We got hard pack people! Denver is always as hard as the Corona, Ca. test tracks and last Saturday was no different. Even though the 450 and 250 main events were kind of a snoozer we will try to liven it up right here on Daytime. The good news is we got a hell of a race next weekend in SLC!
Hunter Lawrence: Well this ride was a statement. I mean I think once Kenny got into second you could see that he was going to settle for second and take this thing down to SLC. However, the HRC machine hasn’t looked this good on hard pack this year and in Denver the 96 machine looked REALLY good in the whoops. Hunter doesn’t seemed fazed by the pressure and his starts are so good that it is going to take EVERYTHING for the 94 to get ahead of the 96 off the grate in SLC. This is going to be good!
Eli Tomac: Eli was using a prototype rear MC790 tire that is similar to a hybrid type MX34/scoop that Eli needs to feel at his best. The Dunlop guys have been working on this for a while for him and Eli thought it was good enough to try in Denver. Eli really loves the scoop and doesn’t feel as comfortable on the MX34 type rear tire as he does with the MX14 type. With a couple weeks off the bike due to some lingering bruising/soreness it was a low pressure type weekend to try the tire. With a third place in the main event in Denver, Eli will roll to SLC with some new found confidence in the proto tire and maybe sneak another win.
Chase Sexton: Fastest in Q1 and third fastest in Q3, it looked to be a promising night in Denver for Chase. Luckily for Chase some chaos happened between J-Coop, Ferrandis and Webb to sneak the number into fifth overall. Jamie from Twisted Development spent some time in Florida last week to help with some ECU mapping and from what I gathered they had a good test and improved the bike for Chase. Maybe the results are not showing it but from what I am hearing/gathering the bike is improving for Sexton. I DON’T KNOW MAN…
Justin Barcia: For a guy that hasn’t been racing all year, the number 51 was looking spicy early in the main event. Ducati has improved the bike with some updated parts as well as some added testing time at Barcia’s place (which I thought was for sale). The Ducati is built for hard pack and it’s not surprising to see the “other” red bikes doing well in Denver. The linear power and chassis can get traction easier than other bikes in my opinion and you could actually see that on the number 14 (maybe not the 51 with this happy throttle hand). Even with Barcia’s excited right hand the Ducati as well as Justin looked good on Saturday night.
Haiden Deegan: If you watch/study Deegan ride you will see how good he is in the middle transitions of corners. He stands almost all the way around the bowls then sits (with his feet on the pegs) without hesitation. Those are small tenths everywhere around the track. His whoop entrance speed is better than anyone else and that start was awesome! He waited to shift into second off the lip of the drop off which allowed for more drive once his rear wheel got back on the ground. It was a thing of beauty.
Levi Kitchen: Cable clutch! From what I understand is that Pro Circuit came up with this on their own and could possibly sell this part to the public sometime soon. Levi is looking for a more consistent engagement feel off the starts and this is what he found with the cable. Maybe that didn’t quite transfer over to the main event start but for not riding for a few weeks because of a back issue, second place is a good result. Cable clutch or not.
Ryder D:I have been seeing the mustache man around Southern California tracks getting ready for outdoors and I’ll give you guys a hot take here: Ryder D podiums at Fox Raceway and wins a round this season. He is going REAL FAST outdoors and to my eyes, it looks much better than in years past. I am on team mustache.
Kayden Minear: A top five in your first SX is pretty damn good, especially when it started how it all did. I mean COME ON, the kid passed the finish line and we can’t virtually score him? He has to literally go across the scoring line to get scored? What ever happened to people up on the towers scoring by hand, just in case someone has something like this happen? Where are those people? Nah, we don’t need them anymore? You race the WHOLE race and you go around the finish (but you cross it), and that warrants a dock lap? It’s wild out there now people! I DON”T KNOW MAN!
