21J's 2nd Hangtown Adventure

From a different prospective part 2

 

At last year’s HangTown National I was an “Event Security” volunteer assigned to the Husqvarna Factory pits, my choice. I was looking forward to seeing Zac Osborne who was at the time the defending 450 outdoor champion and Dean Wilson with whom I wanted to talk about grandpa Earl. They also had some fast young 250 riders. Well, that didn’t work out so well Osborne retired, Wilson was hurt and the only healthy 250 rider was RJ Hampshire.

Well, I had my choice again this year and I chose the Husky pits and again it didn’t work out so well. I still wanted to talk with Dean Wilson about Grandpa Earl but he poked a huge hole in his butt and was out again. I was also looking forward to meeting Malcolm Stewart; I’m a fan of his. Was never a fan of his brother though? Well he’s out with an injured knee. At least this year there was a full complement of 250 riders. And RJ Hampshire is one of my favorite 250 riders, he’s tough, he never gives up and he’s fast enough to compete, but he falls down a lot. There was also Jalek Swool and Stilez Robertson. Swool was banged up from the first round at Fox Raceway. The other reason I chose Husky again was the people most of the same mechanics were there as last year as well as other personnel. And I like the way they work, if something needs to be done they just do it. And their pit area is at least as clean as any other factory team. Although Honda’s pits are pretty dam clean.

I may have mentioned Paul last year he’s the one who politely told me to get my parked Kawasaki motorcycle out of their pits, duh on my part. He turned out to be a really nice person. He was there again this year. I don’t know what his last name is but I know he was in the past a team manager. But he enjoys his current roll which is a team hauler driver and the resident chef. I call him a chef because man oh man can he cook. It’s as good as any food I’ve had anywhere. I felt a little more comfortable this year and actually begged for a little food.

I did things a little differently this year. After the pits were closed to the public without the proper creds, I walked around the pits and checked out all the other teams. I went to the starting line with the riders and mechanics and after the gate drop went with the mechanics to the mechanics area where I watched the races. With my wrist ban color I could go anywhere that was cool. After each moto I’d go back to the pits and do it all over again there was only one 450 rider on the team Shane McElrath who was filling in for Dean Wilson.

I need to say something about the team riders. RJ Hampshire and his wife both actually remembered me from last year as did some of the mechanics and other personnel that was very cool. Shane was very friendly and easy to talk with. Jalek Swool was also easy to talk with, his longtime girlfriend came over and introduced herself, she had a great personality, I told Jalek she was a keeper and he agreed. I did not talk with Stilez Robertson he pretty much kept to himself with what looked like his folks, but I think was probably a nice young man. (Turns out he has signed with Star Yamaha for 2023)

As I did last year I really enjoy watching the mechanics working, repeating over and over after each practice and moto. Cleaning the bikes, changing out certain of parts on the bikes, doing whatever needed to be done so they always looked brand new the next time they went to the line. The mechanic for Stilez Robertson was chasing an issue with the engine after both practices and finally got it fixed just before the first moto. Electronic issue can be the worst, after the first practice he checked certain things after the second practice he changed out the wiring harness and finally at the last minute changed the ECU and solved the problem literally five minutes before they had to line up, a little stressful to say the least. 

The weather was about as good as it gets, it was overcast all day so the temp was mild, and it  sprinkled a little bit. The racing was from my perspective anyway very good.

I had told RJ in the morning I thought he was one of the few who could give the Lawrence brothers a battle. In the first moto he was hanging right in there but went off the course and down the side of a steep hill. He  ran into Austin Forkner’s mechanic who hurt his leg. RJ got back up fairly early in the moto and finished sixteenth. By the time I got back to the pits he had left for a checkup at the hospital. His wife was gathering up their stuff I assume go to the hospital. Her demeanor indicated to me he wasn’t too bad. But I as well as she found out later a stick had broken off and punctured and collapsed a lung and had broken some ribs. They operated on him later that night for something and he was expected to stay in the hospital for a couple of days. I’ve always admired RJ because he was tough and never ever gives up, but man oh man this goes way beyond that. He is my hero.

Before the first 450 moto Alex Martin was sitting on his bike in the start gate with his helmet off, I went up to him and said, “When I first saw you this morning sitting in your pits you didn’t disappoint me you, were eating” He looked at me sort of weird I could tell he didn’t get it, but for those who watch his vlog. “Troll Train” he’s always eating. The look on his face told me he doesn’t realize he’s always eating on his volg.

There were a few other riders who impressed me that day, but for me the one who stood out the most was Chase Sexton. Sure he was caught and passed by two of the best 450 riders today, but they didn’t leave him, he no doubt studied their lines and came back to finish right behind them. He is so smooth it was interesting to watch him and Roczen who is also very smooth out front. Then in the first moto along comes Anderson who is not smooth but also fun to watch catch and pass them both. I watched an interview with Tomac and he said he was very surprised Sexton stayed with him in the second moto, says a lot about Sexton.

Back to the first 250 Jalek Swool hung in there with a sore shoulder and finished very well in the first race. Unfortunately, in the second moto he fell on his injured right shoulder and couldn’t finish. I heard them say he thought he had separated it and it had pooped back in, I wouldn’t expect to see him or RJ next weekend.

Shane had an ok weekend I could tell he wasn’t happy with his performance. I had asked him earlier if he was riding the 2021 KTM’s at Rocky Mountain or 2022’s He was on 2021’s and said the 2022’s were much, much better but he was still trying to adapt to the 2022. I think he’s a much better rider than he’s given credit to be, I hope he figures it out and can put in some good results a little later. I think he deserves it.

Stilez Robertson had a very quiet day and ended up I believe 7^th in the 250 class.

While I was standing next to the rails in the mechanics area literally feet away from the riders as they went by towards the finish line the speed they were carrying was impressive and downright scary.

I had a great time, but this old man was totally wiped and slept off and on all day Sunday.

Don’t know if I will have the opportunity to do it again time will tell.

Doug 21J