Second Qualifying Session

The second session began, and it was Jesson Turner and Enzo Temmerman were last to leave the starting straight. As expected, the times did not improve. Carson Wood still topped the session, this time with a 2:09.785. Kade Johnson was second fastest with a 2:09.837, then Temmerman’s 2:10.408. Landen Gordon (2:10.408) and Deacon Denno (2:10.734) rounded out the top five. Jeremy Fappani had a huge crash when he over scrubbed while hitting the finish line jump late in the session. Fappani was not able to save the scrub, and he slammed down, but he did get up quickly and get going again, which was a good sign. Again, the riders were not hitting LaRocco’s Leap, but we will see if someone uncorks it come the motos later this afternoon. Young rider Carson Wood's time from the first qualifying session stands as the top qualifying time of the day.

First Moto

The gates dropped and it was fastest qualifier Carson Wood with the holeshot and early race lead. Diesel Thomas had an issue on the starting straight, as did Enzo Temmerman, so they came through the first turn dead last. Jeremy Fappani had a bike issue himself about two laps in, causing him to stop in the mechanics’ area for a few minutes. Fappani did not return to the race as his moto was over. Landen Gordn was second off the start but got passed early on by Deacon Denno. Then, one lap later Gordon was passed by Landon Gibson. Denno was keeping Wood honest but then he was passed by Gibson! Gibson, who made up over five seconds on Wood, was charging forward from his fifth-place position and eventually got into the lead on the tenth lap. He got around Denno then put in his fastest lap of the race, as Wood ran into trouble on the following lap. Wood fell over than got stuck under his bike, losing valuable time. Gibson would lead the final handful of laps to take the race win. Kade Johnson came out of the first turn near the very end of the pack but charged, battling fellow Yamaha rider Owen Covell in the process. Johnson charged up to land the final spot on the podium behind Gibson and Denno. Gibson took the win by 6.658 seconds. Gordon and Leum Oehlhof rounded out the top five.

Second Moto

The second moto gates dropped, and it was Landon Gibson once again out front as Carson Wood tipped over in the second turn. Tiger Wood had bike issues as the moto started, and he went right and pulled off the track instead of going left in the second turn. His holeshot device was still engaged and his bike was not running well, so his team started looking at it. He would not reenter the race. Out front, Gibson was on a tear as he pulled away from Gordon and the rest of the field. The young Husqvarna rider was set up for a 1-1 day…until two laps to go his bike gave up as he was about to hit the ski jump that sends riders from the top part of the track down to the first bottom section. He had over 20 seconds on Gordon, but his bike expiring allowed Gordon to take over the race lead. Gordon went on to take the race win but did not even know Gibson had a bike issue, so he thought he landed second on the race and second overall. But after his podium interview, he learned what had happened! It was not what anyone wants to see when a rider who has the win suffers a bike issue and DNF, but Gordon will take the luck after he led literally the entire moto here last year only to tip over in the final turn and finish second to his Kawasaki teammate Drew Adams. (Remember, the second moto was canceled that day, so it was quite a sour taste in Gordon’s mouth.)

Gordon took the moto win over Luke Fauser, who was bumped from second to third after Gibson’s DNF, followed by Jesson Turner, Enzo Temmerman, and Hartz. Turner was not able to get close enough for Fauser for a pass attempt, although Fauser did say he felt the pressure from the Yamaha rider. Hartz gained 11 positions, going from 16th at the holeshot stripe to finishing fifth at the checkered flag. Diesel Thomas, whose bike shut off in the start of the first race, gained 13 positions (from 24th to 11th) in the first race, while gaining ten positions in the second moto (going from 19th to ninth).

Deacon Denno had a big crash early in the race and his 13th at the checkered flags ruined his chance at the overall podium. So, the overall podium was Gordon with 4-1 moto finishes, Fauser with 7-2 moto finishes, and Turner with 9-3 moto finishes. Owen Covell finished 6-7 for fourth overall, then Denno’s 2-13 was fifth overall. Temmerman finished 12-4 for sixth overall, as Carson Wood landed seventh overall after 10-6 finishes. Carson Wood’s day does not look great on paper but he was solid, all day long. His charge in the second moto was impressive.