Hampshire Struggles Through Challenging Moto Performance
In a tumultuous second moto, RJ Hampshire faced multiple setbacks, ultimately leading to his withdrawal from the race. The Florida native crashed three times, describing the first two incidents as “with help.” On the notorious Godzilla hill, Hampshire lost traction and was subsequently hit by Jo Shimoda, resulting in an early fall. Despite this, he fought back only to be caught off guard by Slovenia’s Jan Pancer, which led to another crash before the start straight.
After battling through these misfortunes, Hampshire admitted he was “pretty smoked” but continued to push on. However, fatigue set in following a week marred by a significant crash that left him unsure about competing. He mentioned ongoing pain in his ribs and side, which affected his riding. This sentiment was echoed by his teammate, Cooper, who noted that the Saturday qualifying race had taken a toll on Hampshire’s endurance.
The final moto proved disastrous when Hampshire collided with a TV camera stand, resulting in severe damage to his bike’s gas tank and ending his race prematurely. Reflecting on his struggles, Hampshire noted, “I crashed seven times today, so I think that gives you an idea how comfortable I felt out there.”
Hampshire documented his challenging weekend on Instagram, providing insights into his struggles and resilience throughout the event.
