3/18/2019
Forkner Makes It Eight Straight for Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
INDIANAPOLIS (March 17, 2019) – Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Austin Forkner overcame a tough heat race to charge out to the main event holeshot and lead every lap inside Lucas Oil Stadium, extending the team’s win streak to eight. Forkner’s fifth win puts him 26 points ahead of second in the championship with three races remaining. Teammate Martin Davalos had another great start in the main event and kept up the pace to finish fifth as the eastern regional riders get a break from action until April when they reconvene in Nashville.
Forkner started the day back on top of the qualifying, looking to take another heat race win. As he got out to the front in his heat, he made a mistake and went off the track, but quickly remounted and came back from last to fifth.
With some wondering how that mistake would affect him in the main event and being slightly under the weather, Forkner quickly proved his heat race finish did nothing to his mental state as he launched out of the gate to grab another holeshot. He rode at a high pace the entire race to finish 6.2 seconds ahead of the runner up.
“I have been really confident with my starts that it didn’t matter my gate pick,” said Forkner. “No matter where I was, I was going to get to the first turn first. I was side by side with someone and made the pass stick right away. It helped me ride really smooth laps, which I wasn’t able to do in my heat races. I’m thankful I was able to ride my own race and not have to get too crazy. I’m thankful that I get some time to not have to travel and get better to close out the season.”
Davalos wanted to get back up to the front after a 10th place in Daytona and with his great start in the main event, he was able to do just that. He got out to a third place start and settled into the pace there for the first half of the race. Toward the end of the race, two riders were able to get by but Davalos held on to fifth to score his third top-five of the season.
“The track broke apart a lot in the main event and you had to try new lines throughout the race,” said Davalos. “I felt good at the start and just wasn’t able to keep the speed when it started to break down. I am happy to get back to where I feel like I at least should be at, but I’m still gunning for my first podium when we get back from our break.”
To find out more about Pro Circuit products, visit www.procircuit.com. Don’t forget to follow the Pro Circuit race team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @pcraceteam.
250SX Class Eastern Regional Event Results - Indianapolis, IN
1. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki)
2. Chase Sexton (Honda)
3. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
4. Mitchell Oldenburg (Yamaha)
5. Martin Davalos (Kawasaki)
6. Kyle Peters (Suzuki)
7. Kyle Cunningham (Honda)
8. Josh Osby (Yamaha)
9. Alex Martin (Suzuki)
10. Jordan Bailey (Husqvarna)
250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings
1. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki), 151
2. Chase Sexton (Honda), 125
3. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 123
4. Alex Martin (Suzuki), 92
5. Martin Davalos (Kawasaki), 89
6. Mitchell Oldenburg (Yamaha), 88
7. Brandon Hartranft (Yamaha), 82
8. Kyle Cunningham (Honda), 81
9. Kyle Peters (Suzuki), 79
10. Jordon Smith (KTM), 70
About Pro Circuit
Based in Corona, Calif., Pro Circuit Products, Inc. is a leader in off-road motorcycle and ATV exhausts and aftermarket performance parts. Started in 1978, Pro Circuit is the go to shop for recreational riders and professionals for everything from suspension work to complete engine packages and everything in between.
Created by former desert racer Mitch Payton, Pro Circuit proves its products and services week-in and week-out through its tagline “We Race.” Every product that dons the Pro Circuit stamp stems from the legendary Pro Circuit race team. A staple in the professional paddock, Pro Circuit Racing has earned 30 AMA championships and more than 250 race wins in more than 30 years of competition.
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