Anaheim, CA
February 2nd, 2008
The final Anaheim round of 2008 was put to bed this past Saturday night in front of 45,050 excited spectators. The weather was favorable, as the rain held off until early Sunday morning. There was a great vibe on the weekend and we were all excited to hit the track.
Bob Kiniry had moved in 15th place in points after his 11th place finish last weekend in the San Francisco mud. He was looking to improve himself both in the main event and in the point standings with a strong ride to send off Anaheim.
Lites Heat Race One: Bob started off strong but had some trouble on the fifth lap and was forced on the LCQ.
LCQ: Bob wasted no time getting to the front in the LCQ, taking a massive holeshot from way outside and leading the opening lap. He relinquished the lead to Thomas Hahn, but finished out in second position and moved on the all-important main event.
Main Event: Bob was again far outside on the start, and although he didn't replicate his LCQ holeshot, he did position himself well just outside the top ten. He made quick work of several riders and was around ninth position and moving quickly. Around halfway, he was attempting an inside pass when he lost the front end. He remounted quickly, but lost several positions in the interim. He regained the positions he lost as the main event came to a close, finishing an impressive ninth.
Summary: Bob moved himself into 13th in the point standings with his ninth place main event finish. He continues to improve his speed every weekend and his starts are automatic. With a good start, Bob has the speed to be top five if not podium. He will have another chance at this in San Diego next weekend.
Ryan Clark: I was looking forward to the race and having a dry race surface. I thought the track was challenging, as it rutted up pretty bad in practice. I had a hard crash in practice when I landed on the bike of a rider who had ejected over the triple. I augured into the ground head first, but my FLY Racing helmet did its job and I walked away with nothing but a broken visor.
Supercross Heat Race One: I was lined up near the inside of the gate and had a great jump and perfect shift toward the first turn. I rounded the corner in second, but bobbled in the second turn and lost three positions. I was being apprehensive, not jumping a double-triple rhythm section. In the opening three laps I was passed every time I failed to jump the section. By halfway I was battling with Jason Thomas for the final transfer. It looked like we would shoot it out for ninth, but Tim Ferry was coming up quick and got by both of us pretty quickly. We were out of the running for a transfer.
Supercross LCQ: I had a great gate pick and another solid start in the LCQ. I rounded the turn in second place again, but in the second corner I was pummeled from behind and hit the deck hard. My pointer finger on my right hand got caught on the bars as I crashed and it felt like it dislocated. It must have been the adrenaline, but I remounted quickly and charged on despite the bleakness of the situation. I rode well, but the pain in my finger was getting a little worse making it tough to grab the front brake. I finished seventh, quite a ways out of qualification.
Summary: I had my finger x-rayed both at the track and then on Monday at my doctor, and it looks like I escaped with just soft tissue damage. I had acupuncture and am doing therapy this week in hopes of making it back in time for San Diego this coming weekend.
Thanks to everyone for your continued support. Hope to see a lot of you this weekend in San Diego in what we are hoping will be an even more successful weekend.
All the best,
Ryan Clark
Team Solitaire/MB1/Kingdom Honda
Team Solitaire/MB1 Kingdom Honda is a privately owned professional Supercross and Motocross race team based in Phoenix, AZ. Our 2008 marketing partners include: MB1 Suspension, Kingdom Clothing, American Honda, FLY Racing, Dragon Optical, Pro Honda Oils and Chemicals, DRD Exhaust, Vortex, Factory Effex, ASV, Dunlop, WPS, Sidi, Rockwell Watches, DUS, OGIO, Applied, QTM/Brembo, RK Chain, EXCEL Rims, Hoy-Fox Toyota, Boyesen, Hinson, Ready Filter, CoachSeiji.com, Cycra Plastic, Element Sports, Sano Systems, AIMMD, Pivot Works, Hot Cams, Hot Rods, Champion Tool Storage, Crank Works, CP Pistons, Cometic Gaskets, Ron Davis Racing Radiators, DC Auto Wraps, Leatt Brace, Dirt Pro, JM Collision Team Hawg Racing and Group D Manufacturing.