Bench Racing Ammo: Streaking Lites
Thursday, January 20, 2011 | 1:15 PM
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PrintLast week we chronicled Kawasaki’s domination of the Lites class at Anaheim with Monster Energy Pro Circuit’s 1-2-3 podium sweep. In Phoenix, they kept most of the momentum going when Josh Hansen and Broc Tickle scored a 1-2 finish for the team (with Rockstar Suzuki’s Ryan Morais putting his RM-Z250 on the box with third).
So the PC team has five podium trophies from the first two races. That’s impressive, but it’s not rare. In 2007, the team got off to a similar start via two very familiar faces.
In ’07, Ryan Villopoto won the Anaheim opener ahead of a surprising performance by Frenchman Christophe Pourcel, who took second riding a Pro Circuit bike. Pourcel did one better the next weekend, as won the Phoenix race after Villopoto got a bad start. Better yet for the team, their third rider, Chris Gosselaar, finished third in Phoenix, giving the team a 1-2-3 finish. That’s five podium trophies in two races. Sound familair?
Pourcel was on fire in '07 before a shin injury would cut his season short.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Who was the lone rider not on a Kawasaki to grab a podium spot in the first two rounds of 2007? Yamaha of Troy’s Jason Lawrence, who took third at Anaheim 1.
So Pro Circuit dominated the first two races. Round three was a little tougher, as Pourcel cased a jump and broke his shin bone, ending his SX season way too early. Villopoto went on to win round three in Anaheim, but two Yamahas joined him on the box with Jason Lawrence and Josh Hill.
Then Villopoto won round four. And five. And six. On February 17th, he won round seven in San Diego and wrapped up the Lites West Title—in February!
Round three of the 2011 tour comes up this weekend at Dodger Stadium. Can the Hansen/Tickle/Tyla Rattray trio eclipse the 2007 mark and put yet another pair (or trio) of team bikes on the box?
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Without doubt Pro Circuit Racing is the most dominant team in our sports' history. I'm not a big fan of dynasties, I prefer the underdog, but you gotta give credit to a team that came from such humble beginnings. Who would have thought a social deviant would become the worlds biggest 125/250 Motocross mover & shaker ever? There's probably some people still at Honda shaking their heads over screwing up their deal way back in '92. Maybe a "Hari Kiri" or two, as well.
So where is J-Law this year? Who will fill in for the injured Josh Grant? Inquiring minds need to know ....
I just dont see how PC can take an average rider, put them on Mitch's bike and all of the sudden their a consistant podium guy, if not a winner. Those PC bikes were like cheater bikes riding for a sattelite team. They're gonna pull on ya every straight away
Where IS J-Law? I just love to see that guy fail. That is what happens when you don't pay respect to anything or anybody. Now there is probably some die hard J-Law fans who will say "your just jealous because your not a professional racer". Chut up!
PC kawis have nothing on the hondas outdoors. CP held his wide open to catch TC but couldn't do it.
The PC Kawasaki's have nothing for the Honda's outdoors? Stop sipping J-Law's bong juice, the last 2 years were the first years that Pro circuit HASN'T won the outdoor championship since the dawn of modern 250 four strokes.
dont be to hard on the people who think that the past is only last year... PC having winning these championships since foreva..... mx or sx atleast one a year
Do you think that maybe PC Kawis may have had the best riders....... RC, RV, CP, and JS in the small bore class for the last 10 years had anything to do with their success or was it the awesome power those bikes had on all the straight aways?
JS259 kicked PCs' 4~stroke boot on a KX125 ring~ding in SX a few years back, don't forget.
Francisco, Stewies bike was a Pro Circut bike also. So it was PC bike that beat the other PC bikes..