FMF/RPM/KTM/Racing Team Maxxis rolled into Sacramento, California for round two of the Geico AMA Endurocross series. The team had a few ups and downs, but that is how Endurocross usually goes! This round was really about focusing on the upcoming X Games as a team, and we all worked very hard supporting one another.

During the day, we really enjoyed visiting with Tallon Vohland of Acerbis and many of the employees of Motion Pro who stopped by to see our team in action. Currently we will have Bobby Prochnau, Ivan Ramirez, Kacy Martinez and Chantelle Bykerk representing FMF/RPM/KTM Racing Team Maxxis at X Games for the EnduroX event July 1st.

We will now get back to our routine, and work on perfecting our results. We have great riders, great bikes and great sponsors. The X Games results will be interesting and I look forward to seeing FMF/RPM/KTM Racing Team Maxxis on the podium.

The Women Put on an Impressive Show

Kacy Martinez and Chantelle Bykerk were in it, to win it. Both women have already qualified for X Games; Martinez from her Bronze Medal at X Games finish last year, and Bykerk from her 4th place finish in Vegas. In the qualifying Heat, Martinez had a fourth place start. A couple dismounts put her back a bit, but Kacy was still able to hang on for 6th and that would get her a decent starting position in the night show. Bykerk was third off the start and surprised all of us by winning the Heat; giving her first gate  pick for the start of the Main event. "This was my first event with support from FMF/RPM/KTM Racing Team Maxxis," said Bykerk. Team owner, Mike Hurlbert, set up a few days of practice riding at Brady Allards Durt Werx riding facility in Washington for Bykerk to help prepare her for Sacramento. "I spent a lot of time on the ground in the rainy, muddy terrain riding with my boyfriend Bobby Prochnau. It kind of made this Endurocross course seem easy!"

In the Main event it was FMF/KTM's Maria Forsberg who snagged the awkward holeshot. Behind Forsberg, Louise Forsley worked her way into 2nd, our Kacy Martinez kicked it off in 3rd and Chantelle Bykerk was sitting 7th. The first lap of the main looked like a complete reversal from the earlier qualifying heat. Suddenly, Forsberg went down in the log-matrix. Forsley took the lead, Martinez went down and Bykerk charged forward into 2nd. On the last lap Bykerk passed Forsley for the lead and the two of them battled the last two turns with Forsley just getting by for the win. Bykerk took 2nd and Maria Forsberg rounded it off in 3rd for a KTM sweep of the podium. Martinez was able to finish in 7th after a hard fall, ahead of the rest of the pack.

"I was very impressed with Chantelle (Bykerk)," said Hurlbert. "I knew she was pretty good when Bobby Prochnau had been informing me on her progress in Canada, winning the last 3 Mens Intermediate races on her RTR Motorsports, KTM Canada, KTM 200 XC. I'm very happy to have two top riders like Kacy Martinez and Chantelle Bykerk to go for the Gold at X Games."

Coy & Prochnau Hang Tough

During the day, Travis Coy started off his day taking 6th in his Heat, motivating him to push harder in the Semi. Taking 3rd, Coy just missed qualifying for the night show by a hair.

Bobby Prochnau was able to miss the day qualifier based on his 9th place standing in points. However, you still have to place well in your heats to make the Main. Prochnau rode almost flawless in his stacked heat, Heat 1. He finished an impressive 4th, but only the top two finishers go to the Main. Moving on to his Semi Heat, he again had a near perfect ride, but finished 3rd. But this time only 1st moves to the Main. With one last chance, Prochnau  looked to have the holeshot, but his front wheel came up too high midway down the straight away and he had to let off  to get the front down. In Endurocross, mistakes are hard to be forgiven, and it gave the pack time to trap him back to about 6th, where he finished.  Since only the top two go to the main,  Prochnau  loaded up and is back home putting in more laps to prepare for X Games in just three weeks. "Your going to have some off-days," stated Hurlbert. "Everyone that experiences an off-day is capable of having a good finish the very next race. And that is just what we're going to do."