Ford Brothers Side-by-Side at High Point Holeshot
Thursday, May 20, 2021 | 12:35 PM
Ford Brothers Side-by-Side at High Point Holeshot
(Mount Morris, Pennsylvania. May 15, 2021) –The High Point ATV National had been a tradition in the region dating back many years. High Point Raceway features major elevation changes, big air, fast speeds, technical sections, slippery conditions, big ruts....and just about everything in between. High Point has it all and would serve as a great stage for both Bryce and Cody Ford, of Ford Brothers Racing, to continue to improve on their early season successes here in 2021. Both Ford brothers were coming off incredible performances at the previous event in Texas, where Bryce Ford grabbed his third career AMA ATV Pro Class podium and Cody Ford earned his best finish in nearly two seasons (7th). Needless to say, the Ford Brothers Racing Team looked to continue that momentum to and through High Point.
What else is there to say about Bryce Ford? The Pro Class sophomore is the sport's brightest young star, and his blistering speed is a strength of the 18-year-old – so helping set the pace in Timed Qualifying has become the norm (which is crazy for a second year pro, but I digress). Bryce would qualify in the runner-up spot behind 2-time champ Joel Hetrick, and Cody Ford qualified a strong 9th heading into the weekend's motos. The eldest Ford brother is a gamer, performing at his best when it is time to go racing, so qualifying inside the top 10 is a perfecting pumping off point for the rider known as "The Foreman"!
Can you imagine rounding the first corner of an AMA ATV Pro Class moto, looking over, and seeing your brother side by side with you at the front of the pack? Well, that was reality for the Ford brothers! Bryce and Cody Ford trailed only Joel Hetrick at the start of Pro Moto 1 at High Point! After a few mistakes, Bryce would finish 11th after experiencing a moto he would probably rather forget. However, his older brother would use that great holeshot to propel him to a very strong 8th place finish in Moto 1!
After a frustrating first moto, Bryce Ford was fired up and ready to use those frustrations as fuel as the gate dropped on Pro Moto 2. This time it was the youngest Ford brother who came out in the runner-up position. Bryce rode smart on the difficult and technical course up and down the hills of High Point. He ran in podium position for half of the moto, before ultimately finishing solidly in 4th place position. With a strong second moto, Bryce Ford's 11-4 scores earned him 6th overall on the day – a great rebound for Bryce, who salvaged a solid finish and now sits 3rd in the championship points standings after the first three events of the 2021 season.
As for the eldest Ford brother, Cody did not get that same great start in Moto 2, but he fought his way from outside the top 10 to 9th by moto’s end. With healthy 8-9 scores on the day, Cody Ford followed up his best finish in 630 days with a strong 9th overall finish at High Point. After three races on the 2021 schedule, Cody Ford already sits 10th in points despite the blows suffered at the opening round. This was also Cody's second single digit finish of 2021 (1st-9th), already surpassing his total from 2020. It wasn't easy, and required some serious fight, but both boys showcased heart and determination to earn solid finishes in Pennsylvania!
To sum things up: Bryce is disappointed in himself but will surely be back. Cody accomplished a number of goals from ripping one of the best holeshots of his professional career, to graduating with his AS degree, and being thankful for ATV racing legend, John Natalie, to be there for all of it. And from the top, the Ford Brothers Racing Team says they're "working hard to get the 2021 results".
All things considered, the 2021 High Point ATV National will go down as a success for both riders. It took some fight, but both riders are in great position as we look ahead to the bulk of the schedule over the next few months. The Ford Brothers Racing team will look to carry this momentum and good vibes into Rd 4, as the series heads to Aonia Pass MX in Washington, Georgia. See you in the Peach State on the weekend of May 29/30!