Rockford Fosgate TiLUBE Honda SX Lites East Round 1 Race Report

Courtesy of Rockford Fosgate TiLUBE Honda

Words and images courtesy Rockford Fosgate TiLube Honda Racing

Arlington, TX (February 19, 2018) The 2018 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series hit Texas for the second time with the opening of the SX East Lites championship. Where the Rockford Fosgate TiLUBE Honda team introduced its Supercross Lites riders #44 Lorenzo Locurcio and #373 Jacob Williamson.

Williamson who was a last minute addition to the team exceeded expectations dominating both of his qualifying sessions by over a second faster and qualifying a very impressive 13th OA. Locurcio also qualified easily into the evenings program in 22nd.

In heat race one Locurcio started in the middle of the pack completing the first lap in 14th. He raced well making a few passes working his way up to 10th. When the checkers came out he was still in 10th and he would have to go to the LCQ. In Heat race two Williamson started a little better in 11th with a qualifying position in close sight. He fought hard in a pack of five riders for the nine lap heat finishing 10th one spot off qualifying directly just a his teammate in the previous heat.

Both riders lined up for the LCQ knowing they would have to fight for two of only four qualifying spots. Williamson came out of the gate much better than his teammate Locurcio rounding the first turn in the top five with Locurcio about ninth. Just at the end of lap one Williamson went in for an aggressive pass but was not successful and ended up on the ground with two other riders. This small crash would ultimately cost him too much time and end his chances at making the main. As for Locurcio this opened the a door allowing him to complete the first lap in fourth. Riding very strong and confident he would continue on to win the LCQ and into the main.

"My speed was good all day and I know I belong in the main event" said a disappointed Williamson. "I made a few small racing mistakes in my heat forcing me into the LCQ. I may have been a little impatient in the LCQ and I will take what I learned and be ready for next weekend."

The Arlington track featured a long start with a higher than normal speed left hand first turn that had potential for drama. With an 18th gate pick Locrucio knew he would need to be smart going Jacob Williamson Williamson Action into the first turn. As he anticipated there was a massive pile up of bikes that he was able to avoid getting through the first lap clean in 11th. He would fight the entire race in a pack of about 4 riders for a top 10 spot. Bouncing up to as high as ninth and down to 13th at one point and never giving up Locurcio rode a strong final two laps to an 11th place finish.

“I have been working super hard preparing for this season,” explained Locurcio, “I really like the new 2018 Honda CRF250 and Buddy Brooks has it running awesome. It really took me all way into the evenings racing before I finally started riding well. Winning the LCQ was good confidence booster. My goals are to be consistently in the top 10 and possibly be fighting for top five finishes. I know I have the speed to be there."

Next week the series travels to the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. for the eighth round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series. Be sure to stop by the Rockford Fosgate TiLUBE Honda Team truck to show your support and to have your picture taken with Lorenzo Locurcio and Jacob Williamson from 12:30 pm – 5:30 pm. See you there!

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