125 Dream Race Hangtown

When MX Sports announced the Outdoor National schedule they released the dates for rounds that would have two stroke exhibition races before the motos would start. I was pumped on this but nervous at the same time! Last year the Hangtown 125 dream race was the start of a 12 month run of bull shit injuries and I was finally healthy. I was given the opportunity to race Dean Potts Bonanza Plumbing KTM 125 for a few select rounds as well as his 300sx at the Glen Helen National race.

There was a lot of Hype about this years 125 race because you had legends like Ryan Villopoto, Will Hahn, David Pingree, Jimmy Albertson, Shaun Palmer, last years winner Robbie Wageman, and the hottest amateur racer on the market Aiden Tijero all set to race this years event. I honestly didn’t even put myself in the mix with these dudes I just wanted to get through the race have fun and put last years event behind me. The race is a exhibition event MX Sports or the AMA doesn’t run the event so to be honest “which I am” The Dirt Diggers did a terrible job organizing the event, I signed up online and heard nothing as far as a conformation, but got a call from Davey Coombs a few days before leaving letting me know that he was on the case and would be getting me a spot on the gate. Turned out the link to the sign up wasn’t working. Once I got to the event it was a $50 entry with 100% pay back that I never got because they never even posted results.

Lets get back to the positives here! We got a practice after tech inspection Friday and the track was rough from all the amateur racing. I had such a great time and my bike was working killer so I was excited to race Saturday. There is really nothing like the morning of a Outdoor National especially when it’s round 1. The smell of race gas, the track looks amazing and people are hyped. We got a 5 lap practice in the morning then immediately following practice we would line up for out 4 lap exhibition race. Practice went well I was a little tight but I’m 37 years old so I guess that’s to be expected. We drew our chips for gate pic and I drew a decent pic considering last years was gate 40 “Thanks Donny Emler” The Gate dropped and we were off! Villopoto was just to the right of me and before I knew it Pingree came a across my front wheel so quick I had to lift and that’s all it took! I was buried in like 15th and quickly knew I wasn’t going to be in the top 5! I ended up just taking a deep breath and circulated the Hangtown circuit enjoying racing a 125 in front a huge crowd on a National Track. When I crossed the Finish line I really wanted to know who won! My money was on Aiden Tijero and I was stoked to see it was him up on top of that podium with Villopto getting 2nd, and Hahn 3rd.

Like I said earlier I never got official results and couldn’t find them anywhere, but to top it off the top three riders didnt even get a trophy. So when I tried to find the promoter late Saturday to get both he dodged me like I was a dodge ball at 4th grade recess. I had fun, I’d do it again next year, but don’t take it to serious because it is just a filler for the program. We could use more laps, more organizing from the AMA or promoter with transponders and the public wants to see some action on the live feed. With all that being said Thank you MX Sports, Davey Coombs and all involved making this rad events to remind the industry we need two strokes racing at a high level. It’s fun when a event let’s us old guys race and putting an amazing talent like Aiden Tijero on the stage to show the industry he deserves a ride on a factory team very soon. My next race is Glen Helen on the Bonanza Plumbing 300sx for another exhibition two stroke race.