TRIPLE CROWN CHALLENGE FOR TROY LEE DESIGNS/REBULL/GASGAS FACTORY RACING AT ANAHEIM 2.
MXGP CHAMPION JORGE PRADO BANKS MORE EXPERIENCE AS AMA SUPERCROSS CAMEO WRAPS UP.
The Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing Team endured a challenging night out at Round 4 of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship in Anaheim, California, with 450SX Class racer Justin Barcia credited P13, while 250SX West Class contender Ryder DiFrancesco finished with eighth overall.
Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing’s Barcia arrived at Angel Stadium in style, as the team collaborated with Sony Pictures for the upcoming Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire film, with Bam Bam seated behind the wheel of the iconic ‚Ectomobile‘ before climbing aboard his GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition.
Race day marked a difficult one for the number 51, who struggled to come to grips with the dry, fast layout that Anaheim 2 presented to the riders. In a night marred with misfortune and falls, the New York native would post 13-16-11 results across the trio of intense Races, which would position him 13th overall.
Justin Barcia:“It was a very challenging day for me at A2 and definitely one to leave in the past. I struggled from the get-go… I just wasn’t very comfortable. A few too many crashes, which ruined our races, although I did get good starts! In the second Race I was in a good position, then had a big crash. Race 3, I was caught up with another rider getting squirrely, which put me back, and overall just a very challenging day. We’ll need a rebound in Detroit!”
DiFrancesco opened Round 4 by posting the seventh-fastest qualifying time in 250SX West, which the young Californian would back up with a strong fifth place in Race 1 after fighting for the lead early on his GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition. A consistent seventh-place in Race 2, combined with 12th in Race 3, saw Ryder D take home eighth overall for the weekend.
Ryder DiFrancesco:“Positives from the weekend were my starts, they were way better, and then in Race 1 I was right amongst the fight. I made some mistakes across the day, but I’m ready to take this next weekend off and come back for Glendale in a better position.”
Anaheim 2 presented another night of learning for defending MXGP World Champion Jorge Prado, gaining immense experience across the opening four rounds through the month of January.
Racing his first-career Triple Crown, the Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing regular delivered a 12-8-15 scorecard, earning the Spaniard 12th overall for his final outing in AMA Supercross for the 2024 season.
Jorge Prado:“Just finished my racing here in the U.S. and it’s been a great experience. I would say that this was my second real Supercross behind Anaheim 1, because this one and A1 seemed like the track was more realistic to Supercross with the conditions. I’m happy with my progress, the Triple Crown today was way different again… So much speed and intensity in the first laps, and I struggled with that, especially in the first one. I dropped back to P12 quickly, so I made more adjustments for the other two. But overall, I am quite satisfied, it’s been a good experience, for sure, and with more racing I could get better, so I am motivated for the future.”
Anaheim 2 also saw the opening stop of the 250SX Futures development category, where new GASGAS amateur recruit Cole Davies won the Main Event to commence his 2024 AMA Supercross campaign in fine fashion on the top step of the podium.
Results – 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, Round 4
450SX Results – Anaheim 2 SX
1. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)
2. Eli Tomac (Yamaha)
3. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
12. Jorge Prado (GASGAS)
13. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)
450SX Championship Standings (After Round 4)
1. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) 80pts
2. Chase Sexton (KTM) 76pts
3. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) 74pts
9. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) 49pts
10. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 45pts
250SX West Results – Anaheim 2
1. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)
2. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
3. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha)
8. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS)
250SX West Championship Standings (After Round 4)
1. Jordon Smith (Yamaha) 84pts
2. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) 84pts
3. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) 76pts
12. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS) 42pts
Text/Bild: GasGas