2023 NGPC round 3 – Blythe

By Precision Concepts | February 20, 2023

2023 Blythe NGPC Report —

The deep sand of Shorty’s MX park in Blythe, CA hosted the third round of the AMA NGPC series. The terrain at Blythe was a departure from recent rounds, as the terrain was much more physical. Deep whoops and sharp, choppy bumps cover most of the course. So, momentum, commitment, and stamina were all required to get the most out of the weekend. Both of the Chaparral Motorsports, Precision Concepts, Kawasaki racers were on the hunt for solid results to really get their NGPC campaigns going.

Tyler Lynn – 5th place Pro

When the green lights lit to start the 90-minute pro race, Tyler’s KX450X quickly fired to life with the rest of the field. Lynn accelerated down the starting straight around seventh, but made a few very quick moves to slot in to fourth place behind his teammate. Over the first couple laps, Tyler held a top-five position, but soon had to work through a bit of tightness. Though he dropped a few spots, Lynn held the tow of the top seven riders as he found his flow. Just before the halfway point of the race, Tyler began building momentum. He passed up to sixth place, and then passed Ryan Surratt a lap later to nail down fifth place. Late in the race, Tyler made a run at Austin Walton, closing the gap with just a couple laps to go. However, Lynn had been dealing with a mild midweek illness, which sapped his strength over the final laps and he wasn’t able to make any further progress. Still, it was a very solid showing for the Kawasaki rider to cross in fifth place.

tyler lynn riding his kx450x at the 2023 blythe ngpc

Zach Bell – 9th place Pro

Zach had a good jump off the line at the start of the pro race. Through the first few corners, Bell was able to sprint up to third place behind Cole Martinez and Dante Oliveira. Over the opening laps, Zach held a strong grasp on third. He continued to hold a competitive pace inside the top-five through the first forty minutes before losing time when he buried his bike through a sandy left-hand corner. In the corner, a rock got wedged in the chain and countershaft sprocket, bringing the Kawasaki pilot to a stop. After diagnosing what had happened, Zach got the rock dislodged and rejoined the race just inside the top-ten. After the pit stops, Zach continued to hold a solid place through the brutal terrain and crossed the finish line to take home ninth place on the day.

zach bell riding his kx450x at the 2023 blythe ngpc

Robby Bell, Team Manager

“It sounded like the conditions were pretty brutal out there for all of the racers. It was definitely a tough-guy’s track. Tyler kept it pretty close to the chest that he had a little sickness during the week, which looked to play a part late in the race because of how physical the course was. Still, it was a solid performance from him. He managed his first 30-40 minutes better this week. And getting a top-five, with the current depth of the pro field, is a good result. He wants more, though, and we’re going to try a few handling updates before the next one to see if that can get Tyler a little more pace and comfort.

“Zach gritted through that one. He got off to a great start and held a strong pace through the first 40 minutes. But the terrain was demanding, and he’s still building the fitness in his wrist to handle that pounding. The issue with the rock in the chain didn’t help either, as that brought his early-race momentum to a quick halt. So, he’ll get back to work through the weekend-off to keep improving and get ready for Glen Helen.”