Chopper Hopper Saloon Enid, OK Round 1 - 2 GT AX
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The Difference of 0.5 Seconds: Rounds 1 & 2 Recap of the General Tire Arenacross Series
This past weekend marked the debut of the Ajax Motorsports 405 Mods Husqvarna team, and it couldn’t have gone smoother. From the moment we arrived at the venue, everyone came together seamlessly—working tirelessly behind the scenes to make it all happen. The collaboration, focus, and dedication shown by our crew set the tone for what promises to be an incredible season ahead.
But in racing, everything can change in the blink of an eye—or more precisely, in just 0.5 seconds. That was the story of our weekend during the opening rounds of the General Tire Arenacross Series. From the thrill of near-victory to the heartbreak of bad luck, it all came down to those fractions of a second.
The difference between being at the front of the pack or battling from behind often boils down to that razor-thin margin. And while Chase came heartbreakingly close to a podium, he still showed his speed and determination, finishing in 4th place Friday. Wyatt Reimer had a solid ride, working through the pack to secure 9th place. Both riders gained confidence on their bikes as the weekend progressed, proving that our setup is not only incredibly fast but also exceptionally rideable.
With brand-new bikes for this season, our team knew there would be a learning curve. But as the bikes continued to break in, Chase and Wyatt became increasingly comfortable, giving us confidence for the battles ahead.
On Saturday night, Chase Marquier was just 0.5 seconds shy of securing the fastest qualifier. However, Saturday night was a stark reminder of just how quickly things can turn around. In Wyatt’s Heat Race, a few small issues led to a tough LCQ (Last Chance Qualifier) race. With only 4 laps on a tight track where riders were separated by just 1 second , a poor gate pick left little room to make moves.
Chase had a promising start in the Main Event, coming off the gate in 2nd. But in Arenacross, it only takes a moment for everything to unravel. A tangle with another rider in the first turn sent Chase off his line. Before he could recover, he was landed on by a rider right behind him. That split-second incident led to a trip to the hospital, where we were relieved to find out that nothing was broken, though Chase was left with a bruised lung.
Chase will take this upcoming week to rest and recover before heading to Claremore, where he’s determined to bounce back and reclaim some crucial points. The good news is that we have a month-long break before Lebanon, giving him plenty of time to get back to 100% and start knocking down some wins.
Despite the rollercoaster weekend, we’re optimistic about what lies ahead. The competition in Rounds 1 & 2 was stacked, with several riders who won’t be competing in the full series, meaning the points standings are still wide open. Our bikes drew plenty of attention in the pits, and we know we’ve got the performance and potential to make waves as the series continues.
A huge thank you to Chopper Hopper Saloon for your unwavering support throughout the weekend. We’re looking forward to the upcoming race in Claremore, which will be a special hometown event for Wyatt. With your backing and the lessons learned from these first rounds, we’re ready to come back stronger and more determined than ever.
See you at Claremore—where we’ll be aiming to shave those 0.5 seconds that make all the difference.
Thank you,
Dylan Metheny
Ajax Motorsports 405 Mods Husqvarna
