Advertisement 1

Good outweighs the bad for Long in Round 5 of the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals

Article content

The good outweighed the bad for Konnor Long Sunday at Gopher Dunes.

“I proved I can ride up with the Top 15 guys, I just need to pull everything together,” said Long, 18, from Saint John, New Brunswick. “I just had a little crash, here and there. I just need to stay up.”

Saturday’s CMRC amateur race was day went well for Long who finished second in MX2 250 Intermediate.

“The top guy who won, Dylan Wright, actually got third today (Sunday) in the pro MX2. He’s definitely fast – got to give him credit for sure.”

Wright didn’t lap him, but did finish a half-track ahead.

In his first MX2 moto Sunday in the Monster Energy Canadian Motocross Nationals, Long experienced mechanical difficulties on the last lap and recorded a 27th. In the second moto he was 22nd, good for 28th overall, two places away from earning his first series points.

“My starts were really good today. The first moto, I’d say I was definitely Top 10. Second moto, Top 10 too. They were both good.”

In the first moto, however, he ran into an accident – literally.

“Two guys went down in front of me in the fourth turn and I hit them because I was right behind them. Everything’s so tight the first couple of laps. That put me into last.

“It’s hot, the track’s rough. Not a lot of people can put up for 30 minutes. You can do it one lap – you hold on tight and everything’s good. But 30 minutes… that’s almost 20 laps. And 20 laps on this and you’re bound to make a mistake. Sometimes those mistakes hurt.”

Overall, he was satisfied with his first race of the 2013 Monster Energy Motocross Nationals.

“As bad as it went, it was pretty good,” he smiled. “I got to see how I match up against those guys. As bad as it was, it was good to know that I can run up there.”

The whole Gopher Dunes Troy Lee Designs Honda Canada team experience has been a good one so far, he said.

“I like it – it’s nice to be part of this team, and having people around scoring and stuff. It puts a little more pressure on you, but we put a lot of pressure on ourselves, too.”

His goal through the last four rounds of the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals, beginning next weekend at Sand Del Lee in Richmond, is Top 15.

“Definitely. Hopefully get some good starts – I’ve always been a good starter – and put a whole moto together. Today, good starts and I either fell or something happened. I think if I can get a good start and ride a full, solid moto that I will be in the Top 15.”

Long is looking forward to Riverglade in New Brunswick.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a home track advantage – I don’t ride it enough, but it’ll be ‘home’ for me. My family can come. It’s in my region so there’ll be a lot of people who know me. And people I grew up riding with. That’ll be nice.”

A spectator at nationals since he was ‘a kid’, he’s never raced a national round in his home province.

“To get to race at nationals, at home, is pretty special.”

Article content
Advertisement 2
Advertisement
Article content
Article content
Latest National Stories
    News Near Tillsonburg
      This Week in Flyers