Round 4 of the Yamaha Quad X series was held in Surprise, AZ at Speedworld MX Park. The first of two night races for this season was a hot one. As practice started at 4 pm it was 104 degrees with temps gradually cooling to 85 by nights end. The hot and windy conditions made practice and the first motos extremely dusty, then once the sun went down they watered, making the blue grooved track muddy and incredibly slippery.

Yamaha Quad X Series Round 4 Speedworld MX Park, Surprise, AZ 6/18/11

Moto 1: My #94 YFZ-R pulled me to a great holeshot just ahead of my Yamaha/GYTR teammate Josh Row. I slid slightly wide in the first turn and Row nearly got by as we headed into turn two. Out front and out of the dust I put in some fast, solid laps and built a small cushion over the three way battle for second between Row, Beau Baron and Dirkie Baard. Around the halfway point Baron made the move past Row, sneaking by on the inside of a tight left hand u turn and blocking Row’s line on exit. Then just as it looked as all positions were set, Baron blew a motor with two laps to go, re-lighting the fire in the battle between Row and Baard. I cruised to the win with a 6 second lead while Row fought off the charging Baard for 2nd. Davi Haagsma and Ethan Thatcher rounded out the top five.

Moto 2: Haagsma grabbed the GYTR/Yamalube $250 Holeshot award with myself in second. Just behind us through the first turn Baron got up on two wheels and had to let off, dropping him to the rear of the pack. The track was ridiculously slippery with water laid down on top of the blue groove and the mud spray was horrible. I went through two tear offs on the first lap and by the third lap I was out of tear offs when I mistakenly pulled the whole stack. I laid back from Haagsma to avoid roost, then when I figured out where to make my pass I charged up through the roost and made my attempt. About halfway through our 20 minutes plus 1 lap moto I was able to make the pass into the lead. In a tight right hander at the end of a long straight, I set up outside going in and cut to the inside on exit, sliding up into Haagsma and pinching him to the side of the track. Once out front I tried to ride smooth, mistake free laps on the still very slippery track. Haagsma stayed close enough to keep the pressure on all the way to the finish while Row once again fought hard and battled his way through the mud to take the third spot. Baard and local Arizona pro Jesse Goss rounded out the top five.

Round 4 of the Yamaha Quad X series was a great night for Yamaha and Nelson 94MX as we finished 1, 2 for the first time this season. Looking forward to the double header weekend at Glen Helen for rounds 5 and 6 on July 9th and 10th.

Top Five Results

1) Dustin Nelson (Yam)

2) Josh Row (Yam)

3) Davi Haagsma (Hon)

4) Dirkie Baard (Hon)

5) Jesse Goss (Suz)

Top Five Points

1) Dustin Nelson 100

2) Beau Baron 80

3) Dirkie Baard 76

4) Ethan Thatcher 75

5) Josh Row 70