Page 14 - Issue34

COLE SEELY
450 SX / AZ
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / KILPATRICK DESIGN / WILSON
>> Cole Seely had a lot to prove this year after being teamed up with the 2016 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Champion, Ken Roczen. He wanted to prove to himself and to his team that he was capable of filling the spot of the number one rider in red; after the events that unfolded in Anaheim last weekend, he no longer has a choice in the matter. The California native was coming into Arizona with momentum gained from his first podium of the season at the third round. Although he was pleased to get on the box, he’ll still be hungry for more as he stalled out of second place and felt that he had a chance to take it to Dungey for the win. Unfortu- nately, Seely wasn’t able to translate that confidence into an extremely successful qualifying time as he found himself in eleventh position after timed practice. Seely’s biggest issue in the 2017 season has been his ability to get out of the gate at the front of the pack. He was able to clean up his start last weekend in the main event, but unfortunately he was affected by another mediocre start in the second 450 heat race in Arizona. The factory Honda rider found himself tucked in behind the Red Bull KTM of Ryan Dungey at the beginning of the race with a front row seat to his battle with Chad Reed for the final transfer spot. After Reed experienced a minor off track excursion after the finish line, both Seely and Dungey were able to make their way past the Yamaha rider. Seely was able to close in on the rear fender of the defending champ as Baggett was taking defensive lines in third position, but the resiliency of the two KTM’s was too much to overcome for the Californian and he would be forced to contest the semi. He would get out to a decent start in the semi on his CRF 450 and settle into third place behind his longtime rival, Jason Anderson, with Mike Alessi out in the early lead. The two of them would make quick work of the Smartop MotoConcepts rider and ride off to participate in their own battle for the win. Seely seemed to have the superior pace, but he rode with composure and intelligence in second position as he didn’t want to miss out on the main event. He was able to grab a solid start in the main, slotting in right behind Justin Brayton in third position. Seely made quick work of the fellow Honda rider
and immediately set his sights on Tomac in the lead, but the Kawasaki riders pace was too much to match. He turned steady laps for the first half of the race, but it wasn’t enough as Dungey and Reed began to reel him in from behind. Seely was riding with an aggression and persistence that he hasn’t showed all year -- so persistent in fact that he slowed himself and Dungey up in a corner, therefore allowing Reed to steal second position from the both of them. He was relegated back to fourth position in the process where he would stay for the rest of the race. The series will be returning to his home state for the final time in 2017 and Seely will be looking to get back on the podium yet again.
14 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 29, 2017