Motoconcepts Yamaha’s Kyle Chisholm was the first YZ450F rider across the line at a boggy, slippery and treacherous Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City for the penultimate round of the 2010 AMA Supercross/FIM World Championship. The 22 year old finished 5th in a rain-hit event for a personal best result; leading Michael Byrne and Justin Brayton across the line in 6th and 7th respectively.
Floridian Chisholm weathered arguably the most technical terrain the riders have experienced in the sixteen events held so far this year to seal his top five finish by over seven seconds from Australian Byrne. The SX class main event actually had to be shortened due to showers (even snow!) and was run over 15 laps instead of the usual 20 in front of a sodden 38,882 attendance.
Josh Hill
In the sixth main event to take place in the Utah metropolis, conditions were so tough that new champion and fourth-place finisher Ryan Dungey was actually lapped. Brayton was holding third at one stage but then faded back after his rear brake failed and Chisholm was able to run in the top three before being relegated to fifth.
San Manuel Yamaha’s Josh Hill had another poor meeting and his 19th spot means that he is virtually resigned to 5th place in the championship after having been in contention for the title thanks to five podiums from the first six events. Despite his misfortune with a rib injury the 20 year old is still Yamaha’s highest placed rider in the standings, although Brayton in 6th needs just 4 more points to overtake.
“Everything was going good at the beginning of the season,” he said. “I got a whole bunch of podiums in a row and I left the western swing of the series tied for the points lead but Indianapolis went horribly. I just didn’t ride a good main event there. I was ready to do better in Atlanta, but then I ‘endo-ed’ in the same rhythm section where Villopoto fell in the main event and broke three ribs. Ever since then I haven’t been able to breathe at all after a few laps in the main event. Then, just when my ribs were starting to feel better [before St. Louis], I crashed again and re-broke them. I mean, I can’t sleep, much less ride 20 laps in a main event. I’m still fast and every week I feel like I can get on the podium at least, but after a few laps in the main event, I can’t breathe.”
Team-mate and 2009 champion James Stewart has been out of action since round three with a broken scaphoid. The San Manuel rider is allegedly considering some appearances in the AMA Motocross Nationals with a view towards the 2010 Motocross of Nations in Colorado on September 26th.
Seattle West Coast Lites event winner Broc Tickle was 6th in Utah, after a bad start, and ends the season with 4th in the championship ranking on the YZ250F.
The final round of the Supercross campaign will take place at the Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas next Saturday.
Circuit Length: NA
Crowd: 38, 882
Weather: Wet
