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VINCE FRIESE
450 SX / SD
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / ARMSTRONG DESIGN / WILSON
>> For the second year in a row Vince Friese and Weston Peick got themselves into conflict at the opening round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series. Thankfully this year only words got shared instead of fists. It didn’t take long for the two to find each other in the night program this weekend either in San Diego. It was clear that the two have received
a warning from either the AMA or their teams to keep it cool out on the track considering this is one of the only times both riders seemed to have no issues with one another. Unfor- tunately with a stacked field in 2017 it is hard for riders who aren’t on direct factory equipment to qualify for the main event straight out of their heat races. Vince is finding this out first hand. Thankfully starts have always been a key asset to the SmartTop/MotoConcepts rider making it easy on himself to start upfront with the big dogs of the class. Friese nearly pulled the holeshot on his 2016 privately funded Honda against Factory rider Cole Seely in the Semi race, although Vince couldn’t hang tough with Seely he was able to keep himself out of the last chance qualifier (lcq). You can look
at Vince’s main event finish one or two ways. First of Vince wouldn’t be happy with how he finished tonight, but it is two positions better than a week ago at A1. Another weekend in the books gives something for Friese and the team to work towards.
104 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 15, 2017