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each week many expect a motoconcepts rider to get a glimpse of the holeshot, and heat number two was no different. vince blasted out of the launch pad and proceeded to swerve right, cutting off rid-
ers in the process, but having the 450 screaming as he banked off the outside berm. Rounding the first few corners in fourth, the glory didn’t last for long as he was picked off by numerous factory riders. Nestled between Lawson Bopping and Jake Weimer, Vince was stingy in hanging onto the seventh position. He would remain here until falling victim to Jason Anderson, who crashed earlier and had to work his way back through the field. An eighth place resulted in a trip to the semi.
The tandem of Mike Alessi and Vince Friese once again nailed their starts, and emerged at the front of the pack. With two groups of respective teammates occupying first through fourth (Pourcel/Anderson; Alessi/Friese), the Smartop duo latched on to one another and explored the track, hoping to find lines for the following main event. Finding a comfortable pace, Friese followed team leader Mike Alessi to the finish, taking fourth.
Blasting from the outside as the gate dropped for the 450 main event, the Missouri native drove into the first corner deeper than most, pushing himself wide and to the berm, filing into tenth place at the stripe.
Things started to happen very fast for Vince, as four riders passed him when they crossed the finish line to complete lap one and another on lap four, to give him the 15th position. By lap five, Friese had yielded to the Australian Lawson Bopping, to fall to 16th. Pourcel was next up to dethrone the Smartop rider, and he succeeded, dropping Vince to 17th on lap eight. Next up, Nick Schmidt and Jake Weimer, they both stalked Vince and pounced on lap nine, resulting in another two spots lost and 19th position. Down but not out, Vince began to rally by passing not one, but two riders and advancing to 17th by lap fifteen. Filthy Phil and Friese continued to swap, with Vince getting the short end of the stick and bringing home 18th on the night.
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