Bell Comes Out Swinging At Adelanto GP
F
acing the deepest field in
recent memory, Chaparral
Motorsports/Precision Concepts
Kawasaki's Zach Bell responded
as a champion in the making and
destroyed the field at the SoCal
Motorcycle Club's always popular
Adelanto Grand Prix, round one
in the FMF AMA National Grand
Prix Championship (NGPC)
Series in Adelanto, California,
January 18-19.
Despite his uncertainty of
starting on pavement, last year's
series runner-up snatched the
holeshot and was never headed,
eventually beating Slam Life Rac-
ing (SLR) Honda's Cole Martinez
by a full minute with Rockstar
Energy Husqvarna's Austin
Walton just five seconds back in
third after the 90-minute, $8000
feature race.
"I ended up getting the hole-
shot—very surprised with how
light I am," Bell said. "On the
[pavement] it's very tough for me
to get traction, but I got off to a
very good start and led from start
to finish. I put in my good, solid
three sprint laps and was manag-
ing [the race but] ended up going
down pretty good."
Despite twisting his thumb in
the fall, Bell managed to recover
and keep his Rekluse/Maxxis/
Moose Racing-backed KX450
in front, though he admitted, "I
put in another decent sprint lap,
but that was all I could really do.
Once I got back up to a minute
lead, I just kind of managed the
race and rode it in—it was tough
for me to hang on after that fall."
Bell's victory extended the
NGPC win streak he started last
season; it now stands at seven
victories in seven starts. "It's a
IN
THE
WIND
P44
