Page 108 - ISSUE_37

JESSE WENTLAND
250 SX / MN.
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / COPELAND DESIGN / WILSON
>> Floridian, Jesse Wentland, turned pro in 2012 and is no stranger to SX. Dropping down to the 250 again this year for SX after racing the 450 outdoors could be a challenge for Wentland but he has done it before and had good success in this class last season as a privateer. The Ti Lube Honda rider began his 2017 Supercross campaign nowhere near where he ended last season by qualifying 19th earlier in the day. That didn’t seem to hold him back in his heat race though, where he finished 6th. This is still off from where he expects to be coming off of a year like last season. He was qualified for the main though and wouldn’t have the best or the worst gate pick so with a little improvement he could be right where he wants to be in the main event. The improvement needed came in the form of a good start for Wentland in the main. He was able to stay with the lead group on the first lap and was in a three way battle with ,the veteran, Osborne and McAdoo, the rookie. He was in 6th with 1 min off of the clock. Eventually he would have a faster rider on his heels and by the 9 min mark he had lost his position to a charging Adam Cianciarulo. Jesse had himself in 7th place and was 18.2 seconds off of the leader Jordon Smith. The fast pace of the riders making their way inside the top 10 would push Jesse out and into 11th by race end. The night was good for the experienced rider. He had a good start in the main and rode at a high level for more than half of the race while battling with championship contenders and giving them all they could handle. Though he didn’t finish where he started, Wentland can take this race and build from it and could potentially find himself inside of the top 5 this season.
108 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 19, 2017