The 2023 National Grand Prix series has held nothing but an overwhelming amount of excitement since kicking off in early January. The series has already logged under two-thousand miles of traveling this far and has seen various terrain changes at each venue. So, naturally, it increases the series height, but each track is different, making it unfavorable to any of the racers. Round four of the series will tackle the World Famous Glen Helen Raceway, in which the Praire Dogs M.C. has put together one of the most favorable courses of the year.
A sneak peek of this year’s course sees an almost ten-mile extravaganza using nearly every square inch of ridges and course that has yet to be used in almost ten years for competition. With the weather flooding Southern California, NGPC and the Praire Dogs have combined to make this event unforgettable and one not to miss!
Heading into round four in the Pro 450 class, Red Bull/KTM racer Dante Oliveria has taken over the momentum, clocking off the series’s last two wins, and only looks to improve. After a less-than-desirable podium at the opening round, Oliveria has proven why he is the reigning three-time champion of the series by winning back-to-back races. But, if you slightly remember last year’s event at Glen Helen, Oliveria didn’t break away and win as he has been. In fact, he didn’t make the pass for the win on SLR/Hondas Cole Martinez until the last lap of the race, making for one of the closes finishes the series has seen.
Martinez and his SLR/Hondas could easily be Dante’s biggest competition in the series. At round three, the two mimicked each other’s every move for over an hour of the hour and thirty-minute pro race, where Oliveria had a little bit more in the tank to take a convincing win near the end.
SLR/Honda and racers Cole Martinez and Talon LaFontaine had promising races at the sand pit in Blythe. LaFontaine came from a bad start and only pressed forward as the race brokedown, where he went on to top his best finish at a third-place in the Pro Class. Martinez is only looking to finish what was started in Blythe. The title hopeful made quick moves in the opening laps of Blythe and put himself at the front of the race with only three laps to go before succumbing to a hard-charging Oliveria. Martinez sits 17 points off the lead, and if he wants to be in the fight, he needs to stop the momentum from the KTM racer and ensure he finishes in front of the KTM.
Another Honda racer and team that can put a fork in the KTMs fight to stay at the top is opening round winner JCR/Hondas Ryan Surratt. Surratt sits only 11 points off Oliveria, but his sixth-place effort at Blythe may have come too early in the series. Nevertheless, the JCR rider has shown that his strengths are to the side of the Motocross-style Grand Prix events. Surratt and JCR could stop the momentum at Glen Helen, retake the series points lead, and keep their name in the title fight.
The Pro 250 class sees the same amount of competition, with a new face at every round finding themselves on the podium. However, Purvines Yamaha racer Jack Simpson started the season with a dominating win. Although, he faces new challenges from others in the class, finishing off the podium’s top step in the last two races. Though he leads the championship by sixteen points, his new title rival has aggressively appeared in the series and is looking to crack the Australian racer.
KADE WALKER GAVE HIS NEW TEAM A WIN IN HIS FIRST RACE UNDER THEIR TENT
Kade Tinkler-Walker started the season on a Beta 250 with little support and even missed the opening round due to underlining issues with his previous support. But, in round two, with the help of Ty Davis, he won and put himself into the race-winning picture. Between races two and three, he found himself a new home with SLR/Honda and rewarded them quickly by dominating round three in Blythe. Walker only sits sixteen back from Simpson, and only at round four of the series, there is plenty of time for him to assert himself at the top step. Though Glen Helen presents its challenges, look for Walker to be battling in the front of the Pro 250 class.
Three Brothers Husqvarna racer Kai Aiello is sitting third in the series and a mere 22 points behind the series championship. Aiello started round three with an epic hole shot and the opportunity to put himself at the top of the box. Instead, Aiello was quickly shuffled back, lost track of the lead riders, and couldn’t optimize his points on the day. With Glen Helen, rises talks about whether Aiello can win at a track where he has seen many successes in the past.
The Women’s Pro class took a massive hit with Brandy Richards. Between rounds two and three, Richards had a considerable crash resulting in a broken femur and a dislocation in her hip. She had surgery to repair her broken bones but will be out for quite some time. With Richards being out, unfortunately, it opens up the door for the West Coast Women pro to assert themselves into the championship talk.
Mikayla Nielson is new to the pro class but isn’t new to the series. “Kay-Kay” has been one to watch for many years. At one point, she was the Super-Mini, Women’s, and Youth Girls champion all in one year. As time has passed, she has found herself at the podium’s top step and is now leading the series points as they head into round four. Though she has the points lead, a fierce Ava Silvestri is firing on all cylinders and looking to battle her way to the top.
The Western Hare Scramble champion is looking to add another championship to her belt and the NGPC series is in her grasp. Along with Nielson and Silvestri, RPM/KTM racer Kaitlyn Jacobs also is one to watch for. Though she’s had a consistent start to the series, Jacobs is coming off two shoulder injuries and using each race to regain her racing endurance and fight for the podium.
If you’re looking to race this weekend, head to ngpcseries.com and sign-up for a weekend full of fun. There are classes for all disciplines even, including a Stasyc race sponsored by KTM.
Grab a view of last year’s pro race below, brought to you by Re’vD Productions.
