Pro Diary – Hooters-Moto XXX Tamer Supercross Round 8 Atlanta Race Report – Dirt Rider Magazine

With the wind and rain behind them the AMA Monster Energy Supercross series rolled into Atlanta, Georgia and Georgia Dome for the eighth round of the series. This round also marked the kick off of the seven race East Coast Lites division and the addition of two new members to the Hooters/Moto XXX team.Vernon McKiddie and Mitch Dougherty were the new kids on the track for the Hooters/Moto XXX Tamer race team and both riders started the season off by successfully qualifying into the evening program. Just after the Lites riders were Eric Sorby and Antonio Balbi Jr. who both easily qualified into the night’s events.Mitch Dougherty started the night off by lining up for the first Lites qualifier. This was Dougherty’s first ever Supercross race and he was hoping to get off on the right foot. Mitch rounded the first turn in 10th place and focused on putting in smooth laps. While he rode well Mitch would cross the line three spots shy of qualifying.Vernon McKiddie lined up for the second Lites qualifier of the night and just like his teammate rounded the first turn in the middle of the pack. Vernon’s time on the track would be short lived however, as he dropped the front end in the whoops section sending him over the bars and onto the side lines. McKiddie would get up uninjured but would head back to the truck early to regroup for the last chance qualifier later in the evening.Both Eric Sorby and Antonio Balbi Jr. lined up together in the first Supercross class heat race. The duo would enter the first rhythm section within qualifying position and proceed to put together some fast laps at the front of the pack. At the half way point of the race, Balbi was still riding well holding onto sixth place. The Atlanta track proved tough to pass on which led to Eric Sorby coming together with former Moto XXX rider Travis Preston. The contact bumped Sorby out of qualifying position and into the LCQ. Meanwhile, Antonio was all set to take the checkered flag and qualify to the main event when a last-turn block pass by another rider dropped Antonio to 10th place and .07 of a second from qualifying.Vernon McKiddie and Mitch Dougherty both took to the line for their final qualifying race of the night. Both riders got out of the gate quickly but got shuffled to the middle of the pack rounding the first turn. With only four laps to work with the teammates tried their best to work their way into qualifying position but would fall short. Dougherty would cross the line 7th followed by McKiddie in 9th.Eric Sorby and Antonio Balbi Jr. both started the LCQ inside the top 10 and like their teammates tried to work their way into qualifying position. Sorby, again battling with Preston, would cross the line in sixth place while Balbi would finish in 10th.Even though the event did not go as well as planned the team is looking forward to heading north next weekend. The RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana is the site for the ninth round of the series. Unfortunately the pits are closed this weekend but you can show your support for the team by cheering loudly when the Hooters/Moto XXX Hondas fly by! See you there!Moto XXX Tamer Racing is proudly supported by:
Hooters, Cumberland, Moto XXX, Tamer Racing, Perfex Corp, Akrapovic Exhaust, American Honda Motor Co., Race Tech Suspension, Pirelli Tires, Wiseco, Sidi Boots, O’Neal MX, Motion Pro, Ti Lube, Moto XXX Performance, Honda Genuine Parts, Pro Honda Oils & Chemicals, Enjoy Graphics, Deluge Sport, Vortex Sprockets and Bars, JD Jetting, Excel A60 Wheel Sets, RK Chains, Tamer Billet Starting Devices, VP Fuels, Mock Racing, ARC Levers, Honda Rider’s Club of America, Cometic Gaskets, Metaltek, Crower Power, Group D Pit Wear, Interlakes Sport Center, KG Clutch Factory, SDG USA, Polisport Plastics, Ogio, Ready Filter, Vortex Ignitions, Scott USA, Carbon Fiber Works, Bud Racing, Clutch Wipes Hand Cleaner.