Sobe No Fear/Samsung/Honda’s Weimer, riding a 250F, won tonight’s US Open main event at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, after a first turn pileup claimed the top four finishers from last nights final race. But it was Grant Langston who went home $100,000 richer after coming from the back to finish fifth on the night.
Langston’s 2-5 finishes trumped last night’s winner Chad Reed’s 1-8 for the overall and the cash.
“That was the craziest race of my entire life,” said an elated Langston. “I was hit about 15 times out there tonight, and I hit 15 people myself. I didn’t know where I was at, so I kept looking at my pit board. I never gave up tonight.”
Reed, needed to win the Progressive Holeshot and the main event tonight to win the $250,000 Trifecta Bonus Award, and earlier in the evening, he captured the Superpole, which put him one step closer to the jackpot. But when the gate dropped, the field of 14 riders sprinted to the first turn and Reed, Langston and Tim Ferry tangled in turn one, ending Reed’s hopes of winning the $250,000.
Weimer won the Progressive Holeshot with fellow Honda rider Josh Demuth in tow.
“That was an awesome race,” said Weimer. “I crashed last night and made up for it tonight with a great start.”
Honda’s Mike LaRocco swept both nights of racing in the Alpinestars Rematch race. LaRocco, who won the 2002 U.S. Open championship, and Jeff Emig, who won the 1999 U.S. Open championship, traded positions several times in tonight’s main event before Emig stalled the bike in the corner, allowing LaRocco to run away with the win.
FINAL (25 laps): 1. Jake Weimer (Hon); 2. Josh Demuth (Hon); 3. Mike Alessi (Suz); 4. Dan Reardon (Hon); 5. Grant Langston (Yam); 6. Justin Brayton (KTM); 7. Andrew Short (Hon); 8. Chad Reed (Yam); 9. Heath Voss (Hon); 10. Jason Thomas (Hon); 11. Michael Byrne (Suz); 12. Timmy Ferry (Kaw); 13. Jeff Gibson (Kaw); 14. Bryan Johnson (Hon).
