Brent Norman on Rick Elzinga’s day – boiled fuel!

Rick Elzinga showed some good pace in 100 degree heat at Pala and was top 15 pace all day. But boiled fuel that went in his mouth while he was 14th with two laps to go in race one ended his moto. Then, despite feeling sick due to the fuel, Elzinga lined up for Moto two and got as high as 12th but had to pull out at the 20 minute mark due to illness.

The man facilitating Rick’s trip, Brent Norman, explained the situation on social media:

As you may know, Rick posted fast time in both his free practice and timed qualifier.

Unfortunately, his results are really my fault- or should I say my lack of planning. In the first moto, Rick’s fuel boiled from the heat, blowing off his gas cap vent hose, and spraying hot pressurized VP MR pro 6 fuel directly into his mouth and nose at about the 25 minute mark, causing him to stop and vomit in his helmet.

He was sick from the fuel in the second moto, and still rode with honor in the second moto until he was too ill to continue at the 20 minute mark.

I had a KTM technician tell me that most likely, due to the high track and engine temperatures, the fuel boiled over and blew the hose off the KTM power parts alloy cap- he advised us to use the “HT version of the pro 6 fuel next week, and to insulate the KTM tank on the bottom.

I want to thank every Vital Mx.com member that stopped by our pit to offer support and positive vibes- you guys are awesome and caring, you are the best of Motocross. Ialso want to give sincere thanks to all the factory techs from KTM and WP that stopped by to check on us, Davey Coombs for checking in on us several times today, and Guy B for coming by to visit.We will re group and head to Hangtown on Thursday to do it again.