BARCIA’S PODIUM FINISH SLIPS AWAY AND MOSIMAN SIDELINED WITH HAND INJURY
After enjoying an incredibly successful result in Indianapolis just three days ago, the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing team returned to Lucas Oil Stadium for the final time on Saturday but it was a mixed day this time around. Justin Barcia delivered top-notch results all day starting with a season-best fifth in qualifying, a heat race victory and a Main Event holeshot that led to a podium finish within grasp before losing it all when another rider collided into him mid-air leaving him to salvage 19th. Teammate Michael Mosiman was poised to have another great night as well, grabbing third in qualifying before suffering a broken hand in the final qualifying session of the day. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Teams Maximus Vohland sat out of Round 6 as he continues to recover from a dislocated hip sustained during a practice crash at the fourth round. The young rookie will continue to assess and evaluate his injury alongside his doctors.
Coming into Saturday, the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing team made some changes to Barcia’s bike setup which seemingly paid off as he rode his MC 450F to a season-best fifth in qualifying. In the heat, Barcia jumped into a top-three position off the start and it wasn’t long before he found second. He kept a good pace behind the leader, Marvin Musquin, and he pounced on the chance to take over when Musquin made a mistake, leading the last six laps to claim the heat race win.
In the Main Event, Barcia proved he was hungry right off the start as he clawed his way across the line to the claim the holeshot. He diced up front early on before settling into a solid rhythm in second. He went back-and-forth with Cooper Webb, who finally got around him for second later in the race, only to then fend off defending champ, Eli Tomac, seconds later. Barcia shut down that attempt and staked his claim on third heading into the final laps. With a podium finish in sight, Barcia got tangled up with another rider mid-air and went down hard with only three laps to go. He was able to dust himself off and take the checkered flag in 19th, salvaging a few valuable points toward the overall championship.
Barcia: “The day was going good, I had my best qualifying position with fifth and I felt like we got the bike working really well and I felt really comfortable out there. The Main Event was going good, I was battling for the podium and unfortunately had a lapper come across on me and take me out and that’s pretty much how the night ended. It’s pretty disappointing but onto the next one.”
Coming off two consecutive podium finishes in the 250SX Eastern division, Michael Mosiman’s championship run came to an abrupt halt at Round 6 when he sustained a broken hand at the end of the day’s final practice session. Prior to getting injured Mosiman was in the mix fighting for pole position, ultimately qualifying third overall despite not being able to line up for the night’s racing. The next step for Mosiman will be surgery to repair his broken hand.
Mosiman: “I made a stupid move at the end of the last practice and I seem to have broken my hand in three places. I qualified third was riding great, looking to get my first win here tonight but looks like it’s going to need surgery so we’re going to do the work necessary and be back out there to battle with the guys. I’m super bummed and disappointed. Thanks to everyone sticking behind me and supporting me, we will be back.”
The Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing team is headed to warmer weather as they gear up for the next two rounds in Orlando, Florida beginning next Saturday, February 13.