TLD MEC Race Report
Troy Lee Designs riders Cole Seely and amateur star Jessy Nelson both lined up at Sam Boyd Stadium last weekend for the Monster Energy Cup. A cool million is enough to make anyone head to Vegas and take their chances. but the TLD crew was excited to participate in the new, unique format of racing at the MEC.
Cole Seely qualified right into the main event on his TLD CRF450. The time Cole spent on a factory Honda earlier this season certainly boosted his confidence on the bigger machine. Cole didn't get the starts he wanted when the main events blasted off, however, and he was forced to battle through the field. In the first main, Cole made contact with another rider, causing his chain to derail. He would finish 21st. The next two races went better, but Cole could not break into the top ten. He finished 12th and 13th, for 17th overall. Seely's results were not what he was hoping for but the young rider was happy with the experience.
"It was a fun event," said Cole after the race. "We don't get to compete in different events like this very often so it makes it a lot of fun. The jumps were awesome here and I had a blast. I wish my results would have been better but I'm happy that I am leaving here healthy. The 2012 season is what I'm really focusing on."
Jessy Nelson is an amateur rider that TLD has been helping this season. Jessy is a top contender at all the amateur national events and the 250 class at the MEC was reserved for up-and-coming amateur stars. Jessy gated well in his two main events but couldn't quite maintain the pace of his class rivals. Jessy finished 5-7 for 7th overall on the weekend. Much like Cole Seely, Jessy now shifts his focus to the 2012 racing season and the preparation involved.
"This was a great experience for me," Nelson explained. "I've never raced in front of that many people in a stadium like that so I learned a lot about what to expect in the future. Obviously I wanted to win but I was just a little off the pace tonight. I'm going to put in some work and really get dialed in for 2012. It's coming up fast."
The Troy Lee Designs / Lucas Oil / Honda team is already gearing up for next year's supercross title run. With Cole Seely, Christian Craig and Travis Baker ready to go, the team looks very strong heading into next year. Thank you to all the sponsors, fans and friends of the team who took the time to say hello or cheer for the team's riders this year. We appreciate the support and we will see you at the races in 2012.
TLD would like to thank all of our team sponsors: Lucas Oil, American Honda, PPG, Red Bull, SillyBrandz Global, Adidas, Specialized, BioLytical Labs, Dunlop, McQueen Racing, VQ OrthoCare, Shock Doctor, Skullcandy, Renthal, Oakley, Alpinestars, Pro Circuit, Primm MX Collection, Couts Heating & Cooling, Selle Italia, N-Style, VP Racing Fuels, Boyesen, ODI, DID, Rossignol, Pacific Collision Centers, Muc-Off, Kasey Kahne, Elrod Racing, New Era, Leatt, Cycra, Hammerhead, Hinson, Light Speed, Moto Tassinari, Twin Air, Dubya USA, Talon, and EPIC Action Camera.
