At least there are a lot of shade trees...
Steve Matthes is not a US Senator.
The first MX national in Texas since who knows when is well under way here in Freestone Texas, conveniently located about 90 minutes south of Dallas, and 2 1/2 hrs north of Houston - but that is a short drive in Texas, your pickup barely warms up.
Pics are not uploading from here, so this update is all text.
The weather is hot but not unbearable. The Texans are saying "Heat? What heat?" The crowd is filling up pretty good as of the last practice.
The first impression a lot of people had of the track is "Troy is Back!" It's flat and hard to see. That may change once people learn where to get (writers included).
Some notes:
-Tyler Wharton makes his pro debut this weekend, on a KTM pitted next to the team semi. Based on his practice times, he is ready.
-Wil Hahn is making his pro debut.
-Kiwi Cody Cooper is here and looking very fast.
-Factory Connection is hosting Team Mexico for the MXoN at Budds in 3 weeks. The team is sending it's Lites semi, mechanics, and 3 bikes for the three riders representing Mexico! They will be totally factory.
-DeCoster said he was surprised at how many old friends from his days of racing Texas are here. Texas used to hold nationals at Rio Bravo and Lake Whitney.
-Yamaha's Josh Hill is riding 450 this weekend.
-Ryan Mills is in. Chris Gosselaar is still out (crash last weekend).
-The organization is good and a lot of effort is going into making this first national here a success. So far, so good.
-Jason Lawrence is out.
-Jake Moss is here racing for Lucas Oil.
Pro Circuit guys were the fastest three in Sunday practice. Villopoto was fastest (and his time would have been second in 450s), then Townley and Stroupe. The series is already down to either RV and Townley. RV wants to win convincingly to make next weekend less stressful, and Townley wants the points lead back.
In MX, Langston has the advantage in points (barely) and the knowledge that he does well under pressure. The mood is good at Yamaha.
Guy on left - "That's BS, you aren't quitting racing..." Guy on right - "Yeah, and you ain't leaving Mototalk either!"
