Pro Diaries: 2006 / 2007 Season Vancouver Supercross – Race Report – Ryan Clark – Dirt Rider Magazine

For the second consecutive weekend, the Amp’d Mobile FIM World Supercross Championship returned to Canada, only this time it was to the west coast city of Vancouver. The new location brought warmer weather, many more local riders and another action packed Saturday night. The downside to this event is that the track surface is built of “glacial till”, which is basically sand, and clay mixed with a plenitude of sizable rocks. This was one of the most unique Supercross races I have ever ridden.Pre-race: The week between Toronto and Vancouver was relatively uneventful. Jiri was home in California and put in some good practice and training sessions. I was unable to ride due to the heel injury I suffered in Friday practice at Toronto. I spent most of the week in therapy trying to get the swelling, bruising and pain to subside enough to be comfortable riding in Vancouver. Our transport driver, Rick, arrived in Vancouver on Wednesday after four straight days of driving the Penske rental van across the northern United States. Saturday practice: Both Jiri and I need to work on our practice qualification times, as neither of us were able to run at our usual pace throughout the two twenty minute sessions. This would relegate us both to dismal gate selection for our heat races.Heat One: Jiri had a lackluster start in the first heat race but went to work early and made some aggressive passes. The track was unusually difficult to pass on, due to extremely slick and rocky dirt, which made changing lines challenging. The top nine advance from the heat, but Jiri was only able to muster 11th. He would have to return for the dreaded LCQ.Heat Two: I got a good jump off the gate but bobbled a bit around the first turn. At the end of the first lap I was around tenth, but made a pass in the whoops along with two more later in the lap. When all was said and done, I finished up in 7th, which was enough to move on to the main feature.LCQ: With only two riders advancing from the LCQ, the pressure was on Jiri to get up front early. He had a good jump out of the hole but went immediately sideways when he crossed over the gate. Mired deep in the pack, he was making aggressive passes and quickly moving forward. On lap three, while tripling out of a tricky rhythm section, a rider just ahead of him crashed while Jiri was still airborne. Upon landing, he clipped the downed rider and shot off the course and into and oncoming lane of traffic. After turning around and reentering the track he was at a huge deficit and ran out of time. Jiri’s night was over.Main Event: I was on the far inside gate for the main and felt really good about my chances of emerging with a good start. Unfortunately, Nathan Ramsey outgunned me at the gate drop and pinched my line so that I had to drop back and follow him into the first turn. I was 17th at the end of the first lap, but I knew that the track would be deteriorating quickly and mistakes would be made that I could capitalize on. I made my way up inside the top 15 within a lap and seemed to have some solid forward momentum. About five laps in I was still riding good but made a costly mistake. While exiting one of the big bowl turns leading up to the triple I dabbed my right foot on the ground at the same time my rear wheel lost traction. When it caught traction it came back to the inside and ran over my already fragile heel. At that point I had to ease up a bit and that just led to more mistakes. A couple of laps later I regrouped and began yet another charge forward, but the damage was already done. I managed to finish out the main event in 14th, which is a far cry from my expectations.Summary: Jiri was extremely disappointed with his weekend. Although he was riding well, his starts were terrible. This was ultimately his downfall, but he now has a month before Anaheim to work hard and come out swinging. I am indifferent about my results. On one hand, I was just happy just to be able to compete and score some points. I do not believe that I did any additional damage to my heel, so now I can fully recuperate and get back to 100% before Anaheim. I am also in good position in points, currently sitting 10th. Jiri and I have a lot of work to do this month and will waste no time in getting to it.Thank you to everyone for your continued support. Team Solitaire marches on.Team Solitaire/Kingdom/FLY Racing Honda is an independently owned and operated professional Supercross and Motocross race team based in Phoenix, AZ. Our 2007 marketing partners include: FLY Racing, Kingdom Clothing, American Honda, Dragon Optical, WPS, Dubach Racing Exhaust, RideNow.com, Ohlins by Coppersmith, Hoy-Fox Toyota, Michelin, Vortex, Team Hawg Racing, ASV, Coachseiji.com, Dirt Pro, Polisport Plastics, Enjoy Mfg., Ride Engineering, Boyesen, Pivot Works, Ready Filter, Sano Systems, Twenty20, Honda Pro Oils and Chemicals, RK Chain, Excel, Group D, DC Auto Wraps, Champion Tool Storage, Motion Pro, OGIO, Ron Davis Radiators, Crank Works, Hot Rods, CP Pistons, Barnett, Sidi Boots, RPM Science, Brembo, Pro Grip, Hammerhead, USA Sport, Cytosport, Lakai, NGK Spark Plugs, IMS, Rocky Mountain Bicycles.http://www.teamsolitaire.com/