Canadians on the 2023 Arlington Supercross
By Billy Rainford
As I at all times say in our podcasts when it’s somebody’s first time doing one thing, “We solely ever get one time to interview a racer after their first time doing one thing, and that is your one time.” That goes for #622 Preston Masciangelo from Brantford, Ontario, who was in Arlington, Texas, to race the Supercross Futures.
Preston’s season acquired off to a really tough begin when he crashed at SOBMX on Day 1 and broke and dislocated each wrists again in early winter. He’s spent the time since protecting himself as match as attainable whereas he waited to have the casts eliminated.
Preston rides on the Partzilla PRMX OGs Kawasaki workforce, owned by fellow Canadian Julien Perrier. The workforce is predicated out of SOBMX in South Carolina and likewise employs Canadian #500 Julien Benek, New Zealander #86 Josiah Natzke, and People #508 Hunter Yoder, #170 Devon Simonson, #219 Chase Marquier, and #68 Cade Clason.
Preston was lastly able to make his AMA SX Futures debut at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Saturday night time. Maintain studying as we take you thru the day and night time of our Canadian riders in Texas. And we’ll have an interview with Preston up as quickly as they arrive again at “house” in South Carolina.
Julien Benek from Mission, British Columbia, had determined to race the 450 class to maintain gaining extra expertise. He lined up in Group C on his 250.
Additionally in Texas was Manluk Rock River Yamaha’s #614 Quinn Amyotte from Blackstock, Ontario. Quinn was getting into his second AMA Supercross and knew he was going to be in powerful to make the Mains on this second of the Triple Crown codecs.
One of the vital entertaining elements of the Supercross racing week in and week out is watching #68 Cade Clason. He’s not Canadian, however we deal with him like he’s. It doesn’t matter what occurs, Cade appears to place himself on a bubble each time. Whether or not it’s qualifying for the Primary or getting by means of the LCQ, Cade being within the battle for the ultimate place is at all times even cash.
He did it once more in Arlington when he was safely into the three Triple Crown Mains out of Group A till late within the 450 Group B second qualifier. Each #78 Grant Harlan and #519 Josh Cartwright bumped him right down to nineteenth when the checkered flag waved.
Within the Triple Crown format, they take the highest 18 on to the Mains whereas the following 22 riders right down to fortieth place go to the LCQ the place they take the highest 4.
Sadly, this week Cade wasn’t in a position to put himself within the Mains after ending up ninth within the 450 LCQ. Regulate him subsequent week in Daytona, it’s at all times enjoyable.
Talking of the 2nd 450 B Qualifier, there was a pink flag waved when #97 Devin Harriman went down and wanted consideration from the Alpinestars medics. Hopefully, he’s doing fantastic.
#500 Julien Benek was quickest within the first 450 Group C qualifier whereas #551 Guillaume St Cyr was again in twelfth in the identical group. Julien’s time was 51.280 so he would want to drop a pair seconds to make the highest 18 and keep away from going to the LCQ. Guillaume was in peril of not making it into the highest 40 to get to the LCQ with a time of 53.997 in Q1.
When the checkered flag waved to finish closing qualifying, Benek was 1st within the group with a 50.283 and St Cyr was twelfth with a 52.601. You may inform Julien’s shoulder was hurting as he slumped down over his left facet as soon as he took the flag.
In mixed qualifying occasions, right here’s how our Canadians did:
#614 Quinn Amyotte – thirty first 50.980 Headed to 250 LCQ
#500 Julien Benek – twenty ninth 50.283 Headed to 450 LCQ
#551 Guillaume St Cyr – forty sixth 52.601 Missed making the LCQ
Within the Futures class, Preston discovered himself in eighth place with a finest lap of 53.283 after his first qualifying session.
As soon as the 450 and 250 Execs had been completed (they did 450’s first), the Futures riders acquired their closing shot on the monitor earlier than the Primary. With lower than a minute remaining, Preston was but to enhance on his Q1 time. The truth is, his finest time in Q2 was 2.5 seconds off his Q1 time. Ultimately, his finest time remained the identical and that positioned him eleventh.
250 LCQ
Amyotte acquired held up heading into the primary rhythm part after the primary flip. #247 Brock Papi, #99 Hardy Munoz, and #66 Henry Miller had been the primary 3. Amyotte was sitting in tenth place behind #874 Zack Williams and forward of our previous Texan buddy #118 Cheyenne Harmon. #86 Natzke was the person on the bubble in fifth place. He made a mistake late and dropped to the again of the pack.
Quinn had rookie professional #602 Gage Linville behind him with 2 minutes to go. Linville made the move to push Quinn to tenth, 20 seconds off the lead. He then had #137 Ayden Shive on his rear wheel with 2 laps to go. Quinn held on to cross the road in tenth place. A stable trip however Quinn was headed again to the rig and would miss the Mains.
450 LCQ
The holeshot went to #80 Kevin Moranz. #500 Benek was mid-pack on his 250 and regarded over his left shoulder as a rider went down beside him within the first flip, narrowly avoiding happening himself.
He was as much as seventh place on the finish of lap 1 however then crashed and dropped to the again of the pack and out. He walked off the monitor favouring his proper leg whereas getting consideration from the medics.
I fired him a message to verify he was OK, and right here’s how he described what had occurred:
#848 Joan Cros hit him earlier than the dragon’s again and his leg acquired twisted round backward and each bikes and Joan had been on prime of his leg whereas it was nonetheless in a clumsy place.
Luckily, he stated he’s okay and that he simply “tweaked his leg fairly good.”
Moranz and #11 Kyle Chisholm had a fantastic battle for the lead with #74 Logan Karnow shut behind in third. 4th was #60 Justin Starling with Marquier on his rear wheel.
Futures Primary
Off the beginning, this race belonged to #241 Daxton Bennick. He was out entrance whereas #622 Preston Masciangelo was up in sixth place. After qualifying eleventh, this was going to be a tall order to carry this place. He’s scored as eighth on the finish of lap 1.
Masciangelo battled arduous however slipped his approach again to eleventh by the point the 6-minute plus 1 lap race was accomplished.
We even have to say younger #10 Meston Lockhart from Langley, BC out on the monitor within the KTM Junior Supercross class. Racing in entrance of a bought out stadium should have been the spotlight of the teen’s life! Meston matched his quantity within the KJSX Primary with a tenth place.
Ultimately, none of our Canucks had been within the Mains in Texas, nevertheless it was a tall order, contemplating the Triple Crown format. We must always see Quinn, Guillaume, and Julien again on the monitor in Daytona this coming week. Hopefully, we see a pair extra acquainted faces on the gate to cheer for as nicely.
It’s additionally the Ricky Carmichael Beginner Supercross in Daytona, so we’ll preserve a watch out for a lot of extra newbie Canadians on the monitor on the times following professional day.
Racing this coming week will begin with the Professional Circuit Open at Tampa MX on Thursday night time. The Supercross is Saturday, adopted by Spherical 2 of the GNCC Racing collection at Hog Waller in Palatka, Florida, on Sunday, and Monday would be the RCSX again at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
It’s a busy week of racing, and among the finest of the season. See you on the races…
