race recap
FREDRIK NOREN - GRIT 229 450MX
August 16, 2023 · Fredrik Noren
FREDRIK NOREN | GRIT-229 | 450MX
Suzuki's Freddie Noren had been a staple on the AMA Motocross circuit for numerous years, gaining confidence and experience across tracks around the United States where he excelled at the highest of levels. And as action began in New York on Saturday, the plot to round nine of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship was no different. He qualified exceptionally well (via fourteenth) in the final standings, prior to speeding from the starting gate(s) with fearlessness. Dodging roost as it ricocheted from his front number-plate, Noren would "buckle down" in the toughest of times as gravitational forces weighed upon him when flying from the deepest valleys. Weighting the back wheel as much as possible after overcoming a thirtieth-place starting position, Noren was absolutely relentless when speeding amongst various walls and uphills that were extreme in elevational change. He had moved into sixteenth by lap seven, bout sought to reach the top-ten if possible during the last nine circuits of competition...and his Suzuki engine could be heard around the track, as he evaded competition when scrubbing from the top's of countless drop-off's on the circuit. The ruts were spanning extreme distances in length, but with a brilliant wit upon the 450cc chassis, he was able to pass Derek Drake in the final moments of the moto. Eventually, he secured thirteenth as the dust settled on the opening portion of this two-part contest and looked forward to the latter afternoon segment as a means to thrive. Noren's eleventh-place position, to begin the second moto of the day, was exceptional; with he, Harri Kullas, and Ty Masterpool all participating in an extensive battle that tested the fortitude and physical stamina of every racer involved. Noren wasn't going to let Masterpool off the hook that easily, where the final half (and later, quarter) of the moto approached, and the Swedish native proceeded to "up the pace" as stakes grew higher. The front-end of the Suzuki would twitch at times, while the rear wheel occasionally caught edges which created spikes of adrenaline...but Noren was truly numb to at all as he sped to the finish line. Laps eleven through fifteen were pivotal in occupying ninth on the final leaderboard, but Noren rose to the challenge (as many assumed he would). Concluding the race in the aforementioned mention of ninth, his overall placement of tenth would be extremely admirable given the depth of the field.