Team Solitaire/Kingdom/FLY Racing Honda Event Update - Southwick - Dirt Rider Magazine

Team Solitaire/Kingdom/FLY RacingHonda Event Update
Southwick, MA
June 10th, 2007The 2007 AMA Motocross National Series rolled on this weekend to the small Northeastern town of Southwick, MA. Regarded as the most demanding track of the year, Southwick's notoriously deep sand and often unbearable temperatures make this event more difficult than any other single event in the series.For the Team Solitaire/Kinngdom/FLY Racing Honda squad, this event has been one of either great success or great failure. We have had some of our best results at Southwick, but also some horrendous crashes. Here is a look at this year's event from the seat of our Hondas.Ricky Renner:
Ricky set the bar high from the time he took to the track on Saturday. Being from Florida, he is accustomed to riding in the sand and has an effortless style that just works well in these conditions. Ricky was the sixth fastest after Saturday practice, and then backed it up on Sunday qualifying 12th. He was poised to have his best race of the year thus far.Moto One: From the drop of the gate, Ricky rode like a man possessed. From outside of the top ten he had quickly climbed up to seventh. But the sand gives way easy and it gave out on his front end sending him to the mat on lap three. After remounting outside the top twenty, it only took him a few laps to get back in the mix. By halfway he had re-passed Kyle Chisholm for 11th. Late in the race he experienced another hiccup which allowed a few riders back by, but he held on for 15th.Moto two: Ricky lined up far inside and kept it tight around the first corner to emerge right around tenth. He jockeyed for position early, but quickly settled in and began to move forward. At halfway he was around eighth, and things were looking good. Unfortunately, a minor mechanical problem would force a pit stop and slow his lap times tremendously. By the end of the race, he was back to 30th. But he showed that he has the pace to run up front and fight for top ten finishes.Ryan Clark
My practice went very well on Saturday, but not quite as well Sunday morning. This left me with a less-than-stellar gate pick for the afternoon motos.Moto One: I had a great jump but got pushed extremely wide in the first corner. After the first lap carnage I was still only in 35th with a lot of ground to make up. I moved forward, but my pace was off and I was having a hard time moving through traffic. By the end of the moto I was only able to climb to 20th position and earn one national point.Moto Two: I felt a lot better heading into the second moto and was eager to hit the track. I had a much better start this time, and by the end of the first lap I was up to 20th. Unfortunately, a rider behind me got out of control and his bike landed on my right arm and leg. I had to pull over for a moment and let the numbness go away before getting back on the track. After that I was back to nearly last again, but it was a long moto so I got back up to pace. On the final lap I made a pass into 20th, earning one additional point.Summary: Ricky rode amazing this weekend, mixing it up inside the top ten and riding with an aggression I have not yet seen from him. We are all hoping this marks the emergence of Ricky Renner in the pro ranks. He is a lot more comfortable and really feeling at home on his Honda CRF250R. I, on the other hand, was a little disappointed with my weekend. Although my leg and arm are bruised and cut, I am feeling good and will be fine to race at Budd's Creek next weekend. There are still a lot of motos left in the season, so we will continue to work hard and put in maximum effort every time we hit the track.Thank you to everyone for your continued support!Ryan Clark
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, HoyFox.com, Michelin, Vortex, Team Hawg Racing, ASV, Coachseiji.com, Dirt Pro, Polisport Plastics, Enjoy Mfg., Ride Engineering, Boyesen, Pivot Works, Ready Filter, Sano Systems, Twenty20, Pro Honda Oils & 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 Clutches, Sidi Boots, RPM Science, NGK Spark Plugs, QTM/Brembo, Pro Grip, Hammerhead, IMS Products, USA Sport, Cytosport, Cometic, Lakai and Fletcher Chiropractic.