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LUKE RENZLAND
250 SX / MN.
IMAGE /MPG WORDS / KILPATRICK DESIGN / WILSON
>> Luke Renzland is another racer that is kicking off a make-or-break season in 2017. The newly signed Traders Racing Yamaha rider is commencing his third year of racing full time as a professional, and is in high demand for some solid results and consistent finishes. The New Jersey native is looking to bounce back after a couple of rocky years on the Cycle- Trader Rock River team where he wasn’t able to live up to his potential due to unfortunate circumstances and nagging injuries. He’s feeling more mentally and physically balanced than ever before heading into the new season after putting in the work at his state-of-the-art facility down in Florida, Dreamland. As the stadium began to fill up and practice got under- way in Minnesota for the opening round of the 250 SX East series, Renzland eased his way into the swing of things. Eventually, he was able to score the thirteenth fastest time overall, just behind his new teammate for the 2017 season, Nick Gaines. The Traders Racing Yamaha rider was situated on the very inside gate in the second heat and ripped a fantastic start, inching out his competition to the prime section of inside real estate. Renzland settled into second position ahead of Gannon Audette and behind the Geico Honda of Christian Craig. He wasn’t able to stay up to speed with the leader, but he consistently put a solid gap between himself and Audette in third position. Renzland continued to click off the times as though he was spinning routine laps out at Dreamland, holding onto second place for the majority of the race. He fell under pressure from Zach Osborne on the final lap, forfeiting the position and coming across the line in third. Nevertheless, it was an extremely positive ride for the New Jersey boy after qualifying just outside the top ten, undoubtedly filling him with confidence heading into the main event. Renzland didn’t have the benefit of the gate pick that he had in his heat race, but he made the best of the situation and put himself just inside the top ten at the start of the main event. The Traders Racing Yamaha rider lost a spot to Adam Cianciarulo almost immediately, but he didn’t let it fluster him as he held his composure and managed to keep the Honda duo of Freddie Noren and Christian Craig be- hind him. Renzland held firm in ninth place for the first half of the race, riding within his lim- its and staying calm as he clicked off the laps one-by-one. On the eleventh lap, he was able to force his way past Jesse Wentland, but it wasn’t even one lap later that Renzland had
to make way for the advancing Frenchman of Dylan Ferrandis. He kept his Yamaha steady for the rest of the main event and met the checkered flag in eighth position, creating a solid base in which to build off of in Atlanta for the second round of the 250 East SX series.
52 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 19, 2017