The GEICO Powersports/AMSOIL/Honda team rolled into the Mile High City with a new rider under the tent in WMA front-runner Vicki Golden. As a "replacement rider" for Trey Canard, Golden will be competing in the final part of the WMA series as well as the X Games for the AMSOIL sponsored team.
Series rookie Golden was blown away by the support offered to her by the team.
“It was really good,” Golden said. “Everyone was nice and welcoming to me, and they helped me out with everything that I
needed. They were all very welcoming, and it was a new experience having a full-time mechanic looking after every detail. It was definitely awesome. He’s a great mechanic, and I couldn’t complain about the day.”
The 16-year-old was second fastest in practice despite having no time on her new race bike prior to race day. In the races, Golden was fourth in the first moto, then led for a period of time in moto two before finishing third.
“Knowing that I did just as well, if not better, in this race than I had before, and it was my first time ever leading a WMA race, given my lack of time on the bike, it really helps my confidence and I can’t wait for my next race,” Golden said. “It’s a great start, and I know I have more time to get comfortable, and I’ll get better from here.”
Golden returns to action with the WMA series in Washougal on July 25.
In the 250 class, another rookie in Justin Barcia had a good day at altitude, despite a bad start in moto one, finishing ninth. But in the second moto, Barcia started closer to the front, only to
inherit the lead when Jake Weimer went down.
“Yeah, when I got out front, I tried to pull out a lead as best I could, and Weimer was riding really well, so he caught up to me and passed me,” Barcia said. “I tried to stay with him, but I made a few mistakes, but second was pretty good.”
Barcia hung on for second, giving him fourth overall.
Brett Metcalfe started up front in both motos, but had a problem seeing after all of his tear-offs came off on the second turn in moto one, eventually finishing seventh. But in the second moto, Metcalfe ended up in a seven-rider battle for third.
“The second moto, I got another good start, and then I worked my way up into fourth,” Metcalfe said. “Searle and I were having a good battle, and then I finally made a move on him, and I tried to put a little time on him, and then I spun out in a turn and made a mistake. That allowed him to get back by me, and I had to find another way around him again. I finally got past him again, and that same lap he put a pretty good move on me and pushed me out wide, and Dungey got underneath me, so I lost two spots, and a couple turns later Pourcel was on me and he went by me too. I got swallowed up pretty good and was in sixth, and on the last lap, I made a move on Pourcel and I was just a bit angry from going backward, so I got back into fifth, and that was it.”
Blake Wharton ran up front the entire first moto, ending up fourth. He started near the front again in moto two, but got caught up in an on track incident and was taken out by another rider. He would finish 11th in moto two and eighth overall.
From here, the GEICO Powersports/AMSOIL/Honda team heads to Buchanan, Mich. for round six of the championship at infamous Red Bud.
Until then, we'll see you at the races.
Series rookie Golden was blown away by the support offered to her by the team.
“It was really good,” Golden said. “Everyone was nice and welcoming to me, and they helped me out with everything that I
needed. They were all very welcoming, and it was a new experience having a full-time mechanic looking after every detail. It was definitely awesome. He’s a great mechanic, and I couldn’t complain about the day.”The 16-year-old was second fastest in practice despite having no time on her new race bike prior to race day. In the races, Golden was fourth in the first moto, then led for a period of time in moto two before finishing third.
“Knowing that I did just as well, if not better, in this race than I had before, and it was my first time ever leading a WMA race, given my lack of time on the bike, it really helps my confidence and I can’t wait for my next race,” Golden said. “It’s a great start, and I know I have more time to get comfortable, and I’ll get better from here.”
Golden returns to action with the WMA series in Washougal on July 25.
In the 250 class, another rookie in Justin Barcia had a good day at altitude, despite a bad start in moto one, finishing ninth. But in the second moto, Barcia started closer to the front, only to
inherit the lead when Jake Weimer went down.“Yeah, when I got out front, I tried to pull out a lead as best I could, and Weimer was riding really well, so he caught up to me and passed me,” Barcia said. “I tried to stay with him, but I made a few mistakes, but second was pretty good.”
Barcia hung on for second, giving him fourth overall.
Brett Metcalfe started up front in both motos, but had a problem seeing after all of his tear-offs came off on the second turn in moto one, eventually finishing seventh. But in the second moto, Metcalfe ended up in a seven-rider battle for third.
“The second moto, I got another good start, and then I worked my way up into fourth,” Metcalfe said. “Searle and I were having a good battle, and then I finally made a move on him, and I tried to put a little time on him, and then I spun out in a turn and made a mistake. That allowed him to get back by me, and I had to find another way around him again. I finally got past him again, and that same lap he put a pretty good move on me and pushed me out wide, and Dungey got underneath me, so I lost two spots, and a couple turns later Pourcel was on me and he went by me too. I got swallowed up pretty good and was in sixth, and on the last lap, I made a move on Pourcel and I was just a bit angry from going backward, so I got back into fifth, and that was it.”
Blake Wharton ran up front the entire first moto, ending up fourth. He started near the front again in moto two, but got caught up in an on track incident and was taken out by another rider. He would finish 11th in moto two and eighth overall.
From here, the GEICO Powersports/AMSOIL/Honda team heads to Buchanan, Mich. for round six of the championship at infamous Red Bud.
Until then, we'll see you at the races.
