Ford Brothers Racing Pleasure Valley Raceway 2022 Press Release
(Seward, Pennsylvania. July 3, 2022) – Pleasure Valley Raceway near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, has played host to several historic moments in ATV motocross over the years. The track’s elevation, unique obstacles, and prioritization of ATVs (by owner Jeff Cernic) makes this event a favorite for many riders, but no one may enjoy this event more than the Ford Brothers Racing team.
Ford Brothers Racing stole the show when ATVs returned to Pleasure Valley Raceway. It feels like just yesterday Pro Class rookie Bryce Ford was earning the first ever podium finish of his young professional career (Pleasure Valley, 2020). The following day, eldest Ford brother, Cody, grabbed his first win of the season – taking the Pro Mod victory to cap a weekend that the team will never forget! For their next act, Bryce repeated as podium finisher by finishing 3rd overall at Pleasure Valley last season, as well as going 1-1 in the Pro-Am division. Cody was also strong at Pleasure Valley in 2021, finishing a strong 8th overall at last season’s event. So, needless to say, the boys came into Round 8 riding a wave of momentum that their previous performances at Pleasure Valley created.
The momentum from Pleasure Valleys of the past was on display right from the start of the day on Saturday, as youngster Bryce Ford beat out ATV racing legends like Chad Wienen, Joel Hetrick, and their ten consecutive ATV Motocross National Championships for fast qualifier in the timed sessions to kick off the race day. This was Bryce Ford’s first top qualifier award of the season, giving him the coveted first gate pick for Pro Moto 1 at Pleasure Valley – which is paramount as the battle for third place in the series points standings heats up along with the summer.
Youngest Ford brother, Bryce, used that good gate pick to propel him to a great holeshot in the opening moto on Saturday in Pennsylvania. The Ford Brothers Racing/Baldwin Motorsports rider ripped out to a second place start behind the 8-time series champ Chad Wienen. However, on just the second lap, Bryce suffered a small get-off that dropped him from runner-up position to last. On a relatively one-lined race track due to overnight rain, Bryce had his work cut out for him, but he gave his best effort at damage control by racing up to 6th by the conclusion of the opening moto. As much as we’d like to report that Moto 2 went exactly according to plan and Bryce competed at the front of the pack where we’ve come to expect him, that’s unfortunately not how events played out on this weekend. On Lap 3 of Moto 2, Bryce suffered a fluke mechanical failure that would prematurely end his day. He entered Pleasure Valley third in points, he’s now dropped to fourth, however he’s just 7 points back with four motos remaining in the 2022 season. The race is on for that final top three spot before the team packs up to head to the Czech Republic as Bryce will help represent Team USA in the 2022 Quadcross of Nations in September.
The Ford Brother Racing team would have to hope that eldest brother Cody Ford would be able to put in an effort that the squad could hang their hats on, and that’s exactly what he did! We outlined how “The Foreman” has thrived at Pleasure Valley in years past and 2022 was much of the same. He kicked off the day by qualifying inside the top ten, which spring-boarded him to a strong 7th place finish in Moto 1 right behind his younger brother. After a good showing in the opening moto, he took it a step further with a stellar holeshot in Moto 2 and proceeded to run inside the top three for the first third of the second moto on Saturday. After a slight mistake on the daunting stair-stepped off-camber corner that has become legendary at Pleasure Valley, Cody dropped four positions but those would be the only positions he’d surrender in the entire race. He would go on to finish 7th in this moto as well, with his 7-7 moto scores earning him a strong 6th overall finish on the day! With two events remaining, Cody Ford sits ninth in the series points standing just a single point out of eighth now. What a year it has been for Cody!
“The Foreman took Pleasure Valley Raceway head on.” The Ford Brothers Racing team posted to their official social media accounts. “Moto 2 he shot out of the gate and rode 3rd place until a mistake pushed him back. Cody ended the weekend with 6th overall and holds on to some important series points…[As for Bryce], hard pill to swallow this weekend. [He] qualified with the fastest lap. Moto 1 he was in 2nd when a rider clipped him from behind. He regrouped and finished 6th. Moto 2 brought on more troubles as mechanical issues took him out completely. A 10th overall stings, but no injuries is a major win. Head down, chin up.”
Just four gate drops remain in the 2022 season and the importance intensifies with each and every one of them late in this season. For Bryce Ford, the focus is to cut into the small points deficit he faces and claim the third position in the series points standings for the second year in a row. And for Cody, the goal remains to continue to put his best foot forward and, if he does that, he will come away with a top eight finish in the standings – which would be quite impressive and a career best for the fourth-year pro. After an extended break, the series will head to legendary Redbud Motocross in Buchanan, Michigan, on the weekend of July 30/31 for round 9 of the ATV Motocross National Championship. Happy Independence Day, y’all. See you at Redbud!
