Strong Showings for Canard, Seely at Hangtown Opener

Held in Rancho Cordova, California, the opening round of the AMA Pro Motocross championship was positive for Team Honda HRC, as riders Trey Canard and Cole Seely turned in solid rides, finishing fifth and sixth overall, respectively. In the day’s first moto, both racers got off to exciting starts aboard their CRF450R race bikes, with Seely grabbing the holeshot and Canard close behind in tow. It was a hectic first lap as they battled each other and other riders for position, with Canard overtaking his teammate for second. Unfortunately, he fell on the next lap and remounted outside the top 10. Seely maintained third for nearly the entire 30-minute-plus-two-lap race, but he relinquished two spots in the closing laps, taking the checkered flag in fifth. Canard had another mishap near the midway point but rebounded to finish seventh.

Starting side-by-side in moto two, Canard and Seely got off to less-than-desirable starts, sitting outside the top 15. Canard put his head down and quickly went to work picking off the competition, moving into 12^th by the completion of lap one. He continued to advance throughout the race, ultimately finishing fifth. Seely had a more difficult time navigating through the pack early in the race but found his stride toward the halfway point and worked his way into 10^th by the finish.

NOTES

• It was a busy week for the Honda HRC crew, as they arrived in the Sacramento area on Thursday for PR duties. After a press conference and interviews with members of the local media, riders took part in a pair of 20-minute practice sessions. “It’s always a benefit to get time on the track prior to the race, especially during the motocross season,” Cole Seely said. “During supercross we only get to ride a portion of the track for a short period of time, but in motocross we get to ride the whole track for two long sessions, which allows us to test out certain settings and make changes prior to the race if needed.”
• One the eve of the race, Seely and Honda HRC teammate Trey Canard were joined by GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle, Christian Craig, RJ Hampshire, Jordan Smith and rookie Tristan Charboneau 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 Jared Beard.
• Team Honda HRC was pleased to host Honda Racing Corporation’s Representative Director Keisuke Inomoto and 11-time All Japanese National Champion Akira Narita for the opening round of the AMA Pro Motocross series.
• Canard led the charge for Team Honda HRC during Saturday morning qualifying, setting the day’s second-best time of 1:55.239 in the first practice session. Seely landed sixth with a 1:57.105, while Bogle was 11^th at 1:58.057. As the day progressed and the 1.2-mile track become rougher, times rose above the two-minute mark.
• The Hangtown track showcases a 150-foot step-up jump that is the longest jump on the calendar. “I think that’s probably my favorite part of the track,” Canard said. “It’s actually pretty easy to get over—you just need to make sure you hit it wide-open. It’s a pretty wide jump too, so depending on the situation, if someone in front of you doesn’t do it you can still make it, but it’s definitely faster to do it than not.”
• The Honda Red Riders will be at Southern California’s Glen Helen Raceway this Saturday, May 28, 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: Honda Partners With California State Parks

On Friday at the Hangtown Motocross Classic, American Honda Motor, Co., Inc. donated a number of off-highway vehicles, ranging from youth motorcycles and ATVs to side-by-sides, to the California State Parks. On hand were Parks officials including Director Lisa Mangat, as well as representatives from American Honda. Honda provides the vehicles for the Off-Highway Police Activities League (OHPAL) program. OHPAL is a recreation and mentoring program that uses the attraction of off-highway vehicles along with a comprehensive curriculum to develop positive relationships between peace officers and youth while fostering safe and responsible OHV riding behavior.