We hoped the season opener would settle the debates we’ve been having over the past few weeks, but instead, it only sparked even more questions. Looking to make sense of a wild weekend of racing, we sent our inquiries to former pro rider
The track definitely got rough, but for a national event, it appeared to stay in decent shape. Is that a fair assessment? If so, what factors in the conditions or preparation helped it hold up?
This venue is always tough. While it may not be the roughest stop on the schedule, it presents a lot of challenges that make riders feel uneasy. The way the traction broke down forced them to push hard even when the conditions called for caution. After the race,
I told Aaron Plessinger how amazed I was by how aggressively they were riding on such a sketchy surface. He agreed, saying it wasn’t exactly enjoyable to be taking those risks. So yes, I’d say the track held up really well. This series is brutal, and the variety in tracks only adds to that — but honestly, I’d be scared to go fast on that course.
What about the wind? Did it have any influence on how the track developed?
The wind wasn’t too bad overall — just a few gusts now and then. It might’ve helped dry things out, but I’d say the constant sunshine had a bigger impact. Days of unbroken sun combined with a steady breeze made it nearly impossible to keep the soil moist. The crew was watering it constantly, but some areas still dried out too much.
Tomac and Jett Lawrence went head-to-head in an incredible showdown during the second moto. Which stood out more to you — Lawrence fending off Tomac’s relentless pressure, or Tomac’s refusal to back down?
Honestly, both riders were remarkable. Coming off injuries, neither was totally sure how they’d hold up when things got intense — even with Tomac projecting confidence. But when it mattered, both delivered. Jett is an unbelievable talent, and Tomac is cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats. It was the classic clash of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. All we can hope for now is 22 motos of this level of racing.
