The Firepower Honda Team embraced a David and Goliath battle against factory teams, demonstrating remarkable strength and resilience to secure second overall in the first round of the East Coast Championship. Team Principal Martin Davalos expressed pride in the team’s achievements and looks forward to building on this solid performance.
Words: Firepower Honda Press Release Images: Michael Antonovich
“Since returning from Australia, everyone has worked tirelessly. It took the team a full season to learn from one another. Upon reflection, it took me some time to learn to be a better team leader, and together we have unified and strengthened our capabilities to perform at this level. I couldn’t be prouder of everyone’s efforts,” said Davalos.
Anstie’s start to the season showcased calculated and controlled riding as he navigated around competitors, securing second place on the challenging Detroit track.
“I continue to learn, and tonight I took a calculated approach and settled for second. The track was beat up, and I didn’t want to push it and make a costly mistake. The team, the bike, everything is working so well. We have a few weeks now before round 2 of the East Coast Championship, and we will maintain what we are doing. Everyone at MTF [Millsaps Training Facility] has been fantastic,” said Anstie.
In the 450 class, Dean Wilson displayed early promise with an impressive heat performance. Unfortunately, this didn’t translate into the final result everyone was aiming for.
“I thought we were in for a good night; the bike felt great, and I was feeling comfortable. I was in a decent position in the final, but I came together with another rider and was knocked off my bike. I remounted, but it was over for us. The positives are, I feel better on the bike, and testing went well. Time to focus on this coming weekend in Glendale for round 6,” said Wilson.
The team’s director, Yarrive Konsky, expressed delight with the results. “Everyone is working so well. The big difference this year is the team itself; they have really built a united front, and I can hear it in everyone’s voice during the week. They are resilient in their efforts, and it’s showing,” said Konsky.
