Courtesy ISRT Kawasaki
Round 9 of the Pro Motocross Championship delivered a breakthrough performance for ISRT Kawasaki as Mark
Fineis battled his way to a 5th-place finish in Moto 2 aboard his Southeast Sales KX450.
With Vince Friese sidelined by illness, Fineis carried the team effort at Unadilla as a deep field of top riders and
former champions returned from the two-week break.
After qualifying 30th, Fineis was determined to prove the qualifying position didn’t reflect his true speed.
In Moto 1, Fineis rocketed into the first turn with the leaders but was pushed off the track from his outside gate
position. Keeping the bike on two wheels, he made a quick U-turn and rejoined the race in 40th. From there,
he charged through the field, passing nearly 20 riders to finish 21st.
Between motos, the ISRT crew made one decision: relax, remove any pressure and let Mark ride.
Fineis launched Moto 2 inside the top 10, crossing the holeshot line in 6th. From there, he went to war with
factory riders, former champions, race winners and the current Australian champion.
Fineis battled as high as 4th and never stopped pushing. In one of the most exciting top-five battles ISRT has
seen all season, Mark charged all the way to the checkered flag to secure an incredible 5th-place finish.
For an independent underdog team like ISRT Kawasaki, this result means far more than a 5th-place finish. It is
proof that with the right people, the right equipment and relentless development, a team built with fewer
resources can provide its athletes with a motorcycle capable of battling the factory teams and the best riders
in the world.
At Unadilla, ISRT didn’t just show up to compete — we proved our equipment belongs in the fight.
For everyone outside the team, the result may have been a surprise. For Fineis, his family and the ISRT crew, it
was exactly what they had been working for.
Team owner Bubba Pauli said after the race:
“It was a relief more than anything. Our team and athletes have been working tirelessly for far too long. Every
single one of the guys involved deserves that result. That’s exactly what we work for.”
ISRT now heads to Budds Creek MX Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland, for Round 10, where both Fineis and
Vince Friese will be ready to line up against the world’s best once again.
Pauli and the entire ISRT Kawasaki organization want to thank every sponsor, partner and
supporter who continued to believe in the team through the hard times
