MOUNT MORRIS, Pa. (May 18, 2021) – ”Combining the excitement that Phoenix Racing/CST Tires/Elka/Walsh Race Craft/Moose Racing’s Joel Hetrick brings to the weekend and the familiar dirt of High Point Raceway, round three of the 2021 ATV Motocross National Championships (ATVMX) Series, an AMA National Championship, was primed for the series return to competition after a long break.
Pennsylvania is Hetrick country and being on home state turf had the team and him looking to decimate the class and continue his domination so far as the series schedule starts to normalize. With exceptional weather on tap, the weekend was wide open for Hetrick to write another page in his history book as he quickly gained the fastest qualifying lap times for the event.
The track itself was new to many as the series made its return, not having raced here since 2018, allowing somewhat of a challenge and new layout to the legendary soil. With several huge jumps included for the pro racers only, the fans in attendance were treated to some big air as the pro class displayed its talents to the cheers and amazement of a solid crowd of spectators.
With the gate being filled for moto one, Hetrick was the hometown favorite, and the defending champion Wienen Motorsports/Maxxis/SSi Decals/Fly Racing/Yamaha’s Chad Wienen was being seated in second as the chatter started falling away from the top two and on to the remaining positions. With the retirement of Thomas Brown and the current crop of riders that are landing just off the podium, the excitement in the first few rounds seems to be higher than the battle waging for the win and runner-up position.
That excitement comes from the deep talent pool now starting to grow and not just a group of riders that have a good moto and look to capitalize on the retirement of one of the greats or benefit from the misfortune of another. The best racing thus far in 2021 has indeed fallen to those battling for the last podium position and it is creating some of the stiffest competition we have seen in many years.
The gate dropped in moto one and Hetrick added the SSi Decals Holeshot Award to his weekend’s accomplishments as he unleashed a rush of speed that found him out front and putting distance between himself and the remainder of the field. On cruise control, Hetrick handily defeated the class and would pull almost the same results in moto two after taking grabbing the second moto holeshot and the win giving him the perfect weekend he had been after.”
Source: atvmotocross – www.atvmotocross.com
Photo: Ken Hill