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IMAGE / KILPATRICK
theGRIT
The second moto did not begin as well for Robin as he had to fight from behind on the opening lap. He was able to get all the way up to seventh as they were signaled the green flag and that is when he began his charge. He had a lot of ground to make up after starting so far back but he chipped away at the riders
in front of him lap after lap. By the midway point he had inched up to fifth place but was not satisfied as he would set his fastest lap of the race on the following lap going after fourth. When the white flag appeared Robin would be all over third place rider Jake Pinhancos. The two riders would have a duel on the final lap ultimately ending with Robin securing the third place spot by a mere four hundredths of a second! That pass was crucial in terms of
the championship because he needed every spot he could get with Gourley winning the second moto as well.
Sitting second in the standings with a 2-3 behind Gourley’s
1-1, Robin would need to have
a huge race and some help
from Gourley if he wanted the championship. When the gate dropped, Robin’s chances initially looked bleak. He was totally buried deep in the field but he immediately upped the ante and maneuvered all the way up to fourth by the end of lap one. Gourley was tenth. Robin would go back and forth with California’s Gordon Keck
all moto before finally securing third place from him on the final lap. When the dust settled Robin was unaware of the outcome
of the championship and the importance of his last lap pass on Keck. Gourley only managed to climbed to sixth which meant that Robin’s 2-3-3 would beat out Gourley’s 1-1-6 by a mere one point. Robin would win
the championship aboard a
250 two-stroke and show that consistency at Loretta Lynn’s is the biggest key to success.
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