Race Report: Yamaha Quad X MX Series

It was a beautiful breezy day at The Ranch Motocross Park in Anza California where the fourth round of the Yamaha Quad X Series was held. Compared to Comp Edge, The Ranch wasn't as fast pace but it did get very technical. The tracks layout consisted of sandy corners and straight-aways followed by hard packed dirt rhythm section jumps. Races were held up by an unfortunate accident during practice where Gerado Sepuldvida was air lifted to the nearest hospital. As the track was being cleared, the crowd and racers grew anxious to begin their motos.

Moto 1

As the smell of race gas filled the air, the gates dropped and the racers flew up the sandy hill and began to battle for the holeshot. Through the series of turns, Davi Haagsma powered his Curtis Spark H&M Motorsports Honda 450r over the first jump followed by Nelson, Row, Baron, and Goss. In lap 2 Baron made quick work and passed Row setting his sights on Nelson. Through out the race, Haagsma began to pull away and got a five second lead on Nelson, extending the time in each lap. Halfway through the moto, Nelson blew a corner, allowing Baron to catch up to Nelsons grab bar. With two laps left, the battle for second place came to an end when Baron charged a straightaway passing Nelson. Row, Goss, and Fife stayed in the same order for the rest of the race. As the checkered flag was thrown it was Haagsma in 1st, Baron in 2nd, Nelson 3rd, Row 4th, Goss 5th, Fife 6th, Fuller 7th, Sindorf 8th, Brinkeroff 9th.

Moto 2

With the results of Moto 1 in the books, Baron was determined to get back on the podium after a disappointing mechanical problem at Comp Edge. As the thirty second board went down, the gates dropped and it was Davi who pulled the GYTR / Yamalube $250 holeshot award, followed closely by Jason (who had an excellent start) then Row, Baron, Goss, and Nelson. Halfway through the first lap Baron passed Row on the straightaways, he seemed to be in race mode and out for blood. As ready as he was to win this moto, Baron was haunted yet again by mechanical demons leaving him stranded on the sidelines with a DNF for this race. At the beginning of lap three, Nelson made the pass on Goss through a technical jump section determined to join the battle for second place which was between Fife and Row. Row made the mistake of taking the outside corner giving Nelson the inside allowing him to sneak in third place. Fife ended up making the same mistake about half a lap later and Nelson powered the inside corner making the pass and took over Fife's position. Although Nelson won 2nd place, Fife and Row were battling wheel to wheel for third. As the condition of the track got worse, Fife began to fade and the younger Row took third place. Haagsma was the first to cross the finish line with a ten second lead over Nelson, followed by Row 3rd, Fife 4th, Goss 5th, Fuller 6th, Brinkerhoff 7th, Sindorf 8th.

At the end of the day the overall results were Haagsma 1st, Nelson 2nd, Row 3rd, Fife 4th, Goss 5th, Fuller 6th, Brinkerhoff 7th, Sindorf 8th and Baron in an unfortunate 9th.