Brayton 6th in Lites class shoot out

[totalmotorcycle]

Brayton 6th in Lites class shoot out
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008 - KTM Motorcycle Press Release - Total Motorcycle - http://www.totalmotorcycle.com


Shoot out of the Supercross Lites Series that kicked off at Sam Boyd Stadium with MDK KTM Lites Team riders Justin Brayton, Matt Goerke, and Ryan Sipes.

Brayton was up first in Lites heat #1. After a 12th place start he found himself in a second corner pile up. He was last to remount which set him 20 seconds back from the rest of the pack ultimately sending him to the LCQ.

Goerke and Sipes hopped out front early in Lites heat #2 coming down the long start straight in 4th and 5th respectively. Goerke continued to move forward at an aggressive pace quickly moving into 3rd. He caught up and battled with the 2nd place ride of Trey Canard but wasn't able to make the pass stick. Goerke finished 3rd in his heat. Sipes managed to cross the line in 7th after a couple late moto mistakes cost him a few positions.

In the Lites LCQ Brayton redeemed himself by pulling a massive holeshot leading the race from start to finish, never looking back. "I was bummed to have to qualify through the LCQ but I was glad it was an easy win for me," reported Brayton.

The first KTM to come into the stadium off the start of the West vs. East Coast Shoot Out was Goerke sitting in 8th. His teammate, Brayton, got held up on the start and was back in 18th. Sipes had even worse luck when he crashed in the first turn, setting him back nearly a lap. Back inside, Goerke was on the gas moving through the pack. Just short of the halfway mark, Goerke had worked his way into 6th and was closing fast on the 5th place ride of Ryan Morias when he crashed hard over a small table jump before the finish line. Goerke's crash knocked the wind out of him and caused him to retire from the race.

Meanwhile, Sipes, who was still down a lap after his start, was giving his best effort to catch any rider he could. By the end of the moto, he ended up 19th overall. The highlight of the Shoot Out was Brayton's charge through the pack. Despite his near last place start he blasted through the pack passing one or more riders on each lap. When the checkered flag flew he had moved his way up from 18th to 6th less than a bike length back from the 5th place rider.

West vs. East Coast Shoot Out Results
1. Ryan Dungey, Suzuki
2. Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki
3. Trey Canard, Honda
4. Dan Reardon, Honda
5. Ryan Morias, Yamaha
6. Justin Brayton, KTM
7. Brett Metcalfe, Kawasaki
8. Kyle Chisholm, Kawasaki
9. Broc Hepler, Yamaha
10. Austin Stroupe, Kawasaki