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The U.S. Navy Band plays on the big screen as troops line the field.
NEWS

Hill lifts first silverware at San Diego Supercross

Jan 172017

The Monster Energy AMA Supercross series lifted into second gear with the sumptuous Petco Park in the heart of San Diego’s downtown district staging the second round of seventeen and providing a rough and technical race course for the best riders of the 450SX and 250SX (West Coast) classes. Another 40k+ crowd drank in the latest instalment of the frantic and exciting stadium based series and while Ken Roczen, Ryan Dungey and Marvin Musquin filled the podium spots in the 450s it was Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Justin Hill who bagged his first trophy of the campaign in the 250s as he ran to second place behind repeat winner Shane McElrath.

As is the custom for the San Diego fixture the teams and riders adopted military liveries and themes for the competition’s annual dedication to the armed forces and Hill was like the proverbial bullet out of a gun in the 250SX Main Event. Pro Circuit’s new recruit made some decisive moves towards the end of the sprint and classified just half a second behind McElrath.

 

‘I didn’t get a great start in the main but pushed for the entire race and earned second,’ he said afterwards. ‘It feels great to be back on the podium and after tonight, I know I can win.’

 

Monster Pro Circuit pits at the 2017 AMA Supercross opening at Anaheim Stop 1
Hill was followed by exciting teenage teammate Austin Forkner as the rookie entered the top five in just his second Supercross. The 450SX saw Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac yo-yo-ing in contention for podium spots but was eventually demoted to sixth place. Yamaha’s Chad Reed made the top ten with ninth. ‘My jump out of the gate in the main was great but I let off early and came around Turn 1 inside the top 10,’ Tomac reflected as he still chases his first rostrum of 2017. ‘I quickly made my way into the top five but just hit a wall around the halfway mark and lost my momentum. Overall we learned a lot tonight and it’s only the second race, lots more to come.’

Supercross now moves back to Anaheim (east of Los Angeles) and the Angel Stadium this weekend.

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