Chris Blose Second at Florence Arenacross, Team Readies for Supercross Run Rockford Fosgate/TiLUBE/Honda Race Report

Courtesy of Rockford Fosgate/TiLUBE/Honda

Words and images courtesy Rockford Fosgate/TiLube/Honda Racing

Salisbury, NC (2/18/2018)–The Rockford Fosgate/TiLUBE/Honda team had another exciting weekend in Arenacross punctuated by Chris Blose’s second consecutive runner-up finish in the 250AX class. Heath Harrison finished second in the AX Lites East race, and leads the points going into the championship finale in May. The event was held at the Florence Center in Florence, SC.

Chris Blose

The track was the largest of the season and featured four full lanes of racing, as well as an additional rhythm section. The dirt comprised a perfect blend of clay and sand, making for close and fast racing.

Blose qualified first, won his heat and went 2-3 in the motos. He continues to hold third place in points and with the points reset just one race away, he’s well in the thick of the title battle as the series heads west after a three-week break.

“There was no breathing room and I was pushing the whole time in both main events,” said Blose. “We had an amazing track and really good dirt.”

While many of their fellow competitors will be resting during the break, Blose and his teammates will be racing. Starting next weekend, Blose and the rest of the team will be competing in Supercross, first in Tampa, FL, then Atlanta and finally at the Daytona Supercross.

“What better way to get ready than to do Supercross,” said Blose. “We want to keep our intensity. There will be no rest for me or the rest of the team. We’re going to keep working hard. We’re not happy with second. We want to be winning and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Heath Harrison

Harrison finished sixth in the 250AX race, as well as second in the AX Lites East Coast event. Harrison is in contention when the 250AX points reset, and continues to hold the point lead in AX Lites, which will stage it’s championship finale in May in Las Vegas.

“We’re going into the break with some momentum,” said Harrison. “The new Honda CRF 250R is working great. The team has been great getting it settled in and how I like it. The Dunlop Tires were hooking up great and the Yoshimura exhaust was working perfectly.”

Harrison, along with Blose and Kyle Bitterman all qualified for the Head to Head Challenge. The trio all finished in the top three in their heats.

“That was pretty awesome for the team,” said Harrison. “We’re trying to keep that momentum going every weekend. It’s awesome when you have can three Hondas up front in podium positions.”

Jared Lesher

Jared Lesher qualified 12th, finished fifth in his heat and went 7-8 for an overall seventh-place finish, just behind Harrison. Lesher ran consistently all weekend.

“We put in two solid motos and came off on two wheels,” said Lesher. “We had a train of three of us in the row there. The bike was awesome and team was awesome. We had a good time here and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Kyle Bitterman

Bitterman qualified fourth, and finished second in his heat. He was sixth in the first moto, and recovered from a crash to score 11th in the second main for an eighth overall. He now sits fifth in 250AX points.

“It could have been better, but we have one more race until the points reset,” said Bitterman. “The Honda is running great. The Dunlop Tires were hooking up with the Factory Connection suspension. Everyone behind the team, I can’t thank them enough.”

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