H.O.T. Hangtown Race Report
Honda of Troy was ready to kick the 2010 Outdoor season off at the annual Hangtown Classic. The Team welcomed back Darryn Durham from injury and added Les Smith to fill in for the injured Levi Kilbarger. The team’s staple riders Michael Willard and Sean Lipanovich were also prepared to do battle. The timed practice sessions went well for the likes of Durham, Smith, and Willard. Lipanovich had trouble finding the pace and found that his day would be cut short.
Moto1:
The first drop of the gate proved to be challenging for the team as none of the riders clinched a great start in moto 1 and they would all have a lot of work ahead of them. #36 Durham faired the best and found himself inside the top 20. The first few laps proved to be a challenge for him because his eagerness to get to the front of the pack was stifled by 2 crashes. The crashes would only fuel his fire and Darryn charged the entire first 2/3 of the moto, making his way into a top 13 position before a shot from a rock caused his contact lens to come out of his eye. Durham was in survival mode and was able to hold on to a 19th place moto finish.
Les Smith rounded the first turn in around 34th place. Les put his head down and charged his way into the top 20. On the final lap he was able to get by his struggling teammate Durham and take an 18th place moto finish. Willard got pinched off on the start and found himself at the back of the pack. Disappointed with his progress on the track, he felt it was better to head to the pits and regroup for the second moto.
Moto 2:
The second drop of the gate proved to be more encouraging as the #36 of Durham rounded the first turn in toe with Will Hahn. Darryn challenged for the lead and pushed the pace of the race until things were cut short by a red flag. The restart saw Darryn still in the mix and with a few savvy passes he moved into 4th place. Darryn was under heavy fire from the PC boys of Pourcel and Wilson. Pourcel found his way around but Darryn kept him within reach and even challenged him several times. He finished an eventual 9th place, but 9th didn’t tell the story. Darryn hung on to the lead pack and at the 28 min. point he found himself in 8th place just 6 seconds out of 3rd. Moto 2 was a success for Durham and with a few more weeks under his belt he will be challenging for podium finishes. Willard and Smith both started just outside the top 30 and put in solid rides finishing 20 and 23 respectively.
The Team feels encouraged and focused on the direction needed to go and intends to make big strides in the upcoming weeks. Honda of Troy/Kilbarger Racing looks forward to bringing the series back east where the team is rooted and where the riders will excel.
The Honda of Troy/Kilbarger Racing Team would like to acknowledge the sponsors who make this effort possible.
Honda of Troy, Kilbarger Racing LLC, Eleven 10 Mods, WAR - We All Ride, FOX Racing Shox, Cycra Racing, Motorex, TAG Metals, Yoshimura, Motion Pro, Renegade Race Fuel, Faction Mx, N-Style, Dunlop, DP Brake Pads, QTM, G2 Ergonomics, ARC, Boyesen, LeoVince Carbon Fiber, Hinson, RK/Excel, Ride Eng., Hammerhead, Straight Shot Air Filters, Bell Helmets, Hot Hedz Designs, Von Zipper, Total Image AutoSport, Kicker, ICW, Rock’s Racing Services, Injectioneering, IMS Foot Pegs, Franklin Equipment, and Gabriel Logan
