450 Class Moto 1
The 450 class has been full of surprises this year, so it was appropriate for Moto Concepts’ Jeff Alessi to grab the holeshot over Red Bull Honda’s Davi Millsaps. Alessi led the opening two laps in commanding fashion before a small crash that dropped him to mid-pack. Millsaps assumed the lead, but by this time, Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Chad Reed, who had managed a top five start, was on the move and set his sights on the Honda rider.
While Millsaps was able to hold off the Australian for a few laps, Reed quite simply seemed to be on a mission, and made the pass fairly easily. Behind the lead duo was Canidae/Motosports/Kawasaki’s 450 rider, Tommy Hahn. Seemingly reinvigorated after his second place opening moto finish at Washougal, Hahn rode with grit and determination. Hahn was possibly the fastest man on the track at times, and seemed very comfortable on the rough terrain. Slowly stalking the “Duke”, Hahn plugged away until he was finally able to over take Millsaps in the closing laps for second place.
Further back, Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Michael Byrne quietly put in one of his best performances of the season as he held off the Red Bull Honda duo of Andrew Short and Ivan Tedesco to eventually capture fourth place.
Behind them, visiting Motocross GP rider, Gareth Swanepol put in a commendable ride aboard his Monster Kawasaki and looked fairly comfortable on the fast circuit.
At the finish, Chad Reed took another convincing win, further extending his points lead.
450 Class Moto 2
Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM’s Justin Brayton barely edged out Short for the holeshot. But only a few turns later Short took over the lead. But then there was Reed. With a better start than his first moto, Reed set his sights on Short and there was not much the Honda rider could do. By the 10 minute mark, Reed had worked his way into the lead and checked out. Tedesco also had a good start and with in the first few laps was riding in third place over Brayton.
Further back, Swanepol and Hahn had to work their way up from top ten starts and both looked to be on the move. Unfortunately Hahn would not go on to duplicate his first moto performance after a small crash in the middle part of the track. Swanepoel, however, solidered on to a seventh place.
In front of them things heated up. In the closing laps, Tedesco after battling his way within a few bike lengths of his teammate, fell and gave up third place to Byrne. Fourth would then go to Brayton who put in one of his best rides of the season. Perhaps one of the most impressive rides came from pro rookie, Kyle Regal, who recently signed onto the Valli Motorsports team. Kyle looks more than comfortable as he moved from about 10th place to fifth by moto’s end.
Reed went on to take another convincing win and his third 1-1 of the season in front of the ecstatic Unadilla hill people, with Short claiming second overall.
Results
1) Chad Reed 1-1
2) Andrew Short 5-2
3) Michael Byrne 4-3
4) Justin Brayton 8-4
5) Davi Millsaps 3-11
6) Gareth Swanepoel 7-6
7) Ivan Tedesco 6-8
8 ) Kyle Regal 10-5
9) Tommy Hahn 2-16
10)Tim Ferry 11-7
TAGS: andrew short, anniversary, chad reed, Christophe Pourcel, ivan tedesco, jake weimer, kyle regal, legends, michael byrne, nationals, outdoors, ryan dungey, tommy searle, unadila valley sports center, unadilla
