2012 AMA Outdoor Pro Motocross Round 2 Freestone National Preview
Imagine a perfectly groomed sandy track, a full team behind you, and an amazing racing atmosphere to flat out pump you up for good old Texas outdoor motocross. Well, thats the name of the game at Freestone MX. Amazing, but with two unkind obstacles … smothering heat and deep forming ruts. It’s 95 degrees Farenheit there, and with kind of 100 percent humidity that can turn a short walk into sweat bath. So racing two 30 minutes motos (+2 extra laps), Freestone’s heat is simply grueling. High temperature is a silent enemy for pro motocross racers. It has sadly taken it’s physical toll on many pro riders. In 2011 Ryan Dungey’s bike was a victim too. Dungey ran short on gas just prior to finishing his moto with a massive lead, all because his gas had literally evaporated in the heat …evaporated below Mike Gosselaar’s precise measurement… leaving Dungey out of gas for a DNF.
Freestone has proven to be a track that can steal a championship away from a contender, early on in the season. One gnarly section in particular on the track, is a deep sand ‘wall’ followed by a powder whoop section, appropriately placed immediately before the finish line. Count on two things at Round 2 of the 2012 Outdoor motocross season at Freestone – the unbearable heat and a deeply rutted track. Hangtown offered fans a first glimpse into the 2012 season, but Freestone will be mark ‘game on’.
James Stewart was impressive with his dominatant ride at Hangtown. The question now is, whether it was a fluke or if Bubba is here to stay for the 2012 outdoor season. James has not raced a full outdoor series since 2008. Only one attempt ever since then, at the 2010 Unadilla MX national, forced James off the track due to heat exhaustion and out of shape physical conditioning. James has not raced Freestone MX in a very long time, it will be very exciting to see how he performs.
Blake Baggett has quickly set the pace in the 250f class with his impressive 1-1 finish at hangtown. back again was Baggett’s “Chupacabra” like performances … striking late in the each moto to claim the win as a come-from-behind winner. Baggett may once again be victorious at Freestone on Saturday. If he rides like he has shown the world he can, quite possibly only a mechanical favor could stop him. With the heat factor, pro mechanics will most certainly be taking precautions. Barcia cannot be ruled out as a major obstacle either. Dean Wilson, meanwhile, came into Hangtown with a “I am the Champ” confidence. As Dean was picking his way through the field early in Moto 1, he pulled off the track and headed back to the Rig. Later we would find out that his bad shoulder was injured, needing surgery. Though no official word has come if he will sit out Freestone, it looks like we wont see the defending champion at Freestone.
The women’s class will make its round 2 at FVreestone also. The class is stacked … with Ashley Fiolek racing her final season before retiring at the end of the year. Fiolek is racing to defend her number 1 plate. Jessica Patterson may be in the way though. Patterson won a sweet overall victory at Hangtown. Jessica wants that number 1 plate back on her new Rockstar Energy Suzuki. Meghan Rut ledge was a newer face on the top podium for motot 2, while Tarah Gieger placed 3rd overall.
Freestone, round 2, is going to make for some great outdoor motocross racing. Expect some exciting battles specific to the ‘great outdoors’ of motocross we have all come to love. I will be reporting LIVE for Chronic MX at Freestone.
Stay tuned to http://www.facebook.com/ChronicMotoX (ChronicMX’s Facebook) for daily race news reports and updates.
See you at the track! BRAAPPP! Reporting for Chronic MX, I’m RD4Ever.
