Derek Kelley has now began three most important occasions in his profession at Anaheim 1 and Saturday evening’s tenth place end within the 250SX class was lastly a consequence he might really feel happy with for the opener. After a nineteenth place end in 2020 and a twenty first place end final yr, a prime 10 outcomes was a welcomed sight for the AEO Powersports KTM rider.
Kelley was strong all day as properly, qualifying in P12 after which simply operating with the highest guys in his warmth race to qualify straight into the principle occasion and set himself up properly for a superb evening. All through the principle occasion, Kelley battled with and remained near the Monster Power Yamaha/Star Racing teammates of Levi Kitchen and Stilez Robertson earlier than each riders finally slipped away a bit down the stretch. Nonetheless although, it was an excellent begin to 2023 for Kelley and we have been capable of meet up with him within the pits after the race to listen to what he considered it.
Racer X: Take us by way of the evening man. A1!
Derek Kelley: A1! You’re all the time nervous coming in and also you don’t know what to anticipate. Particularly with the curveball with the rain, I used to be form of nervous main as much as it and seeing the monitor on Friday. I’m simply joyful to make it by way of it wholesome. I acquired on the market in free observe and it form of blew my thoughts. The monitor was virtually unrideable. We actually put within the work, and it got here round in direction of the warmth races and the principle occasion. Contemplating how unhealthy it was in free observe and the way gnarly it was throughout qualifying and all that, the monitor ended up shaping up comparatively properly in the principle occasion. Simply joyful like I mentioned to get by way of it and joyful to finish up with a P10 and we will proceed to construct by way of the yr.
