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The End to the Streak
Rolling into High Point, Jett Lawrence had led every lap of the first six motos. Jett’s moto streak ballooned to eight by the end of the day but Ken Roczen got off the couch to put an end to Jett’s streak of laps led. The streak ended at 97 laps led which was good enough for second longest of all time behind James Stewart who led over 200 laps in 2008. That series must have been a barn burner.
Headed to the Front
You didn’t miss the fact that Garrett Marchbanks landed a second-place finish in moto 1 but with so much action at the front of the pack, few people noticed him come around in 27th on lap 2 of the second moto. Marchbanks would not be denied on his way toward the front of the field. Climbing all the way eighth place in the second moto meant a career best 450 finish of sixth overall. Safe to say, Marchbanks is getting comfier aboard the 450.
Race Pace in Your Face
High Point’s track surface threw everything and the kitchen sink at the fastest racers in the world. With Jett Lawrence seemingly having an off day (he still went 1-1, btw!!!), the pace was pushed by the resurgence of Adam Cianciarulo and Ken Roczen. This increased race pace resulted in only 10 riders finishing on the lead lap when the checkered flag flew on the second moto of the 450 class with three riders ending up two laps down. Guys like KTM privateer Jeff Walker who would win your local race by 30-40 seconds getting lapped twice at a national speaks volumes about difficulty of the track and the speed at the front.
B-Ray with a Career Best
For a privateer with a clothing line called Raylentless, Brandon Ray was exactly that. Mount Morris, Pennsylvania is a long way from Fremont, California but the one known as B-Ray managed to finish 16th overall which is a career best. With increased levels of support and his best tracks still to come on the schedule, Brandon Ray could be the torn in the side of many top 15 hopefuls throughout the remainder of the series.
Another Tyler Evans
A Tyler Evans sporting the number 258 (#58 being the late Tyler Evans’ number) made the motos at High Point out of Burlington North Carolina. Doubt there is any relation to the late Tyler Evans who hailed from Northern California but it was cool to see another T Evans out there.
Main image: Pro Motocross
