JDR/J-Star/KTM rider Tye Simmonds earned 12th overall after turning in 13-12 moto results at the second round of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship Series at Freestone MX Park.
Simmonds put together a mid-pack start in the first 450 moto rounding the first lap in 17th place. He was able to close the gap on a few riders ahead and inched his way slightly closer to the top ten. By the end of the first moto he had climbed up to 13th place.
In the second moto Simmonds pulled a better start and came around the first lap in 14th place. In the next few laps he put on a charge and was able to pass Christophe Pourcel and Michael Byrne and was handed another position when Tommy Hahn fell. By lap six he was sitting in 11th position. Around the tenth lap Simmonds began to struggle with the heat. The warm and humid Texas weather began to take its toll and Simmonds had to slow down his pace to finish the moto. He only lost one position before the checkered flag flew and he crossed the line in 12th place.
“I am glad to be finishing closer to the top ten, but I am upset that my endurance wasn’t there at the end of the second moto. I was strong in the first half but died off at the end and I need to focus on my conditioning at the end of the moto so I do not give up any positions,” remarked Simmonds.
The next event for the JDR/J-Star/KTM Team is the High Point Motocross National on June 11th where Simmonds teammate PJ Larsen plans to return to racing action after recovering from a wrist injury during the Supercross season.
Overall Results 450 Class –
1) Chad Reed – 1,1
2) Davi Millsaps – 4,2
3) Ryan Villopoto – 3,5
4) Brett Metcalfe – 9,3
5) Ricky Dietrich – 8,4
6) Jake Weimer – 6,7
7) Christian Craig – 5, 8
8) Ryan Dungey – 2, 25
9) Andrew Short – 15, 6
10) Nick Wey – 10,11
11) Michael Byrne – 14, 10
12) Tye Simmonds – 13, 12
13) Les Smith – 11,14
14) Vince Friese – 12, 16
15) Tommy Hahn – 7,39
