Last weekend was stop number 4 on the ABA/UCI National Series in Phoenix, Arizona. The Haro/Rockstar crew was Nic Long, Khalen Young, Brooke Crain and Derek Betcher, here's how it all went down.
Although the track was pretty amazing with a Supercross starting hill for the Elite classes, the Arizona weather made for a long dreadful weekend. It was typical AZ heat mixed with dryness, wind, and the finest dirt you could ask for. After a day at the track, the race bikes appeared to have been just dug out of a hole and the riders looked like they rolled around in a dust bowl. In Elite Men on Saturday, there was 59 riders fighting for 8 spots in the final. After winning most of his qualifying rounds, Khalen met up with his team mate in the semi final looking to qualify 2 of the 4 available main event start positions. When the gate dropped in the semi, KY rolled back to snap and ran over the TV camera mans foot, blowing his start. Nic had a rough lap and neither of the guys qualified. Raising controversy with the camera man liability to end Khalen's day before it should have, the UCI honored his request for a rerun and the guys headed back up the hill for a restart. When the gate dropped, Nic was straight to the front of the pack and KY blew his start again. Coming out of turn 2, Nic washed out and took a couple guys with him including Khalen who hopped back on his bike as fast as he could and ended up grabbing the last qualifying spot in the semi. DRAMA, to say the least. Khalen didn't get the start he was looking for in the main event but fought his way through the pack to bring home a solid 4th for the day.
Brooke won her Junior Women main on Saturday wire to wire. Sunday was a bit different as she was second the entire lap but managed to stretch it out for the win at the line, making it 6/6 on the season for Brooklyn.
In A-Pro on Saturday, DB made the main event but could only manage a 6th place finish. That's what happens when you're a washed up team manager.
Sunday in Elite Men, Khalen and Nic both looked solid again. Both of them were top 2 in all of their qualifiers, Khalen made it through to the final where he ended up with a 5th for the day, Nic had some bad luck in his semi final once again and ended his day early.
The team will take to the track next month at round 5 of the ABA Pro Series in Chula Vista, California.
Although the track was pretty amazing with a Supercross starting hill for the Elite classes, the Arizona weather made for a long dreadful weekend. It was typical AZ heat mixed with dryness, wind, and the finest dirt you could ask for. After a day at the track, the race bikes appeared to have been just dug out of a hole and the riders looked like they rolled around in a dust bowl. In Elite Men on Saturday, there was 59 riders fighting for 8 spots in the final. After winning most of his qualifying rounds, Khalen met up with his team mate in the semi final looking to qualify 2 of the 4 available main event start positions. When the gate dropped in the semi, KY rolled back to snap and ran over the TV camera mans foot, blowing his start. Nic had a rough lap and neither of the guys qualified. Raising controversy with the camera man liability to end Khalen's day before it should have, the UCI honored his request for a rerun and the guys headed back up the hill for a restart. When the gate dropped, Nic was straight to the front of the pack and KY blew his start again. Coming out of turn 2, Nic washed out and took a couple guys with him including Khalen who hopped back on his bike as fast as he could and ended up grabbing the last qualifying spot in the semi. DRAMA, to say the least. Khalen didn't get the start he was looking for in the main event but fought his way through the pack to bring home a solid 4th for the day.
Brooke won her Junior Women main on Saturday wire to wire. Sunday was a bit different as she was second the entire lap but managed to stretch it out for the win at the line, making it 6/6 on the season for Brooklyn.
In A-Pro on Saturday, DB made the main event but could only manage a 6th place finish. That's what happens when you're a washed up team manager.
Sunday in Elite Men, Khalen and Nic both looked solid again. Both of them were top 2 in all of their qualifiers, Khalen made it through to the final where he ended up with a 5th for the day, Nic had some bad luck in his semi final once again and ended his day early.
The team will take to the track next month at round 5 of the ABA Pro Series in Chula Vista, California.
photos by Pete Demos
