Wharton Podiums in Phoenix SX
The second race of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season yielded a second straight podium finish for the GEICO Powersports/AMSOIL/Honda race team. This time it was AMA West 250 Lites rider Blake Wharton taking third place in Saturday's main event, boosting his rankings in the early points to third place overall.
"I felt really good," said Wharton, who led 12 of the 15 laps in the main event before falling to third place late in the race. "This was my first time leading laps in the West and the more laps you lead the better you get at it. I just fell off a little bit in the last few laps, just the smallest amount, but it was enough to let a few guys past me."
Teammates Kevin Windham and Trey Canard also recorded respectable finishes with Windham taking sixth in Supercross and Canard seventh in the AMA West 250 Lites class.
Canard's effort was exceptionally heroic as he suffered a severe foot injury in the time trial when another rider drove over his left foot as he planted it in a turn. After X-rays at the onsite medical center determined nothing was broken, Canard made it back to the Last Chance Qualifier where he made the field for the main event with a superb ride.
Windham battled traffic for most of the early part of the race and dropped as low as 11th at one point but the veteran rider picked his way back through the crowd during the second half of the race and closed the evening in sixth place. Overall, he's now fourth in the standings after two of 17 races.
"I rode the second half great. The second half is always harder but things just worked for me tonight. I just needed a better start and I would have had a much better finish."
The tour returns to Angels Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday.
AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series in Twin Cities
The AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series has returned from its Western swing in Utah for its annual trek to Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.
Team AMSOIL stars Robbie Malinoski and Andrew Johnstad will look to keep their winning momentum going. Both riders picked up wins at the AMSOIL Eagle River World Championships last weekend and Malinoski has podiumed in five straight races.
Racing begins tonight at 7:00 p.m. and opening ceremonies are scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Until then, we'll see you at the races.
"I felt really good," said Wharton, who led 12 of the 15 laps in the main event before falling to third place late in the race. "This was my first time leading laps in the West and the more laps you lead the better you get at it. I just fell off a little bit in the last few laps, just the smallest amount, but it was enough to let a few guys past me."Teammates Kevin Windham and Trey Canard also recorded respectable finishes with Windham taking sixth in Supercross and Canard seventh in the AMA West 250 Lites class.
Canard's effort was exceptionally heroic as he suffered a severe foot injury in the time trial when another rider drove over his left foot as he planted it in a turn. After X-rays at the onsite medical center determined nothing was broken, Canard made it back to the Last Chance Qualifier where he made the field for the main event with a superb ride.
Windham battled traffic for most of the early part of the race and dropped as low as 11th at one point but the veteran rider picked his way back through the crowd during the second half of the race and closed the evening in sixth place. Overall, he's now fourth in the standings after two of 17 races.
"I rode the second half great. The second half is always harder but things just worked for me tonight. I just needed a better start and I would have had a much better finish."
The tour returns to Angels Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday.
AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series in Twin Cities
The AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series has returned from its Western swing in Utah for its annual trek to Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.
Team AMSOIL stars Robbie Malinoski and Andrew Johnstad will look to keep their winning momentum going. Both riders picked up wins at the AMSOIL Eagle River World Championships last weekend and Malinoski has podiumed in five straight races.
Racing begins tonight at 7:00 p.m. and opening ceremonies are scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Until then, we'll see you at the races.
