Hampshire wins the opening game in Anaheim
Last year, RJ Hampshire had to settle for a victory in the heat race during the opening match. Now the Husqvarna rider wins the race at Anaheim's Angel Stadium. The 27-year-old American wins the opening event of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship 250SX West Coast ahead of Jordon Smith and Levi Kitchen. Jo Shimoda had to settle for fourth place ahead of Maximus Vohland.
The sprint to the first corner is won by the rookie Julien Beaumer. The KTM rider takes the lead followed by Kitchen who quickly takes the lead. Smith, Hampshire and Carson Mumford. In the first lap, leader Kitchen makes a small mistake, allowing Beaumer to regain the lead. Hampshire manages to pass Smith and in the next round both Kitchen and Beaumer are thanked for their services. Nate Thrasher then enters the top five by passing teammate Smith while Shimoda battles for tenth place with Frenchman Anthony Bourdon. While Beaumer and Kitchen distance themselves from Thrasher, Smith manages to regain fourth place, while Vohland also passes Thrasher not much later. Not much later, the 17-year-old KTM rider feels Smith's hot breath on his neck, but he doesn't let himself pass. With more than five minutes left, Smith manages to take over second place. Kitchen has a hard time when Vohland and Trasher connect. Trasher makes a mistake and crashes, but Vohland takes fourth place from his teammate! With three minutes to go, Vohland manages to displace his replacement at KTM from third place. Beaumer has to hit the brakes, which also causes Kitchen to pass. In the final phase there will be a duel for third place between the Pro Circuit riders. Kitchen comes third while Shimoda manages to pass Vohland for fourth place in the last lap!
The championship continues next week in San Francisco!
AMA Supercross 250SX WestCoast Results #1; Anaheim, USA:
1. Rj Hampshire USA Husqvarna
2. Jordon Smith USA Yamaha
3. Levi Kitchen USA Kawasaki
4. Jo Shimoda Jap Honda
5. Max Vohland USA Kawasaki
6. Julien Beaumer F KTM
7. Garrett Marchbanks USA Yamaha
8. Mitchell Oldenburg USA Honda
9. Ryder DiFrancesco USA GasGas
10. Carson Mumford USA Honda
Standings 250SX WestCoast after 1 of 9 races:
1. Rj Hampshire USA Husqvarna 25
2. Jordon Smith USA Yamaha 22
3. Levi Kitchen USA Kawasaki 20
4. Jo Shimoda Jap Honda 18
5. Max Vohland USA Kawasaki 17
6. Julien Beaumer F KTM 16
7. Garrett Marchbanks USA Yamaha 15
8. Mitchell Oldenburg USA Honda 14
9. Ryder DiFrancesco USA GasGas 13
10. Carson Mumford USA Honda 12
You can find the full standings HERE.
By: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Gallery: #Husqvarna
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