For the third and final time of the year the AMA Monster Energy Supercross series made Angles Stadium its home. Once again, a sell-out crowd packed the stadium for round five of the sixteen race series.
Both Hooters-Moto XXX backed riders rode well throughout practice with Eric Sorby leading the way in ninth position. Antonio Balbi was not too far behind and both riders would end up racing together in the second heat of the night.
Antonio Balbi started the heat race off on the right foot as the Brazilian rounded turn one in third place. Eric Sorby started just inside the top 10 and immediately set out to catch his teammate. Balbi was riding well toward the front of the pack holding down the third place spot after the half way mark. Over the next two laps a few riders were able to slip past Balbi relegating him to sixth. Sorby was able to catch up to his teammate on the sixth lap and the two circled the track side by side to the checkered flag. Antonio was credited with sixth place and Eric seventh as the two headed back to the truck to ready themselves for the main event.
When the gate dropped for the main event, both Eric Sorby and Antonio Balbi charged into the sandy first turn in the middle of the pack. As the first lap came to an end the teammates were still riding together in 10th and 11th, respectively. Unfortunately, a mistake by Sorby on the second lap saw him drop all the way back to 20th place as Balbi inherited the 10th position. For the next few laps, Sorby played catch-up and on lap five he made his way passed four riders and up to 15th place. Meanwhile Balbi was still riding well, threatening to break into the top 10 when a slight miscue before the finish line saw him come up short splitting his chin on the handlebars and losing control of his bike. He quickly picked his bike back up and got going again only losing a few positions. Just before the half way mark came out Sorby was able to slip by two more riders and move into 13th place. By this point in the race the field had spread itself out so far the gap to 12th was too much to overcome and Eric would have to settle for 13th place. Still riding with a bloodied chin, Antonio was able to complete all of the laps but would finish 19th for the night.
Next weekend the series heads down the five freeway and into Qualcomm Stadium for the sixth round of the series. With a 70,000 person capacity and an always pumped up crowd, the San Diego round is one the best on the circuit and one not to be missed. The Hooters girls will be out signing autographs and taking pictures all afternoon so be sure to make it by the Hooters-Moto XXX truck one last time before the series heads east. 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.