A LOOK BACK AT PHILADELPHIA: Vanilla would be a good adjective to insert on the weekend. Considering it was an East/West Showdown, that is actually not a bad thing. With all the success this season, certainly the expectations are higher for the team and more highlights are on the way. Both Max and Coty had decent qualifying sessions and average heat races. The track crew did an amazing job having the race surface ready for the night show. Max led the team with an eighth-place finish in the main event followed closely by Coty in eleventh. As for the overall standings: Coty is solidly in fifth place in the Western region and Max is currently in nineth in the East. Both have the potential to move up with only a few rounds left.
DEVIN SIMONSON #88: Look at that smile! That is the face of someone who is returning to racing this weekend in East Rutherford. Credit to Devin for his positive attitude and determination to get back on the bike. He resumed riding several weeks ago on the turn-track. From there he graduated to the moto track and did some testing. With the confidence back in his wrist, he resumed supercross training and is deemed ready for service. A lesson for those younger riders – when Devin was not on the bike, he was still at the facility training and helping with whatever need to be done. Most recently he volunteered to be a trainer at the Yamaha BLU CRU event that was hosted on our property last weekend. Staying immersed in the team culture made it easier on him and the team to resume racing and we are all excited for his return. Devin will be a part of the Friday press ride this weekend so feel free to ask him some questions and experience the same great attitude we see every day.
MAX VOHLAND #92: Max is starting to hit his stride. With one heat race win under his belt, he is looking to notch another one this weekend. In training this week, he has been working on his opening lap intensity to position himself better throughout the main event. Speed and lap times are not the issue, just a bit more aggression in the opening laps will make the difference. Do not mistake Max’s calm demeanor for lack of intensity. He just has a way to process things a bit differently than most racers and uses that intellect to his advantage. With three rounds left, our expectation is that Max will propel himself up the charts. Keep an eye on the #92.
The Supercross season clips along at an incredible pace. This weekend represents the fourteenth round of seventeen and next thing you know, we will be in Salt Lake City for the final round. In a look back to this point, a big thank you to the Feld group for their vision. What most people do not see is the growth of the sport just within the last year. With viewership up double digits, it is the fastest growing motorsport in North America. This plays a big factor in how sponsors view the sport and the growing interest in teams like ours.
Looking ahead to the motocross season does not come without some challenges. We are trying to figure out how to keep the truck on the west coast after Salt Lake City. If it returned home to the shop in South Carolina, we would only have it for three days before it has to return to Pala for the first round of outdoors. The schedule is not an easy one, but this is the sport we chose.
These recent YouTube videos are awesome as the team continues to perform at the highest level. Check out this one from Foxborough.
https://youtu.be/eCoQnQDvyJQ?si=V1Kz-SX4xzpsAYr0