Friese seeks high finish at Edward Jones Dome

~ The Cape native continues to rise up the pro ranks on AMA Supercross circuit

It's easy to think of Cape Girardeau native Vince Friese well beyond his years.

He has been racing motorcyles professionally for more than five years.

And he has won a race at his next venue 14 years ago.

But when Friese lines up on his Honda 250cc at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross East Regional 250SX event on Saturday at the Edward Jones Dome, he will be doing so as a gristled veteran all of 22 years old.

Friese will be competing in the series' third event of the season, hoping to move up from his current eighth-place in the point standings.

"It's my hometown race," Friese said. "All my family and friends will be there. It's cool. This week I'm getting to stay at my [parents'] house. That's definitely nice."

Friese, who resides and trains in Menifee, Calif., has grown accustomed to racing in some of the nation's largest venues, and he's been encountering increasing success.

He has followed up a career-best 12th in the Supercross West Regional 250SX final standings in 2012 with a ninth-place finish in a 450SX race -- the sport's top tier -- earlier this year in Oakland. He still ranks in the top 20 of the 450SX point standings despite not competing for two weeks as he turns his attention to the East series.

Friese, in his first year with Slaten Racing/Tuf Racing, is off to his best start yet in a 250SX series with back-to-back ninth-place finishes in main events at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta last weekend and at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, two weeks ago. His Cowboys Stadium showing also included a career-best, second-place finish in a qualifying heat.

"I'm happy with where I'm at," Friese said. "I'm making progress. Obviously I want to be winning races and getting top three is my goal, but I've been making good progress. As long as I can continue to improve and get better results every year ... I'm doing the best I've done so far, and as long as I continue to do that, I'm happy."

Friese competes in Supercross (arena courses) and Motocross (longer outdoor courses) around the country after an amateur career that was capped by winning the top national race, the Loretta Lynn A Class 250cc, in 2008.

"I've just gotten faster," Friese said about his advances on the professional circuit. "I mean that just came from riding, training and practicing. I've gotten just a little bit faster, and I'm a little bit smarter, too, with everything, and just a little more prepared."

For those not familiar with Supercross 250SX event, riders must negotiate 15 laps around a dirt course that features whoops (a series of moguls), a breath-taking jump, hairpin turns and straightaways. The 20 riders bolt from the start side by side and jockey for position as they enter a sharp turn that can be chaotic.

Friese is hoping for his best 250SX showing -- he finished sixth in a 2010 event -- Saturday at a site where he won a 50cc race as an 8-year-old.

"My speed is actually there," Friese said. "Right now I just need to get a start. That's usually my best area. It's taken me a little bit of time to figure out my starts on the 250 again after being on the 450 so long on the West. Hopefully I'll have them figured out for this weekend."