Team Honda HRC Kicks Off AMA Pro Motocross Series at Hangtown

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 12^th 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 12^th and 14^th.

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 10^th with a 2:10.327 time in the second practice session. Seely was 12^th 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.”

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