Race Report - Hangtown
Chris
- May 30 2009
- 30,464 views
- 45 comments
The 41st Motocross Classic went off without a hitch today at Hangtown in Prairie City, CA. Hosted by the Dirt Diggers, the Motocross Classic is the oldest of the current Outdoor National rounds, and they proved again that they know how to make a motocross track. This year, they added rice and sand to the soil to help fend off the square-edged hardpack that Hangtown is known for; and though the track still got rough, the dirt remained surprisingly soft and rounded. Yes, there were some get-offs (some worse than others), but all in all, the riders of the Lucas Oils Motocross Champioship seemed pleased with the race conditions they were presented.
450 Moto One
With the sun at its highest, the gates slammed down into the dirt, allowing Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Mike Alessi to nab yet another holeshot; but his lead was short-lived. He went down before one lap was in the books, allowing privateer Jeff Northrop to enjoy an equally short-lived lead. Honda Red Bull Racing’s Ivan Tedesco took over the lead within a blink, while JGR’s Cody Cooper yielded a third place spot after the first lap. Meanwhile, mired in the back was championship favorite Ryan Villopoto and Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Chad Reed. Villopoto went down early in the first lap and aggravated his knee (which would eventually lead to his withdrawal from the race, and the season). Reed, however, suffered from a horrifying start and had to do his best to make up for it. Cooper took over second before two laps were in the can.
Tedesco stretched out a lead, but Alessi didn’t let him get far. After passing Cooper for the second place spot, Alessi slowly but surely reeled in the Honda Red Bull Racing rider. With about 20 minutes on the clock, Alessi got by Hot Sauce and settled into the top spot. Though Reed was mired in the pack, he continuously logged the fastest time, lap after lap, and he eventually clawed his way back to sixth.
Alessi built a comfrotable lead, but nearly lost it when he stalled his bike before the finish line. But, before Tedesco could capitalize, Alessi got his machine restarted. When all was said and done, Alessi took the checkers with Tedesco and Short in tow.
450 Moto Two
The sun settled into the western sky as the 450 riders lined up for the final moto of the day on the 41st Motocross Classic from Hangtown. With live SPEED TV coverage honing in on the riders, the stage was set for both everyone in attendance, and for the thousands of folks at home waiting in front of their televisions with Hot Pockets, nachos, or other fine cuisines fit for a tray. Wen the gates dropped and the fielded rounded the first turn, it was Joe Gibbs Racing’s Josh Grant who stole the holeshot from Mike Alessi. Ivan Tedesco, still riding the momentum he built in the first moto, moved in behind Grant, ahead of Alessi, Andrew Short, and Chad Reed. Alessi, clearly bummed he had his holeshot stolen, swooped in on Tedesco and took over the second spot.
As the field spread out and the time ticked away, focus stuck with the battle for moto supremacy between Grant and Alessi, as well as the dicing Reed, Tedesco, and Reardon. While Grant fended off advances from Alessi, Reed chipped away at the Hondas in front of him, eventually getting by Tedesco and sealing third place.
Mid-moto, Alessi made his way around Grant, but he couldn’t make it stick. Grant found his way back into the lead, taking lines away from the Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki rider. When the checkers came out, Grant crossed the finish line first and celebrated on the podium as the moto winner. Later, however, he was penalized a position for jumping while a medic flag was being waved. The rules state riders must roll jumps when that flag is out, so Grant suffered a position-dock. With that, Mike Alessi was crowned the 1-1 overall winner; the first of his 450 career.
(Note: Ryan Villopoto did not race the second moto, and word is he will sit the rest of the season out to undergo surgery on his injured knee.)
Overall Results (Top Twenty)
1. Mike Alessi (1-1)
2. Ivan Tedesco (2-4)
3. Chad Reed (6-3)
4. Andrew Short (3-6)
5. Josh Grant (9-2)
6. Dan Reardon (7-5)
7. Matt Goerke (5-9)
8. Justin Brayton (8-10)
9. Tommy Hahn (11-8)
10. Cody Cooper (4-23)
11. Jimmy Albertson (14-13)
12. Nick Wey (12-15)
13. Jake Moss (24-7)
14. Chris Blose (19-11)
15. Josh Hill (10-20)
16. Troy Adams (20-12)
17. Michael Byrne (18-14)
18. Bobby Bonds (13-19)
19. Davi Millsaps (15-35)
20. Jeff Alessi (22-16)
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May 31st, 2009 at 6:25 am
1st!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just wanna thank everyone that helped me today my laptop was hookin up really good today
May 31st, 2009 at 6:31 am
no james, now no villopoto….a lousy season for sure with the topp 10 riders now left to battle it out.
May 31st, 2009 at 6:49 am
That sucks! The season just got a whole lot more boring… Get well soon Ryan! You will be missed on the tracks.
May 31st, 2009 at 6:56 am
if anything its going to be a great season, cause now there is a group of riders who are about the same speed. so there is going to be more battles and more drama!
May 31st, 2009 at 7:01 am
3rd!!!! I would like to thank all of my fans girlfriends, I love you! And then I man up and makeout with all three monster girls. And finally I want thank to thank god for keeping me std free and safe, this is no lousy season!
May 31st, 2009 at 7:12 am
"Victoria secret, spring catalog, Ivans got class"-Rush hour 2
May 31st, 2009 at 7:26 am
looks like u fell b4 the finish line. that sucks
May 31st, 2009 at 10:12 am
villopoto
May 31st, 2009 at 11:00 am
lousy? itll actually be interesting to watch now instead of one person winning the whole time
May 31st, 2009 at 11:43 am
Well that sucks, Vilapoto out! But there is still going to be some really good battles. Come on REED!
May 31st, 2009 at 11:44 am
5 ANZACS in the top 20
May 31st, 2009 at 11:56 am
hey what happened to lawrence??
May 31st, 2009 at 1:11 pm
That sucks RV is out for the season! Get well soon!
May 31st, 2009 at 1:27 pm
The AMA hates him so they find a reason every race to black flag him before he even gets a full lap in
May 31st, 2009 at 1:46 pm
looks like i can finnaly start rooting for hot sauce again
May 31st, 2009 at 2:12 pm
josh grant won the second moto , he got fourth overall not fifth!!!! alessi did NOT go 1-1!!!!
May 31st, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Read the report. Grant was docked a position for jumping while a medic flag was out.
May 31st, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Thats rough, Josh worked hard to keep the lead, but rules are rules. I bet JGR was pissed they lost there first moto win.
May 31st, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Boohoo, what a boring series to watch a bunch of under achievers race for the championship….
May 31st, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I'm pumped for this season!! You guys are a bunch cry babies! Just because the top guy unfortunately gets hurt you don't want to watch anymore……This is stacking up to be a great season! Go Justin Barcia by the way. I hope Lawrence and Hill pull it together!
May 31st, 2009 at 5:46 pm
i dont get you lot, you moan when stuart wins with ease, then when theres a battle you moan.
May 31st, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Anyone who says those guys out there are under achievers are stupid. Try to qualify for a national, good luck. And this season is going to be great. I'm bummed villopoto got hurt,but thats racing. I'm bummed rc retired a couple years ago, but it's nice seeing other people win. Thank god stewart isn't racing, cause the last decade ricky won everything and it would be the same thing if james was racing. It's amazing to watch rc and james ride, but it gets boring knowing who is going to win every weekend. Before the race I told my brother i thought grant was going to win a moto, he did really, good call by me!!!
May 31st, 2009 at 6:18 pm
i wanna kno how every1 says its gon be a bad season now?Disopointed Poto is hurt, yes but still grant,akessi & reed will provide great battles. and long as #800 doesnt win the title ill be happy
May 31st, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Villopoto wasnt even the top guy!! the series isnt gonna be that exciting for the 450's now tho Alessi's gonna run away with it… i was looking forward to some hard-core battling between #800 and #2 this season tho
May 31st, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Lawerence jumped the gate before it dropped so the AMA black flagged him.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Under achievers??? What in the hell are you talking about? These guys have achieved more than you will ever achieve in your life time!
May 31st, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Good to see the ANZACS filling in the top 15 nicely.. Great ride from Reardon, Copper & Moss. Would be great to see both the Moss boys over there.
May 31st, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Cooper*
May 31st, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Yeah well don't count Josh grant out! …..Jeff Alessi could'nt get around josh for a 1-1 day but I gotta root for Mike Alessi because he really earned it coming back from that crash from last year to get his confidence up to speed from supercross to being ready for outdoors. Goooooooooooooo Mike (guns and roses hole shot kid) Alessi!!!!!
June 1st, 2009 at 1:21 am
Villopoto was the next "man", he still is, He will be back and better after he is healed… I cant believe the AMA lets Alessi even sit on a dirtbike after his little move at Glen Helen with Tedesco… That still burns me, I hope Grant and Reed go 1-2, if Alessi wins im boycotting moto. The AMA needs a champ like Alessi like our sport needs the lead ban… Reed is the man, thanks for coming out to play. Go Josh Grant, we miss you RV, and Bubba, you were my man. Ditch Larry and get outdoors ASAP!
June 1st, 2009 at 4:35 am
IF THE AMA IS BEING SO PICKY WHY ARE THEY LETTING ALESSI ROLL UP HIS SLEEVES? I THOUGHT THAT WAS A NO NO THIS YEAR.
June 1st, 2009 at 4:55 am
i agree that stunt alessi pulled on tedesco was unappropriate but he's a completely different guy now, and i think Barcia will be the next "man" he's insane
June 1st, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Whats up with Austin Stroupe? Transworld has been saying this guy rocks for years and still he hasn't really impressed me. Anybody know if he is injured, or is he just a little overrated?
June 1st, 2009 at 6:37 pm
YOUR A FRIKIN RETARD
June 1st, 2009 at 6:40 pm
BOTH
June 1st, 2009 at 8:27 pm
The results is wrong, Mike Alessi were 1-2 and Josh Grant were 9-1!
June 1st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
take a nap… where is J-law?
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:18 am
#51
The result is right…do you really think TWMC would get the results wrong? Remember when Grant doubled the jump when the medic flag was out and alessi, reed, and tedesco all slowed down?? Thats why Grant got knocked down to 2nd and alessi went 1-1.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:08 am
ohk duz black flag mean ur race is over? ur out?!
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:38 am
What exactly happened to RV2?
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:37 pm
yeah it means your dq'ed for the race
June 5th, 2009 at 9:42 am
A great rider doesn´t get hurt!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:50 am
He rode over his head and crashed early in moto 1.
June 5th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
no they took is win away for doubling with a yellow flag out dipshit