GEICO Honda News Release
BUCHANAN, Mich. (July 2) – GEICO Honda rider Wil Hahn had a successful return to racing Saturday at the RedBud National in the Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championship.
Hahn, who injured his back in the Supercross season opener in January, finished eighth and sixth for an overall finish of sixth in his first race back from injury.
“It’s a weight off my shoulders,” Hahn said. “I haven’t raced in a really long time. It’s been a long road with a lot of tough times. To get this first race over and done with, I couldn’t be happier.”
The series now takes a weekend off, so Hahn said he’s going into the break with a short list of issues to work on.
“I’m tired. The intensity was hard out there,” said Hahn, who earned the holeshot in the second moto. “I’ve got some stuff to work on, but I’ve got two weeks until the next round. I’m happy to go home and do my homework. It’s a good feeling leaving here with two solid motos, especially after being off the bike for so long.
“It’s been a long road, but I couldn’t be happier for the GEICO Honda team, my trainer, and everybody who stuck with me over the last few months.”
For Hahn’s teammates, Justin Barcia and Eli Tomac, it was a disastrous points day.
Barcia started the first moto strong getting the holeshot and leading the first couple of laps with blistering times. But on one of the big step-ups, Barcia landed in a soft spot on the track and went over the bars, losing about 10 spots.
“It was a great holeshot,” Barcia said. “But I went down in a spot that sucked me up and threw me over the bars. I got up and fought my way back through the pack and then I damaged my wheel and did another big endo.”
He finished 30th in that first moto.
In Moto 2, Barcia’s kill switch wire malfunctioned at the gate and he didn’t complete one lap.
“I was wanting to go out there and get some redemption,” Barcia said. “I was feeling good. I did the sight lap and the bike just shut off. It’s a bummer.”
Tomac’s day ended earlier than Barcia’s did. During the second practice session, Tomac went down. While scrambling back onto his bike, Tomac was clipped hard by another rider. After being examined at the track, Tomac was sent to a local hospital complaining of chest and shoulder pain. Fortunately, x-rays were negative and he returned to the facility after the first moto.
“I’m sore, but I’m all good,” Tomac said. “I’m actually feeling a lot better. If it would have happened in the first practice I probably would have been able to race (in the second moto). I just feel lucky I didn’t get injured.”
Tomac walks away from RedBud still in fourth place in the season standings, but he faces a massive 66-point gap to third-place rider Tyla Rattray. Barcia is seventh, six points behind Broc Tickle.
GEICO Honda’s Lance Vincent finished 17th overall with a 10th place and 33rd place finish. In the second moto, he suffered a scary looking crash but was not seriously injured.
Kevin Windham, who is riding a 450 for the American Honda team, finished 12th and sixth for an overall finish of ninth on the day.
“It was very frustrating at times today,” Windham said. “But I’m proud that we came back strong and rode harder in the second moto than the first.
“The RedBud fans were awesome as always and it was a joy to race here again.”
The Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championship takes a week off before heading to Minnesota for the July 16 Spring Creek National.
