2022 Blythe NGPC

The course’s start was somewhat technical, as a short, initial straightaway led into an off-camber, decreasing-radius, right-hand first-turn. This made it tricky for racers to judge when to brake, and how tight to navigate the first turn, in order to come out in a good position. As the 90-minute pro-event got underway, Tyler had a decent jump and headed into the first turn amongst the top-five. As the field headed into the off-camber corner, riders on the inside torpedoed their way into the cluster of racers, pushing many of them wide. Lynn was on the short end, as he was pushed to the outside. This allowed numerous riders to move by and pushed the Kawasaki pilot back outside the top ten.

Through a hectic first lap of flying sand and serpentining motorcycles, Lynn got to work moving forward. He quickly overtook up to seventh place, closing in on the JCR-Honda of Ryan Surratt, who was running sixth through the first few laps. Tyler was able to make the move, but a made a mistake lap later, which allowed Surratt, and the Beta of Dare DeMartille a route by. Tyler recovered and pushed back by both riders as the mid-race pit window neared.

After the pit, Lynn was sixth, and just over twenty seconds behind Dalton Shirey for a top-five finish. However, the Kawasaki rider started to feel an issue brewing with his clutch, as the heat generated from the deep sand had taken its toll. Unfortunately, with about a lap-and-a-half to go, Lynn would have to pull to the side of the track. In a stroke of luck, a fellow racer stopped, who happened to have some tools, and just what Tyler needed to make the necessary adjustment to his machine in order to get back on track. The time-loss was significant, though, as Lynn lost about a lap. But he was able to cross the finish line to salvage an eleventh-place finish, which keeps him in fifth place in the standings.

For Saturday’s vet race, Robby lined up toward the inside of a packed first-row of AA and A racers. As the green lights lit, Robby and fellow Kawasaki-rider Mark Tilley drag-raced up the initial straightaway. Bell was on the inside, and hit the brakes early, thinking he would cut underneath Tilley in the off-camber first turn. A surprise came from a Yamaha rider on the extreme inside, who muscled his way into second place, shuffling Bell back to third. Robby quickly got to work pushing forward and got back into second. He then, swiftly closed the distance to the lead bike of Mark Tilley. Through a left-hand turn, Tilley faded just a little wide. This was all the invite Robby needed, as he turned his KX450X down and powered to the inside. Bell was able to make the clean pass and instantly set sail. Through the opening laps, Robby opened up over thirty seconds on the field. From there, Bell was able to enjoy the mid-morning conditions and take the overall win.