2014 Arlington SX Practice Report
Monster Energy Supercross has moved cross-country for the seventh stop of the 2014 season at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This weekend marks the start of the East Coast swing and the beginning of the 250 East Coast Regional championship, where an entirely new field of young racers will vie for a title. Although many proclaim this part of the country for its sticky, traction-filled clay, tonight’s course may be the most hard-packed soil of the season. The dirt has been kept inside the stadium for an extended period of time and the heat inside has sucked all of the moisture from it. Riders are searching for traction in the numerous 90-degree corners and any mistake could have massive consequences. More than a few riders slammed into the rock-hard dirt throughout practice, and this could increase when the competition actually begins.
The biggest story of the weekend is Chad Reed’s determination to line up for the night show. Last weekend in San Diego, the TwoTwo Motorsports team owner/captain/lone rider suffered a vicious last-lap crash during the main event and is riding with a long list of injuries, including broken vertebras and an issue with his chest. After sitting out the first timed practice, Reed clocked two laps and did the obstacles, but pulled off early and walked away from the track. Reed withdrew from the night after practice.
250 Timed Qualifying
The final practice for the 250 class was intense, as three riders battled for the top of the chart. GEICO Honda’s Blake Wharton jumped to the front early in the session, but had quick company Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rookie Adam Cianciarulo. Both riders posted lap times that put the at the top of the chart for a moment, but late in the session, Martin Davalos upped the pace and edged teammate Cianciarulo.
The 250 East Coast class is known for privately funded riders attaining success, and the top-ten times indicated they will once again be a factor. Gavin Faith piloted his TiLube-backed Honda to fifth overall despite a mid-session crash, while Factory Metal Works/Club MX’s Vince Friese notched a solid sixth place. JAB Motorsports’ Matt Lemoine completed the top-ten, with riders from third to tenth separated by less than a second.
250 Timed Qualifying Results
1. Martin Davalos 46.414
2. Adam Cianciarulo 46.585
3. Blake Wharton 47.007
4. Blake Baggett 47.083
5. Gavin Faith 47.607
6. Vince Friese 47.656
7. Justin Bogle 47.690
8. Jeremy Martin 47.757
9. Matt Bisceglia 47.773
10. Matt Lemoine 47.877
450 Timed Qualifying
The track crew used every available inch of the AT&T Stadium floor to make tonight’s course, but riders are blitzing around the layout at an incredible rate of speed. Four riders in the 450 class dropped into the 45-second lap time range, and every rider in the top-ten was below 47-seconds. Ryan Villopoto, James Stewart, and Ken Roczen all spent time on the top of the board at some point in the final session, but a late lap by Roczen gave the Red Bull KTM rookie the spot at the final flag. Stewart was .123 seconds off of Roczen’s pace and claimed second, while Villopoto timed .429 second back. Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia edged in to the top four late in the session, while Justin Brayton nabbed fifth on his JGRMX/Toyota/NFab/Yamaha.
450 Timed Qualifying Results
1. Ken Roczen 45.469
2. James Stewart 45.592
3. Ryan Villopoto 45.898
4. Justin Barcia 45.980
5. Justin Brayton 46.126
6. Ryan Dungey 46.195
7. Josh Hill 46.466
8. Broc Tickle 46.533
9. Andrew Short 46.796
10. Eli Tomac 46.972
12►
The post Roczen & Davalos Quickest In Qualifying | 2014 Arlington SX Practice Report appeared first on Transworld Motocross.