51FIFTY ENERGY DRINK YAMAHA RACE REPORT | 2018 ANAHEIM 1

Courtesy of 51FIFTY ENERGY DRINK YAMAHA

Anaheim 1 Race Report

January 8, 2017 – Livingston, Ca – The 51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha Team raced through the opening weekend of the 2018 Supercross season with two solid finishes for Kyle Chisholm (#11) and Hayden Mellross (#63), setting a solid performance for the year to come.

The 51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha Pits were electrified with music, live dancers, models, an interactive photo booth, display bike and more. Be sure to enjoy the experience and Live The Madness during each round of the 2018 West Coast Supercross Series.

The 250 West Coast Supercross Championship is arguably more stacked than it’s ever been with a minimum of six (6) exceptional Factory team; the 51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha Team has established its mark and expects to be in the mix all year. With the season kick-off at Anaheim 1, the team was ready to put their hard work and preparation to the test against the sport’s best racers.

In the first qualifying session of the year, Hayden Mellross #63 clicked the 12th fastest lap time with teammate Kyle Chisholm #11 hot on his heels in 13th; the overall lap times were closer to the Top 5 than ever before.

Hayden Mellross lined up in the gate for Heat 1 on his 51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha YZ250F. This was the first gate drop of the 2018 season and riders were eager to strut their stuff in front of the sold-out Anaheim crowd. With chaos ensuing around him, the young Australian rode smooth and consistent laps to finish 5th place. This secured his spot in the main event directly from the heat race.

In Heat 2, Kyle Chisholm fighting for his position in the 250 main event. Battles were everywhere on the track, but the #11 used his veteran experience to find good lines that led him to 7th place at the finish line. The 51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha had both riders transfer to the main directly from their respective heat races.

When the gates dropped for the main event, the 51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha YZ250F’s launched off the new metal start pad and into the pack. Chisholm on the #11 machine held off many challengers as he solidified his position in 10th. Mellross on the #63 was only a few spots behind his teammate for the majority of the race, battling amongst other riders. On the last lap, Bradley Taft made a solid pass on Hayden, the two riders pushed wide opening the door for Dakota Alix to smartly sneak by. At the line, it was Chisholm 10th and Mellross 13th.

“A top 10 is a good way to start the season for me,” remarked Chisholm. “We’ve all worked really hard during the off-season, and to log a solid finish like that is definitely a step in the right direction. I’m looking forward to building on this throughout the year.”

“Overall it was a decent night for me and the team,” Mellross mentioned. “We had a good run in practice and were able to transfer straight from the heat to the main. From there we had some good battles on the track and ultimately took home a strong top 15. There’s some room for improvement, I’ll continue to get into race-shape as it’s been several months since I’ve lined up, but I’m excited to leave Anaheim healthy and ready for more.”

Was this post helpful? Add yours to our service or subscribe to our feed above.