Each of the Pro Motocross tracks has a uniqueness about them – their own ever-evolving personality and characteristics that bring about different challenges for the different riders.
Glen Helen Raceway is best identified by its extremely rugged terrain, behemoth hills, gnarly jumps, and breaking bumps fit for giants – definitely not for the timid or faint of heart.
It is also a track that breeds uncertainty, where you never really know who is going to have a good day once the gate drops. At Glen Helen, riders are not only racing each other but also racing the track – one tiny mistake could mean the difference between a podium position and a DNF.
To claim a moto victory or overall podium position at Glen Helen Raceway is evidence of true grit, determination, and sometimes a dash of pure luck where only the strong survive. At every turn of every moto at the 2017 FMF Glen Helen National, points and positions were rapidly changing, up until the final chequered flag flew.
This year’s track was no exception to its reputation of being a ‘man’s track’ – maintaining the ruggedness it’s famous for. Some misfortune and bad luck for some riders made for some better luck and better results for others. Amidst the extremely technical and challenging track, we saw many new, and some old faces emerge as victorious, claiming career first victories, season first podiums, and even a 450 career first red plate.
Jeremy Martin
In the 250 class, we saw a once-familiar character that has been otherwise absent in 2017, minus a podium appearance during Daytona – and that was the #6 of Jeremy Martin, the ‘old’ Jeremy Martin who spent weekend after weekend atop the podium. After many years on Yamaha’s, it’s certainly taken some time for the younger of the Martin brothers to adjust to his GEICO Honda. But it seems that the missing link in the equation has finally been sorted out and the speed that we know J.Mart is capable of has returned with a vengeance.
When asked about bike changes leading up to Glen Helen, Martin said: “The improvements were night and day better. I was able to ride more like me. It’s taken me a little bit to kind of learn the Honda. I was on the Yamaha so long that I tried to kind of set my Honda up that way, but you can’t do that. It’s a really different bike. So I’ve definitely learned a lot this year as far as setting up and having an open mind.”
Whatever those changes are, it certainly seems to be working as Martin rocketed to the front of the pack quickly, and with ease, claiming both of the holeshots for the day.
In Moto 1 he was able to take that open track ahead of him and use it to his advantage, maintaining a comfortable lead the entire 30-minute plus two lap moto.
Jeremy Martin would cross the finish line more than nine seconds ahead of second place finisher, Joey Savatgy. This would be Martin’s first moto win of the year and first podium since joining the GEICO Honda squad.
Moto 2 was off to a similar start for Martin, claiming the holeshot, but a small mistake quickly took Martin from top of the leader board to darn near last place by the time he remounted his race steed. Even though he had to claw his way through the pack, his speed of the days of old has definitely returned. Martin managed to fight his way back to seventh place, and thanks to plentiful misfortune for the entire Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team at one point or another in Moto 1 and Moto 2, resulted in a second place overall finish. That’s the thing about motocross, every lap of every moto counts.
Dylan Ferrandis
Perhaps equally as impressive as Martin’s season-first moto win and the season-first overall podium was the Moto 2 win of Dylan Ferrandis. Ferrandis capitalised on Martin’s unfortunate first lap crash and got out to an early and commanding lead.
By the time the clock had expired, Ferrandis crossed the finish line a notable 23 plus seconds ahead of Zach Osborne. This is only his second ever US National, which means every day and every track is brand new to the Frenchman.
After a disappointing crash at Hangtown that left Ferrandis with a concussion, it was questionable that he would even be cleared to line up at Glen Helen. But after passing all of the concussion test protocol, Ferrandis was looking for redemption.
His win may have been surprising to outsiders after not even finishing both motos in his first National, but it was not as surprising to Ferrandis who confidently stated: “I know my speed. I know what I can do on a dirt bike.” Even with being brand new to the Pro Motocross circuit, Dylan is confident in his team and their ability to set up the bike in the best way for him to succeed.
“Finally I can show my speed, my skill and what I can do on a dirt bike, so that’s what’s really important to me,” he said in the post-race Press Conference. As he further adjusts to these American races, we should expect to see Ferrandis make many a podium appearances throughout the season.
Marvin Musquin
It was definitely a ‘Euro Trip’ kind of day at Glen Helen, with another favourite Frenchman, Marvin Musquin, making a splash by claiming his career-first 450 Pro Motocross Moto win during Moto 1, five seconds ahead of Eli Tomac. With the way things played out in Moto 2, Musquin found himself in third place, enough for the overall win. To walk away from Glen Helen having stayed on two wheels is an accomplishment in and of itself, but to come away with your career-first 450 Moto win, your career-first overall Pro Motocross win, AND for the very first time in your career, don the coveted 450 red plate is something worthy of elation. “Obviously the goal is to try to win, especially after last weekend and getting second,” said Musquin. “Glen Helen is a unique track and to be able to win that first moto was incredible. I got the holeshot and rode pretty good and just consistent and able to grab my first ever win in the outdoors 450.
“That second moto I really wanted to get a good start. I knew it was going to be tough, rough, and physically tough. So I was top 10, but definitely not in the good position to fight for the win. I was missing a little bit of speed at the beginning. Those guys, especially Blake [Baggett] and Jason [Anderson] were riding really well. I came back to third place and that’s all I could do. That second moto, behind they were not far back and they were pushing. So I just tried to be consistent. To walk away after Glen Helen with the red plate and the first overall it’s unbelievable.”
Jason Anderson
Adding to the lists of first on one of the most rigorous tracks on the Pro Motocross circuit was the second moto win for the #21 of Jason Anderson. This marked Anderson’s career-first 450 Pro Motocross win. After a scary incident at Hangtown where a rock hit his goggles so hard that the goggle frame bottomed out and split his eye open, filling his goggles with blood, Anderson was looking to showcase at Glen Helen, the speed that he knows he’s capable of.
He has a bit of a reputation of finding himself having to fight for podium positions from mid-pack, rather than running up front from the get-go. Confidence can be the key factor in these situations. “To be honest, as far as my speed and fitness and everything, I feel like I’m on point to be battling for podiums every moto and even wins like I did today,” Anderson said. “But I need to just be more of a solid guy week in and week out and not put myself in such bad situations.”
The pieces are all falling into place for Anderson and he his ready to be a podium contender and fighting for more wins week in and week out.
Blake Baggett
Finishing just behind Anderson in the second moto was the #4 of Blake Baggett – paired with his eighth place finish in Moto 1, he took third place overall.
Baggett’s trip to the podium was another first on the day – making it the very first Pro Motocross podium for the Rocky Mountain ATV MC KTM team. Blake also earned the first-ever Monster Energy Supercross podium for his new team.
Baggett has been adjusting well to the KTM after spending many years riding for Yoshimura Factory Suzuki, but outdoors is, of course, a brand new ball game. When asked if we’ll see him up front for more races, Baggett said: “I’ve done it in the past, so it’s in there somewhere. I might have to dig through a few boxes and knock some dust off some stuff, but it’s for sure in there. Just still getting used to the KTM. Just haven’t got a chance to ride it outdoors that much. Kind of trying to figure out what setup is key to me and what I like. In supercross we had it figured out and I was able to race with these guys at the end of the season and battle with them. It might take us a few more rounds before we can put up the good fight, but definitely, we’re making improvements and these guys, you can’t take anything away from them. Marvin [Musquin] was solid all day, and Jason [Anderson] was on it.”
Glen Helen was rough, brutal, and technical. Those with grit and determination emerged victorious. Riders will face a new challenge as we head East to Colorado – racing at extreme altitude.
