Lodi’s Jacob Hayes battles in Oakland
The Ringcentral Coliseum in Oakland hosted Round 5 of the AMA Monster Energy Supercross Championships on Saturday, and Lodi resident Jacob Hayes, 26, was on familiar ground as he took on the man-made course and the sport’s most talented Supercross racers in the 250SX West Class.
With the sun-baked track and over 5,500 cubic yards of dirt molded into a grueling racing course, the stage was set for some great racing.
The day kicked off with practice sessions and then a pair of timed practice sessions. The time practice sessions are used to determine gate pick for one of two heat races.
Hayes qualified 10th overall in timed practice out of 45 entrants, and earned the fifth gate pick. As the gate dropped, the 20 racers blasted off the metal starting pad onto the dirt start and accelerated to the first turn.
Hayes rounded the first turn in second place. He rode smooth and fast during the seven-lap race, and the track still somewhat fresh made for some close racing and even faster lap times. Hayes found himself in fourth, but was pressured by a hard-charging Alex Martin for several laps. Hayes felt the pressure and rode a virtual mistake-free race and in picking good lines to avoid a pass. Jacob ended up with a fourth-place finish and a nice gate pick going into the main event.
His mechanic, Ryan, prepped the bike for the 15minute-plus-one-lap main event by checking the bike over thoroughly to ensure the machine was in top mechanical shape. The track was considered tight by most standards and had a very technical sand section and a short whoop section leading to a long triple jump. Still there where passing lanes and as the track changed riders had to make adjustments in line choice during the race.
As the gate dropped for the main event and the 22 racers rocketed off the gate, Hayes rounded the first turn mid-pack. He chose his racing lines well and started to make a few passes as he settled in. After the 4th lap, he got collected in a left turn crash with a few other riders including rival Michael Mosiman. Hayes, undeterred and in nearly last place, remounted his machine, stayed focused as he passed rider after rider as the race progressed. By the checkered flag he finished a solid 12th place finish and salvaged some valuable points to move up to sixth in the standings from seventh when the night began.
To be a successful Supercross racer takes training and practice on various Supercross tracks. Jacob works with long time resident Daniel Blair, a 2015 Arenacross Lites West Coast Champion. Since the fall of last year, Blair has been coaching and helping Hayes to be at the top of his game.
Jacob competes in the 250SX West Class, which is more of a stepping stone to the premier 450SX class. The 250SX class in broken up in two divisions: West and East. There are nine stops for the West series with a final stop in Salt Lake City. The main difference between the 250SX and 450SX bikes is the engine size, 250cc’s vs 450cc’s respectively.
The 450SX race was just as exciting with first place going to Eli Tomac, followed by Cooper Webb in second and Ken Roczen rounding up the podium.
In the 250SX West class winner was Dylan Ferrandis, 2nd place to Austin Forkner and Justin Cooper in third.