Image: Octopi Media.

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ryder DiFrancesco had his starts dialed with two holeshots at the Ironman National, expressing that it ‘felt so good to lead’ in the early stages of both races at the final round.

After posting the ninth quickest time in qualifying, DiFrancesco rounded the first corner of moto one in P1, and held the lead until lap five when he was passed by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle.

DiFrancesco maintained a spot inside the top five for a number of laps, but a mistake ultimately saw him shuffled back to P9 where he would finish the race before landing another holeshot in moto two.

The number 75 led until lap six on this occasion when teammate Jo Shimoda found his way by, and after seeing the fastest lap of the race, was ultimately shuffled back to P6 where he would take the checkered flag to land sixth overall on the day.

“It felt so good to lead the pack around the first turn, not just once but twice,” said DiFrancesco. “I kind of knew my biggest competition to the front were my teammates, but I felt good and made it stick. I had a few small things that cost me, but overall I was really happy with my day and excited to move forward to the playoffs.”

DiFrancesco’s best race result of the outdoors this year came in moto one at High Point where he was fifth, while sixth overall at Ironman marked his strongest round result of the season. He concluded the Pro Motocross Championship 10th in the 250MX standings.