The opening round of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, held in Rancho Cordova, California, featured highs and lows for Team Honda HRC, as riders Cole Seely and Christian Craig put together solid first-moto performances before struggling in the day’s second race to finish eighth and 12th overall, respectively.

In the first moto, Craig took the holeshot and early lead his CRF450R, while Seely was seventh. Unfortunately, Craig fell on the second lap and remounted outside the top 10. Both riders began battling forward, with Seely moving into fourth on lap 7 and maintaining that position to the checkered flag. Craig was able to regain a few spots, crossing the finish line in ninth. In moto two, Seely and Craig got off the line to less-than-desirable starts, both sitting outside the top 15. The Red Riders worked their way past multiple people during the opening laps, but they lost momentum and ended up 12th and 14th.

NOTES

  • Despite not participating in Thursday’s press conference, Team Honda HRC riders were given the opportunity to take part in a pair of 20-minute practice sessions. Team manager Dan Betley feels that more than any other event, riding press day at the opening round is the most beneficial. “It’s a great way to work out some last-minute kinks before Saturday,” he said. “Even though the conditions aren’t exactly what we’ll experience on race day, it’s still close enough to help us fine-tune our settings a little more.”
  • On the eve of the race, Cole Seely, Andrew Short, and Ken Roczen were joined by GEICO Honda’s Christian Craig, Jeremy Martin, Jimmy Decotis, and rookie Cameron McAdoo for an autograph signing at the local powerhouse dealer, Roseville Honda. Fans lined up to meet their favorite riders and for a chance to win a Honda Grom. At the conclusion of the event, Seely drew the winning ticket, with the Grom going to Donovan Moore.
  • There was a subdued atmosphere in the Team Honda HRC pits on race day at Hangtown, with thoughts on Red Bull Honda World Superbike racer Nicky Hayden, who had been critically injured in a bicycle accident in Italy a few days earlier. “The Kentucky Kid” spent the early part of his professional career with American Honda before going on to race in MotoGP and eventually World Superbike. Hayden passed away earlier today. He will be profoundly missed by the entire Honda family.
  • Seely’s and Craig’s factory Honda HRC CRF450Rs were adorned with custom “69” stickers on their front fenders in support of Red Bull Honda World Superbike rider Nicky Hayden, who was critically injured in a bicycle accident the Wednesday before the race. Throttle Jockey printed the decals, which could also be seen on many other bikes and helmets throughout the paddock.
  • Craig led the charge for Team Honda HRC during Saturday morning qualifying, landing 10th with a 2:10.327 time in the second practice session. Seely was 12th with a 2:10.607 time.
  • After a tough DNF in the day’s opening 250 moto, GEICO Honda’s Jeremy Martin rebounded with a strong performance in the second race. The two-time 250MX champ worked his way from ninth to third by the completion of the race.
  • The Honda Red Riders will be at Southern California’s Glen Helen Raceway this Saturday, May 27, for round 2 of the AMA Pro Motocross series. On Friday evening, riders will head to Malcolm Smith Motorsports in Riverside, California, for an autograph session.

THE FOCUS: Roczen Reunion 

Although his focus is on his recovery, Team Honda HRC rider Ken Roczen joined his squad at the Hangtown season opener. This marks the second race Roczen has attended since his season-ending injury at the Anaheim 2 Supercross, and fans and industry members alike were excited to see him. The German was kept busy, signing autographs under the Team Honda HRC tent before doing a meet-and-greet with FOX special guests, then giving an interview on the podium during opening ceremonies. Before the gate dropped for the first 450 moto, Roczen also interviewed with Georgia Albertson on MavTV, providing an update on his recovery.

“I’m keeping positive for sure,” Roczen said. “Things could’ve been a lot worse, so I’m grateful to be standing here on my two legs. This is the longest I’ve been off the bike in my entire career and we’re probably only halfway through it, which is crazy but I’m confident I’ll be back. My arm is a work in progress, but things are going well and I’m doing physical therapy pretty much seven days a week. I actually have my physical therapist living in my guesthouse. I feel a lot better though, now that all the surgeries are over, and I’ve been getting back into a good routine of eating healthy and working out—I even went for a run this morning. It’s good to see my team and fans but honestly, it’s torture being here at the race because I know I should be out there winning. I’ll be back and we’ll be seeing that number-one plate on the Honda again.”

“It was great to have Kenny at the race today,” team manager Dan Betley said. “It’s been since Daytona that we all saw him last. He just has so much energy and this aura that he brings with him, it’s exciting to have him around. I think for the whole team’s sake, to see that he’s on the mend, and in my mind almost ahead of schedule, is great. It was a devastating injury so to see how far he’s come in a short time and to hear his positivity makes me really happy for him.”

The team had Roczen’s bike on display, with the reigning champion’s No. 1 on red backgrounds. “It’s bittersweet knowing that Honda didn’t necessarily earn that plate, but Kenny did and that’s what he would’ve ridden with,” Betley added. “It was cool seeing it on our bike and I believe that we’ll see it again in the future.”

Media contact:

Mandie Fonteyn // Jonnum Media  // mandie@jonnummedia.com // +1 (951) 537-0454

Christian Craig 28

The day started off pretty good. I qualified 10th overall and was confident going into the motos. I ended up getting the holeshot in the first moto and led for a couple laps before cross-rutting and going down. I was able to get up pretty fast, probably around 14th. I made some good passes throughout the moto to come back to ninth, so I was happy with my riding other than the fall. I was trying to find a flow in the second moto, but with the heat I didn't have much energy left in me. I made some mistakes and lost some positions. Midway through the moto something in my back popped and I wasn't able to sit down without it taking my breath away, so that made everything harder. I’m not happy with the end result but I showed some good speed and know I can run with the top guys. There are 22 motos left to go and I'm looking forward to improving every weekend.

AMA Pro Motocross 2017
Race   Rancho Cordova

450MX Moto 1 Results

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Tomac Eli 3 USA Monster Energy Kawasaki Kawasaki
2 Musquin Marvin 25 FRA Red Bull KTM KTM
3 Grant Joshua 33 USA Monster Energy Kawasaki Kawasaki
5 Webb Cooper 2 USA Red Bull KTM KTM
6 Baggett Blake 4 USA Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS KTM
7 Tickle Broc 20 USA Monster Energy Kawasaki Kawasaki
8 Bogle Justin 19 USA Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS KTM
9 Craig Christian 28 USA Star Racing Yamaha Yamaha
10 Wilson Dean 15 GBR Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Husqvarna
11 Barcia Justin 51 USA TLD/Red Bull GasGas GasGas
12 Peick Weston 23 USA Autotrader/ JGR/ Yoshimura/ Suzuki Factory Racing Suzuki
13 Noren Fredrik 61 SWE PR-MX Pelletier Kawasaki Kawasaki
14 Cooper Cody 121 NZL Crownkiwi Enterprise Honda
15 Davalos Martin 47 ECU Team Tedder KTM
16 Benoit Kaven 926 CAN KTM Canada/ Royal Distributing/ Fox KTM
17 Alix Dakota 70 USA Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS KTM
18 Carter Rhys 333 NZL None Kawasaki
20 Harrison Heath USA Got Gear Motorsports Kawasaki
AMA Pro Motocross 2017
Race   Rancho Cordova

450MX Moto 2 Results

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Tomac Eli 3 USA Monster Energy Kawasaki Kawasaki
2 Musquin Marvin 25 FRA Red Bull KTM KTM
3 Grant Joshua 33 USA Monster Energy Kawasaki Kawasaki
4 Wilson Dean 15 GBR Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Husqvarna
5 Barcia Justin 51 USA TLD/Red Bull GasGas GasGas
6 Anderson Jason 21 USA Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Husqvarna
7 Tickle Broc 20 USA Monster Energy Kawasaki Kawasaki
8 Baggett Blake 4 USA Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS KTM
9 Webb Cooper 2 USA Red Bull KTM KTM
10 Bogle Justin 19 USA Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS KTM
11 Peick Weston 23 USA Autotrader/ JGR/ Yoshimura/ Suzuki Factory Racing Suzuki
13 Davalos Martin 47 ECU Team Tedder KTM
14 Craig Christian 28 USA Star Racing Yamaha Yamaha
15 Noren Fredrik 61 SWE PR-MX Pelletier Kawasaki Kawasaki
16 Alix Dakota 70 USA Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS KTM
17 Carter Rhys 333 NZL None Kawasaki
18 Harrison Heath USA Got Gear Motorsports Kawasaki
19 Pellegrini Angelo 941 ITA AL Motorsports Suzuki
20 Mosiman Josh 42 USA TLD/Red Bull GasGas GasGas
Location Information

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