Lakewood Results
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (June 27, 2010) – Lakewood, Colo. was the site of the Toyota Trucks Thunder Valley National which was round five of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship. The Thunder Valley Motocross Park is among the newest tracks on the circuit, with its first national event held just five years ago. The facility holds the distinction of being the only outdoor national track to hold races at night, in 2008 and 2009. This year’s race was run in natural light in accordance with the normal event schedule. Thunder Valley Motocross Park is 5,450 feet above sea-level, by far the highest of any track on the circuit. In years past a major challenge for the tuners was correctly jetting carburetors for the thin air, but the 2010 Yamaha YZ450F motorcycles ridden by Josh Grant and Justin Brayton now have electronic fuel injection (EFI). The EFI solves the jetting issue, however, the elevation is still a major concern for the riders. Motocross is among the most physically demanding sports in the world at normal elevations, it is even more challenging a mile above sea-level.
The elevation did not seem to affect Josh Grant. After qualifying on the pole, Grant began the first moto in seventh position. By the second lap he had moved into third, and on lap five he took the lead from the current series point leader. Grant lead the remaining 11 laps unchallenged for his first moto win of the 2010 season. Justin Brayton began the race near the back of the 40-rider field and rode a determined race, eventually making his way to 13th. “I got a decent start which is what I needed,” said Grant on the victory podium to the crowd and the SPEED television cameras. “I want to thank Joe Gibbs, Muscle Milk, Toyota and Yamaha, all of our hard work is paying off.”
Unfortunately for Grant, the second moto start was a disaster, with him on the ground in 40th place. He remounted and began an inspired charge to the front, passing riders in groups as he advanced. In only three laps he had passed more than half of the field finding himself in 18th. Just after the halfway mark Grant was amazingly in the top-10, finishing the moto in 10th position. Justin Brayton started in 10th place, and finished the moto in ninth. Grant’s 1-10 moto scores gave him fourth place for the day, while Brayton’s 13-9 finishes earned him 10th overall. Grant retains sixth in series points.
SPEED broadcast the action from Lakewood last night (same day coverage) at 11:00 p.m. (EST). The next race of the series will be July 3 at Red Bud Track and Trail in Buchanan, Mich. The original broadcast from Buchanan will be live coverage beginning at 3:30 p.m. (EST) on NBC.
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