MT. MORRIS, PA. (June 17, 2017) – Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Alex Martin made the most of a tough day at High Point Raceway coming back for fifth overall with a 7-5 moto score. Teammates Shane McElrath and Sean Cantrell were just outside the top-10, scoring 11th and 15th overall on a rough and rutted track that was drenched with rain much of the week. Jordon Smith tried to return from injury but after going down in practice decided to wait one more week to race. Mitchell Oldenburg is still recovering from a broken collarbone.
It won’t be hard for Martin to be considered for the RC Hard Charger award after coming back from a second turn crash in 25th to move into seventh just after halfway. After that impressive showing in Moto 1, it was the No. 26 of Martin who rounded the Moto 2 first turn out front, leading for nearly the entire first half of the race. After some small mistakes, a few riders made it by and ended up the moto in fifth. His 7-5 moto scores just pushed him off the podium in fifth.
“I definitely spent a lot of energy in that first moto to make it back up to the front after going down,” said Martin. “I felt good in the second moto but the track was super challenging with its hard ruts. I know we can be up front and I think we can prove that next weekend.”
McElrath has felt good about his season but hasn’t been able to put together the finishes that he knows he’s capable of. In Moto 1, he started 15th and made his way up to 11th. He got a good jump in Moto 2, but went down on the opening lap and came around in 33rd. McElrath might challenge Martin for the RC Hard Charger award after pushing his way up to 14th.
“I have felt good and the team is giving me a great bike to work with, but for one reason or another it’s been tough to get the results I know I’m capable of,” said McElrath. “That’s why we have more races and we’ll keep pushing to break through for those results.”
Cantrell started the day with a good jump out of the gate, coming around the first lap in Moto 1 in eighth. He had some challening moments throughout the race that forced him back to finish 14th. In Moto 2, he pushed for another good start, but ended up going down and had to start in 23rd. Cantrell never gave up and crossed the finish line in 15th. With the 14-15 moto scores, Cantrell finished the day 15th overall.
“The level that is run up front is pretty incredible and I am learning each weekend how to make the most of my good starts,” said Cantrell. “That is the one thing I feel that I have going for me and can work hard on the other parts of my program to improve each week.”
The team returns to action next weekend at the annual stop in the south at Mudy Creek Raceway in Blountville, Tennessee located just outside of Bristol.
The team was wearing the recently released GP Air Prisma Flo Yellow Racewear during practice and Moto 2 before switching to the SE Air Shadow Flo Yellow and Orange Racewear in Moto 1. The gear was accompanied by the new SE4 Squadra Team Helmet. See all of the 2018 gear sets and the 2018 Moto Helmets online and at your local TLD retailer.
250 Class Results (Moto Results)
Jeremy Martin, Honda (2-1)
Zach Osborne, Husqvarna (1-2)
Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha (3-3)
Dylan Ferrandis, Yamaha (4-4)
Alex Martin, KTM (7-5)
Austin Forkner, Kawasaki (6-6)
Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki (8-7)
RJ Hampshire, Honda (9-8)
Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki (5-13)
Mitchell, Harrison, Yamaha (10-9)
Shane McElrath, KTM (11-14)
Sean Cantrell, KTM (14-15)
250 Class Points, After 4 of 12 Rounds
Zach Osborne, Husqvarna, 166
Jeremy Martin, Honda 148
Alex Martin, KTM, 140
Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki, 120
Austin Forkner, Kawasaki, 119
Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha, 118
Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki, 109
Dylan Ferrandis, Yamaha, 100
Colt Nichols, Yamaha, 98
Mitchell Harrison, Yamaha, 89
Shane McElrath, KTM, 77
Sean Cantrell, KTM 69
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About Troy Lee Designs:
For over 30 years, Troy Lee has been customizing helmets “For The World’s Fastest Racers.” TLD’s relentless commitment to creating products that exceed the cutting edge of style, design and quality, has earned them the reputation as an innovator in many different fields of racing. Troy Lee Designs has since expanded into a full force operation, offering a complete line of helmets, apparel and premium protection for off-road motorcycling and bicycling, sportswear and accessories, and operating the TLD supercross and motocross teams. Based in Corona, California, Troy Lee Designs has a global network of distributors.
About KTM:
“READY TO RACE” for KTM, these three words are far more than a simple slogan. They stand for the entire company philosophy of developing vehicles that can without any modifications comprehensively assert themselves in any race. Direct from the dealer onto the track and into the battle for victory. Designers, engineers and riders are bound by a clear common denominator: an unconditional passion for motorcycles. The whole KTM family is a living example of this worldwide. Countless offroad World and European championship titles plus brilliant victories in the world’s toughest races (International Six Days Enduro, Dakar Rally, Erzbergrodeo, and many more) all speak for themselves. And KTM Supermotos, Naked Bikes, Superbikes and the X-Bow all demonstrate what an “orange” lead means on asphalt.
