Page 120 - Issue_39

FREDRIK NOREN
250 SX / 17TH
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / WILSON
>> Fredrik Noren has quietly produced a great start to his campaign in the 2017 250 East Coast Series. The long-time rider from Sweden has always had a bit of a struggle with Supercross but he has slowly been starting to turn things around for the better. He tried his hand in the 450 class before the East Coast series started and despite only making one main event, that extra indoor experience seems to have really helped at the first two rounds. So far he has tallied a thirteenth and a huge career best eighth place just a week ago in Atlanta. He entered Toronto trying to keep the momentum rolling as he went out and qualified modestly with the fifteenth fastest time. He was ready to shake things up when the gates dropped.
Noren got out to a great start in his heat race rounding lap one in fourth position. He looked primed to have an easy path to the main but things started happening too fast. He consistently lost positons each lap before getting passed for a final time on the last lap to bump him to tenth and just outside of a transfer position. He made sure he did not let anything like that happen again in the LCQ as he started in second and rode with ease to the checkered flag heading on through to the main.
Noren’s night was soiled right from the start of the main event. He got bumped and knocked down in the first corner. From there it would just be damage control for the TiLube/Honda racing rider. He would manage to charge up five positions to seventeenth on the very slick and technical Toronto course. The result comes as a bummer after such a fine perfor- mance last week but he will surely be looking forward to Daytona which suits his outdoor style.
120 GRITMOTO • MARCH 5, 2017