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 13th with a 1:02.331 lap, while GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle was 19th 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.”

Trey Canard 41

“All day was really good. Everyone was happy with the bike, and my riding was on point in qualifying and in the heat race but the main just wasn’t what we wanted. I just didn’t ride well; I was tight, picked poor lines and didn’t fix my mistakes. Then I jumped too long on a section, landed in a hole, missed the brake and went off the track. It was a bummer, but I’m glad I got the points for seventh. That’s better than nothing, and I’m walking away healthy so overall that’s an okay night. It’s a long series, so hopefully we can improve and keep moving forward.”

Private: Shuhei Nakamoto

HRC Race Development & Operations

“It was good to see Cole Seely finishing on the podium tonight. We still have some areas to improve but overall it was a good start for the season, as both riders showed speed and stayed healthy. It’s a long season and we will keep improving for the championship!”

AMA Supercross 2016
Race Round 1   Anaheim

450SX Main Event Results

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Anderson Jason 21 USA Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Husqvarna
2 Dungey Ryan 5 USA Red Bull KTM KTM
4 Tomac Eli 3 USA Monster Energy Kawasaki Kawasaki
5 Roczen Ken 94 GER Team Honda HRC Honda
6 Reed Chad 22 AUS Mountain Motorsports/CBDmd/CR22 Racing KTM
7 Canard Trey 41 USA Red Bull KTM KTM
8 Millsaps David 18 USA Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS KTM
9 Wilson Dean 15 GBR Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Husqvarna
10 Brayton Justin 10 USA Muc-Off Honda Honda
11 Tickle Broc 20 USA Monster Energy Kawasaki Kawasaki
12 Weimer Jacob 12 USA RCH Soaring Eagle Jimmy Johns Suzuki Factory Racing Suzuki
13 Bogle Justin 19 USA Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS KTM
14 Musquin Marvin 25 FRA Red Bull KTM KTM
15 Barcia Justin 51 USA TLD/Red Bull GasGas GasGas
16 Alessi Mike 800 USA Smartop Bullfrog Spas MotoConcepts Honda Honda
17 Hahn Wil 48 USA Monster Energy Kawasaki Kawasaki
18 Pourcel Christophe 377 FRA Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Husqvarna
19 Chisholm Kyle 11 USA Chisholm Racing Kawasaki
20 Hahn Thomas 47 USA Cycletrader.com/ Rock River Yamaha Yamaha
21 Bopping Lawson AUS DPH Motorsports Yamaha
22 Stewart James USA Yoshimura Suzuki Suzuki
Location Information

Angel Stadium of Anaheim, East Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA, United States - View in Google Maps