STOPWATCH NATIONALS: GLEN HELEN’S OUTDOOR PREVIEW

MotoFactory · 16 мая

Thursday, May 15, kicked off the first of the four-day Glen Helen MotoFest presented by Troy Lee Designs. The Stopwatch National was the first of the MotoFest’s two main attractions, the Thursday event pitting everyone against anyone in an open two-moto format for a $30,000 purse. Two-strokes, four-strokes, 150cc, 250cc, 450cc or even electric power, it was a simple run-what-ya-brung gate that paid out all the way down to 20th place. The call of the cash, or perhaps simply the benefit of getting some genuine race-practice in the week before the start of the Pro Motocross Championship, drew over 50 racers for the Stopwatch National, which resulted in a crowded field, and a double-stacked gate. Fortunately racers got to spread out on the expansive Glen Helen Raceway National track, with its rolling jumps replaced by sharper lips and bigger hits for MotoFest.

Colt Nichols was among the top pros to turn out for the Stopwatch National, and the HEP Twisted Tea Suzuki rider helped himself to both moto wins, a pair of holeshot bonuses and the lion’s share of the pro cash purse, walking away with close to $11,000 in the end. Not a bad Thursday. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM), Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy GasGas), both aboard 250cc four-strokes, were among factory riders to try their hand at Moto Fest, alongside top amateur talent such as Team Green Kawasaki’s Enzo Temmerman, Pro privateer standouts Derek Kelley, Grand Harlan and off-road racer Dare Demartile with Beta USA.

Out of this very mixed bag of entries, it was Juju Beaumer and Enzo Zimmerman who joined Nichols on the overall podium, with Yamaha-mounted Derek Kelley and Dilan Schwartz rounding out the top-five. Ryder DiFrancesco missed out on the overall podium after being forced to retire from the first moto, but turned in a strong runner-up finish in the moto. It only added up to 21st overall, one position shy of a cash payout.

Pro racer Colt Nichols jumps a Suzuki dirt bike at Glen Helen Raceway.

Jump faces got a little extra lip for MotoFest. Nichols airs it out over the massive step-over before the start straight.

Nichols actually nabbed three holeshots on Thursday, the first moto getting a red flag in the first lap. Riders re-gridded and once the gate was dropped for the restart, it was nearly a carbon copy (minus the crashes that brought out the red flag) with Nichols, Enzo Temmerman, Julien Beaumer and Ryder DiFrancesco out front. Nichols was hounded by Temmerman in the first moto, who wasn’t willing to let the #45 out of his sights, but Nichols was never seriously headed, sailing to the first-moto win. Temmerman, Beaumer, Schwartz and Kelley made up the Moto 1 top-five.

In the second moto, things looked very similar, but this time DiFrancesco remained in the mix and held a strong second-place position to the checkered flag, followed by fellow 250cc rider Beaumer. Kelley and Temmerman rounded out the top-five in Moto 2.

Colt Nichols credits his 450cc horsepower for allowing him to keep DiFrancesco, Beaumer and Temmerman at bay all day. “I was lucky I was on a 450,” said Nichols. “I had the advantage going up the hills, I was kinda doggin’ these guys right there, but they were riding really, really good. It’s fun racing the younger guys and just mixing it up, getting gate drops was really cool. Nice to go 1-1.”

When asked what it took to compensate for the power difference, Juju Beaumer’s reply was simple enough, “You gotta send it,” the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider said. “The track’s slick, and rough. You gotta be careful in areas but where you can push, you gotta push. We made good do of it and I’m happy with the day.” Beaumer’s 3-3 was good enough for second overall, and a cash payout of $5000.

Derek Kelley powered his Yamaha to fourth overall with a 5-4 on the day.

As for Ryder D, runner-up in the second moto, the Rockstar Energy GasGas rider talked about what went wrong in the first moto. “The first start I ended up going down and the restart I got into, like, third, and then I landed here off this triple and my whole rear brake went away. The rear brake actually completely snapped off, so I had no rear brake at all. I ended up pulling in. It sucks but I put in a good second moto. The 450s are tough to beat up the hills, but everywhere else I’d get ’em. It was super fun riding with Colt and I’m looking forward to next weekend.”

Although he landed one position shy of a cash payout, DiFrancesco was happy to get some gate drops in prior to the start of the Pro Motocross Championship. After being out with injury for much of the Monster Energy Supercross Championship, the GasGas factory rider savored the track time. “I haven’t raced since San Diego [Supercross] and you can’t beat a gate drop once you go racing. This was perfect. I got one and a half motos in today and it was great to warm up for next weekend.”

ProAm racer Enzo Temmerman jumping a green dirt bike at Glen Helen

Is that Ando? Nope… notice the tucked-in jersey. Enzo Temmerman finished third overall on Thursday, and will be back for more on Saturday where he plans to race both 250 and 450 classes.

Enzo Temmerman, Team Green Kawasaki’s rising star, was doing his best impression of Jason Anderson, running the #21 on his KX450. You’ll also often find Temmerman on a KX250, but Pro-Am ace opted for the big bike at Glen Helen. “I practice on my 450 a lot,” Temmerman said. “It’s my favorite bike to ride. Come out here it’s the Open class so it’s a little bit of a disadvantage on the 250 so we decided to race the 450.” Look for Temmerman again on Saturday where he will be taking on all four motos, contesting both the 250 and 450 classes.

Glen Helen Moto Fest Stopwatch National Results

There’s still more to come throughout the weekend at the Glen Helen MotoFest Presented by Troy Lee Designs:

Friday, May 16: Vintage Show, Swap Meet, and”Baja Drags”

Saturday, May 17: MOTOFEST PRO SHOWCASE SHOWDOWN – Catch the live stream on the Motocross Action YouTube channel

Sunday, May 18: Amateur MotoFest Grand Prix