Qualcomm Stadium - San Diego, CA (February 9th, 2008) - The 2008 AMA Supercross Series marched on this weekend with its last stop of the year to the Golden State. San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium has long been a highlight of the tour, and with 64,251 fans in attendance, there was no shortage of action both in the pits and on the track.
Bob Kiniry has been gaining momentum all season, creeping his way closer and closer to the front of the pack. He started off with solid qualification times and was ready for the races to begin.
Lites Heat Two: Bob had a solid ride in the heat, but a few early mistakes relegated him to eighth, which would not give him a great gate pick for the main event.
Lites Main Event: Bob has proven time and again that he is a great starter. He had his work cut out for him, though, as he was not left with a great pick due to his heat finish. Despite that, he rocketed out of the gate and looked to be mid-pack entering the first corner. He seemed to bounce off a few riders and somehow emerged in fifth. He wasted no time picking off two riders in the next two corners and was into third. Behind him, current points leader Ryan Dungey was hot on his heels. Bob fought off several pass attempts before Dungey made a mistake in the whoops and Bob rode away. He had his sights set on Thomas Hahn in second, and at one point looked to be mounting an attack. Hahn crept away in the closing laps but Bob maintained a comfortable gap on Brett Metcalfe in fourth. Bob captured the first podium finish of his young career, also giving Team Solitaire/MB1/Kingdom Honda its first podium as well.
Ryan Clark: I was hoping to turn things around in San Diego, the sight of my first ever top ten finish way back in 1996. I felt comfortable with the track and posted some decent lap times during qualification. I was excited to the get the night underway.
Supercross Heat Two: I spun a bit out of the gate but still held strong into the first corner and emerged in seventh. I was riding well and felt much more comfortable than I have thus far in the season. On lap six I made a mistake and got into some tuff-blocks, allowing three riders by and moving me out of qualification position. On the final lap, I was right on Nathan Ramsey and Josh Summey, looking for any opening that presented itself. With three corners left I went for a pass on Ramsey and we came together hard in an off camber corner. The contact knocked Nathan down and I stalled my bike. I kicked frantically but could not get going in time to preserve ninth. The move was questionable on my part, but it was the final transfer position and I really wanted it. On to the LCQ yet again.
LCQ: I had a horrible start in the LCQ, but somehow I snuck around the outside of the first corner and emerged third. Jeff Alessi was out front and Ramsey was again just ahead in second. I closed the gap only to lose time the next lap. I finished within a second Alessi but wound up third, one spot shy of the transfer. My night would end as the recipient of the RacerX Gas Card, an award for the first rider not to qualify for the main event.
Summary: Bob jumped into ninth in points with his impressive third place finish. He has one more event next weekend in Houston before the series moves to the East Region, where Team Solitaire/MB1/Kingdom Honda will be represented by Kyle Partridge. Bob's post race interviews and podium speech summarized the emotion that he felt after finally attaining something he has worked so hard to accomplish. Congratulations to Bob for his amazing ride!
Other Notes:Check out Bob Kiniry's Monday Morning Conversation over at www.racerxill.com. The direct link to the interview is: http://www.racerxill.com/articles/detail/2941/monday-conversation-i-bobby-kiniry.aspxOur very own JR Boyd (mechanic of Bob Kiniry) was selected as the "top tech" for the weekend's event. JR does an excellent job spinning wrenches as well as representing the team and our marketing partners. Congratulations JR!
Team Solitaire/MB1 Kingdom Honda is a privately owned professional Supercross and Motocross race team based in Phoenix, AZ. Our 2008 marketing partners include: TeamSolitaire.com, 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, HoyFox.com, 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.