Ryan Sipes' Day At Ironman Motocross | MX 2016

Ryan Sipes went 19-13 for 14th overall at round 12.

Ryan Sipes made his yearly start in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Series at the last round at Ironman MX after healing up from a finger injury he sustained earlier in the year. Ryan wished he could have done a few more races this year, but his injury took longer then he thought, so the only race he could prepare for was round 12 at Ironman. We will take you through Ryan's day from the first practice to the last lap of moto 2.

Ryan said that it was hard to get a clean lap in in the first practice because there were guys all over the place stopping through the deep sections of the track from the rain the previous days leading up to the race. Ryan turned a 2:37.239 on his 2nd lap for his fastest time. This put him in 10th place for the session.Photography by Rob Koy
In the 2nd timed practice Ryan turned a slower time of 2:40.120 as the track seemed to get some deep ruts. The section before the finish line was so deep from all the sand and sawdust that was pilled on the track that the riders had a tough time staying straight though that section. For the motos, the track crew scraped that section and made the track more rideable.Photography by Rob Koy
Team Sipes on the starting gate for moto 1. Ryan got the 10th gate pick and decided to line up to the right side as the first turn was a right turn then into a left off camber.Photography by Rob Koy
Ryan said he got a horrible start in moto 1 when he wheelied off of the start and ended up in the 17th position after the first lap. Ryan thinks that he didn’t put the starting hook low enough for the start at Ironman. What surprised Ryan was the intensity these guys go for the first couple of laps. With doing only one race this year, he found out that he was not prepared for that as in all the other races he does, you don’t ride at that level on the first couple laps.Photography by Rob Koy
Ryan goes by the fans on top of the hill after the uphill triple. The Ironman track is in the middle off corn fields and you can see the field goes right up to the track. Ryan said that his suspension was a little too soft for the Ironman track. He said it was good at his own practice track, but that he should have known that if it was good at home, he should have went stiffer.Photography by Rob Koy
Ryan pumped up in the first moto and had to hold on to what he could get. Ryan was able to hold on to the 19th position to the end of the race to score some points. Here, Ryan goes to the outside line before he drops into the valley in the wood section of the track.Photography by Rob Koy
Ryan got off to a better start in moto 2 with a 13th place start. The track started to dry out a little bit, but Ryan said that the ruts and berms were still soft and he could not lay into the berms all day. Ryan dealt with soft suspension again in the 2nd moto, got arm pump again and found himself not breathing a few times, noticeably after he had a couple scary moments on the track.Photography by Rob Koy
Ryan goes over the tunnel jump before climbing the huge Godzilla hill at Ironman. Ryan said he lost four or five spots in moto 2 when he had a sketchy moment and had to regroup. Ryan was able to pass three of the riders back.Photography by Rob Koy
Ryan uses some body english to keep his bike in the rut as he make the right turn on to the start straight at the end of moto 2.Photography by Rob Koy
Ryan Sipes went 19-13 for 14th overall at Ironman. Ryan came into this race with a top ten in mind, found out that his bike was not set up for the big bumps and deep ruts on the Ironman track. Ryan said his goal is to do at least three outdoor races a year, but with his pinky injury he had to wait until Ironman to give it a go. Ryan wishes he was a little more prepared for the race and the competitor in him wanted better results. Ryan's goal for the rest of the year is to podium or win the remaining GNCC races, and get ready for ISDE that he will compete in later this year.Photography by Rob Koy