Smartop | Bullfrog Spas | MotoConcepts | Honda continued its run with the Monster Energy Supercross Championship at 2022 Daytona Supercross. The season's ninth race put Mitchell Oldenburg, Vince Friese, and Justin Brayton to the test. Still, all three riders left Daytona International Speedway with valuable points and satisfactory results.
Mitchell Oldenburg held his own in Daytona's incredibly competitive 250 East Region division. Quick, efficient laps during the early afternoon practice sessions showed the rider could link together the long track, and a personal best time of 1:14.304 put him ninth overall in the Timed Qualifying results. A mix of eagerness, skill, and luck helped Oldenburg ace the start in 250 Heat Race Two, and he maintained the early track position to score a fourth-place finish. Unfortunately, Oldenburg couldn’t replicate his reaction to the gate drop in the 250 Main Event, and he crossed the scoring stripe on the opening lap in 10th place. The rider pushed for all 14 laps of the feature race, caught the pack that battled for positions in the top-10, and crossed the finish line in ninth place. “This race showed how important a start is,” Oldenburg noted at the end of the night. “In the Heat Race, I saw that Jett flinched, so I flinched a bit, and it all worked out. I wish I could have had that happen in the Main Event, because that could have put me further ahead in the group, but instead, I had to chase everyone. It wasn’t a bad night, I’m not a bad rider, but it was frustrating to follow when I felt this good.” Oldenburg is now ranked 11th in the 250 East Region championship standings.
Vince Friese was again on the cusp of the top-10 at Daytona, impressive for a rider with split duties this season. Friese put in his fastest effort of the afternoon in the first practice session, and the 1:14.193 lap put him 17th overall in the Timed Qualifying results. A good start in 450 Heat Race Two put Friese in sixth place, a position he held through all six laps of the sprint race, and that allowed him to control the pace of the second pack. The rider was just as consistent in the 450 Main Event; Friese started among the top-10, traded passes and positions with others on the track, took advantage of late-race situations, and finished in 12th place. “I was just middle of the road all day. In the Main Event, I got a decent start, but with the Malcolm-Jason deal, I was right in the middle of it, and that let a bunch of guys go by me,” recalled Friese of the opening lap. “I got back by a couple of those guys and pushed to the end. It’s not what I wanted because a top-10 felt like it could have been in the cards, but I’m getting out of here safe and moving on to Detroit.” Friese is now ranked 20th in the 450 Class championship standings.
Justin Brayton’s farewell season wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Daytona, the site of the rider’s massively popular 2018 win. The weekend was a memorable one, thanks to special recognition from Daytona International Speedway during Friday’s media activities, nonstop support from the crowd, and the hand-off of the 2018 Honda CRF450R race bike to the rider at Friday evening’s team dinner. Brayton was ready to race by Saturday, though. Improvements in his pace between the two practice sessions showed he was working on the track, and a 1:13.902 lap put him 14th overall in the Timed Qualifying results. A fair start put Brayton sixth on the opening lap of 450 Heat Race One, a six-lap run that saw the rider go up and down in the running order before crossing the finish line in sixth place. The 450 Main Event proved to be a challenge for Brayton, as he was pinched off in the first turn, pushed back to the back, and forced to work his way forward while navigating the worn-in track. He ended the night with a 16th place finish. “This was a very important race for me and the team. I’ll never forget it,” Brayton said at the end of the weekend. “Daytona is always a tough track, and I experienced that first-hand, but I enjoyed it. The results could have been better, but I rode my best and will keep moving forward. These next few races are good for me, and I’m excited to see where we are in the stadiums.” Brayton is now ranked 13th in the 450 Class championship standings.
The 2022 Monster Energy Supercross Championship continues with the 2022 Detroit Supercross on Saturday, March 12, at Ford Field.