Seely Scores Podium Finish at AMA Supercross Opener

The Anaheim 1 AMA Supercross round was a positive start to the season for Team Honda HRC, with Cole Seely finishing the main event in third place. Following a main-event restart, Seely led the first 13 of 20 laps and looked as if he might score a dramatic home victory, but mistakes caused him to fall off the pace and ultimately relinquish two positions by the checkered flag. Beginning his sophomore year in the 450SX class, the Californian is confident in his ability to win races and is pleased to start with a solid podium finish. Teammate Trey Canard had an exceptional day leading up to the final, but a mishap while running third at the halfway point caused him to lose a few positions. Canard ultimately finished seventh.

NOTES

• The pre-event Supercross Pit Party is always a huge attraction for Anaheim 1, drawing thousands of spectators to the paddock for autographs, freebies and an overall fun experience. American Honda welcomed fans with a huge setup that included a learn-to-ride center, an exhibit of bikes from the 2016 CRF family, and a display of vintage race machines once piloted by factory Honda racers.
• Honda’s racing family was out in full force, with Ten Kate Honda World Superbike teammates Nicky Hayden and Michael Van Der Mark spending some time under the Team Honda HRC tent to catch up with Trey Canard and Cole Seely. Also in attendance was Honda HRC racer Gautier Paulin, who has been doing winter training in the States before he heads back to Europe for the MXGP series.
• Team Honda HRC helped support the Road 2 Recovery Foundation, a non-profit organization founded to provide financial assistance to AMA Supercross riders who sustain career-ending injuries. Seely provided the foundation with a Troy Lee Designs jersey, and the squad gave auction winner David Farley and his family an inside look at the team’s tech and hospitality trucks.
• During the daytime qualifying sessions, Canard notched the quickest lap time at 1:00.999, making him the only rider to drop below the 1:01 mark. Seely was 13^th with a 1:02.331 lap, while GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle was 19^th with 1:03.715.
• Slotted into the second heat race, both Canard and Seely launched their CRF450R race machines off the line to good starts. Seely took the early lead, but it was short-lived as his teammate made the pass on lap two, laying down the fastest lap time of 1:01.183 while riding to the win ahead of Seely. Bogle was in the same race, sitting third behind his fellow Red Riders on the first lap, but a mistake caused him to lose multiple positions. He later transferred through the second semi.
• This weekend, the Honda Red Riders head to downtown San Diego for the first of two rounds at Petco Park. On Friday, the riders will take part in a dealer appearance at Motoworld of El Cajon from 6-7:30 p.m.

THE FOCUS

The 2016 season is the second with American Honda’s supercross effort once again receiving full assistance from Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), and the support from Honda’s world headquarters was tangible at the opener. HRC Vice President Shuhei Nakamoto made the trip, as did a number of Honda Motor Company executives, including Masahiro Yoshida (Managing Officer and Director, Chief Operating Officer for Business Support Operation), Shinji Aoyama (Operating Officer and Director, Chief Operating Officer for Motorcycle Operation) and Susumu Mitsuishi (General Manager of Motorcycle Operations, Motorcycle Sales Division).

“It meant a lot to Team Honda HRC to have so many important guests at Anaheim 1,” said Sam Mishima, Motorcycle Sports Manager. “The support this team receives from Japan is invaluable to our race effort, and it was a pleasure for us to have them here to see the sport and this project firsthand.”