. “Practice was a little rough and I felt a little tight tonight,” said Morais.
Morais’ pumped feelings on the podium would soon turn to somber as he stepped up to echo the entire motorcycle industry’s sentiment on this past week’s tragic event in Central America. “I’d like to dedicate this to Jeremy Lusk and his family,” he said.
This weekend Monster Energy Supercross returns to the eastern United States and fires up the ESX Lites Championship where Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel and Austin Stroupe sit 1-2 in the standings after one ESX round (Houston). The WSX takes its traditional mid-winter break, returning to action in Seattle, April 18th.
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