Jesi Stracham’s Steel City Race Report

Being a woods girl, the moto world is so different. I had an invite to come along for the ride and attempt to shoot some photography at Steel City, so I couldn’t turn it down. I arrived at the track on Friday.  The only thing similar about being at an ATV MX race and a GNCC were the Racer Production employees’ faces. There were a ton of amateur practices all day Friday, and I walked down the pro pits; which were a lot different from ours.


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Saturday I had to get myself acquainted with the pro riders, putting names with faces. I found fellow GPS Off-road product riders Chad Wienen and Thomas Brown. I spoke briefly to their mechanics. Opening ceremonies had begun, so I found my post for pictures to watch the race action of moto one unfolds.

IMG_4477resizedThe gate dropped and it would be Natalie with the holeshot for moto one. Wienen sat in the number three spot, while Brown hung back in the fifth spot. Watching Wienen Ride was a lot like being in at a GNCC with his Chris Borich style of, hanging back then striking towards the end which is exactly what Wienen did in moto one. Wienen would pass Hetrick for the second place position, and then a few laps later go on to pass Natalie. Brown gained one position after Creamer had run into some mechanical issues.

During moto two starts I was down on the gate. I had talked a little to Brown and his mechanic. The one thing I noticed is they do not run the beadlocks in the front. They said they add too much weight. I learned something new every few hours here.

IMG_4568resizedThe gate dropped and it would be Hetrick who takes the holeshot and early lead. Quickly, Hetrick opened a gap between him and the rest of the field.  Wienen and Brown again rode in their third and fifth place position. Brown would make the pass for fourth then third while Wienen made the pass for second. Then throughout the race this duo would have a short battle for second. Hetrick won moto one Wienen behind him and Brown rounds out your top three.

This would lead Wienen to his fifth straight Overall win this season. And Brown would finish third over all. Leaving GPS on top.

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