Tyler Collingwood
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Rookie report, it’s back! I thought I was bringing this new great idea to the table. Then Troy said that Vurb did this 14 years ago, but to hell with that I’m taking over now. Each week I’m going to report on the rookies in the 250 class and give you a little insight on how the new guys are doing. We’re back to the East Coast with a plethora of rookies up in the mix and we even added a new one!
Daxton Bennick – Monster Energy / Star Racing Yamaha
Qualified – 7th
Heat – 4th
Main – 7th
Grade – C-
Hopefully this is the lowest grade I’ll have to give the diesel this season. Dax seems to ride phenomenal and I really get my hopes up that we are going to see him on the podium again, a place he hasn’t been since Detroit. He definitely isn’t lacking the speed. He has the speed of the front runners, but when it comes to the mains, it just cant be pieced together. He looked super aggressive during the heat race, taking multiple lines, and really dicing it with Tom Vialle and Coty Schock. A good start was not on Dax’s plate come the main. He would be buried midpack and have to charge towards the front. These midpack starts in the main are killing his results, and if he can get a good jump in a main, Dax will be back on the podium.
Casey Cochran – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna
Qualified – 3rd
Heat – 5th
Main – 15th
Grade – B
While I had thought we would see this earlier in the season, Casey Cochran has made his pro debut. The 17-year-old will likely be taking the same steps Haiden Deegan has taken and we will see Casey finish the SX series on the East Coast and go full-time pro for outdoors. Casey had a fresh track for qualifying and used it to his advantage to get that fast lap time and give himself a good gate pick for his heat. Casey had a great start in the heat and even showed some aggressiveness in the first couple of turns. A rough start to Casey’s first main would leave him with a 15th on the night. I’m not sure if he was caught up in the first turn crash, but he came out in 17th and that’s about where he stayed, unable to find his way back towards the front. Even with the overall result, it was a very strong outing for the new guy.
Nick Romano – Monster Energy / Star Racing Yamaha
Qualified – 12th
Heat – 6th
Main – 11th
Grade – C
Nick seemed to have an on/off night. In qualifying he seemed a little off pace, but conditions were definitely not the best, so it was hard to judge how someone’s night could go based off that. Romano’s starts have been pretty dialed and he continued that in the heat race where he came out in third or fourth. Romano had a strong race to end up sixth. Good starts followed Romano to the main, where he would come out sixth or seventh in the first turn. The battle for the 7th – 10th places was a great battle during the main. Romano, Swoll, and Hymas all had really good fight going, but Romano would unfortunately fall behind both of them and end up in 11th. Romano looked a little off pace towards the end of the race and just seemed worn out. With an East/West Showdown coming this weekend, it’s a good chance for Romano to prove he’s a top guy.
Preston Boespflug – Toyota of Redlands / Bar X Suzuki
Qualified – 17th
Heat – 9th
Main – 13th
Grade – B
A step in the right direction this weekend for the Suzuki rookie. A strong qualifying and a trip the main straight out of the heat had to feel good for Boespflug. He has found himself in the LCQ a few more times than I’m sure he would like. Preston was able to tie his season best 13th from his debut in Detroit. Boespflug is a top ten rider without a doubt, but just still hasn’t been able to quite get there. Nashville could be a tough weekend for the rookie.
Trevor Colip – TI Lube Honda
Qualified – 24th
Heat – 8th
Main – 14th
Grade – B
Trevor yet again had a strong weekend. The privateer was able to qualify straight into the mains for his third time. Although Colip has missed a few rounds due to an injury, he has yet to be in a LCQ race and has managed to get into the mains every round he has attended. Colip finally had the chance to show that he can run towards the front in his heat. He was able to run thirrd for a few laps with the factory guys before trickling back to eighth. Colip unfortunately got caught up in a first turn crash and was able to push all the way up to 14th.
Bryce Shelly – DBD Racing
Qualified – 23rd
Heat – 12th
LCQ – 1st
Main – 16th
Grade – B+
Bryce has been a regular in the LCQ this season, but he was finally able to take home a W in it. Shelly put in a great ride in the LCQ and managed to make a few passes, get the lead, and run away with it. This has to be a confidence booster for Bryce considering he has only qualified for two main events this season. On top of getting his first LCQ win, Shelly was able to get his best finish yet with a 16th in Foxborough. Bryce needed a big confidence booster with a super tough weekend ahead of him with the East/West Showdown.
Main Image: Octopi Media
