Anaheim, CA (January 7, 2017) – The annual debut of Monster Energy Supercross, at a sold out Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, created the usual hype and nerves after four months of off-season anticipation. While GEICO Honda teammates Jeremy Martin and Jimmy Decotis didn’t get the results they hoped for, they have reason to think this season will be a good one. Martin finished sixth and Decotis ninth, which marked solid comebacks since they ended the first lap of the main event in 12th and 14th place, respectively.
Martin showed great speed in qualifying by logging the top spot in the 250SX class, three-tenths of a second quicker than anyone else. He grabbed the early lead and led most of his heat race before a few late mistakes let Shane McElrath catch him and then make a last-lap pass for the win. Martin was still looking to do some damage in the main event, but a mistake off the start set him way, way back. From there, he scratched and clawed his way forward. He got to seventh then won a duel with Dan Reardon to finish sixth.
“It was a bummer, didn’t get the start. That was the biggest thing, it’s not a matter of speed, fitness or anything else, it’s just a matter of execution, and I just didn’t get it [the start] tonight,” said Martin. “We started the day at A1 out great in practice logging the top spot in qualifying, and then felt solid in the heat race going into the main. But I made a mistake on the start in the main which affected my whole race. Ultimately, it made me just go into damage control! San Diego [round two] can’t come soon enough.”
Decotis’ night started with a crash on the first lap of his heat race, and he was in salvage mode from there.
“This weekend was pretty stressful for me,” said Decotis. “I had two crashes in the heat race which sent me to the LCQ. I had a terrible gate pick for the main which resulted in a bad start. The track was really basic and hard to pass, I felt I laid down solid and consistent laps but the whole night snow balled from the bad heat race. I put myself in bad positions and it cost me my main event. I’ve been working so hard with my trainer Seth and GEICO Honda has put in so much work during the offseason. I feel we are much better than what the results say on paper. I’m looking forward to next weekend and getting back up to the front of the field.”
Round two of Monster Energy Supercross takes place this weekend, January 14th, at Petco Park in San Diego, California.
GEICO Honda Results
Anaheim 1 Supercross
January 7th, 2017
250SX
6. Jeremy Martin
9. Jimmy Decotis
