Page 26 - Issue 79

CHASE SEXTON
250 MX / 7TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> The amount of protection and variety of gear you can wear to compete on the AMA Outdoor Circuit is of vast array. Chest protectors, roost and handguards, neck braces, etc., you name it, and it’s all on the table. And while many choose to opt out of these safety features, every so often they will attend a national where the added “shield” so to speak, will help out in a pretty substantial way. Today was one of those days, and Chase Sexton had to dodge every piece of deterring substance he could, otherwise he would be absolutely hammered with wounds and bullet marks. In practice, he made sure that he was one of the rst onto the raceway, truly trying to avoid any matter of distress in order to land a successful qualifying time. He would do so, and the rst memo of the
day would be completed. Moto number one saw him off to around a seventh place start, quickly feeling heat from Aaron Plessinger. With the track a little bit damp in spots, due to watering by the track crew, he would skate around the hard pack turns, and try his best to latch on to the beginning of these particular ruts. Packing the front end up the start straight, it was all he could do to hold off the Yamaha, but eventually the number twenty- three would get around. Next up, would be Garrett Marchbanks, a rookie who was no stranger to being up this high on the leaderboard; he too would move on from Sexton,
as chase would nd company around Shane Mcelrath and Sean Cantrell. With the white ag coming out, he would be tenth, and round his nal lap in the same position; he would look to advance for the second moto. A sixth place start for moto two had both he and McElrath yet again joining forces. Launching up the Lucas Oil triple before the nish
line, he would look over, and push forward, leaving the Troy Lee KTM to the wayside. All seemed to be well, until he felt the wrath of the number twenty-three Yamaha; Plessinger would subsequently make another move and force his way around. With Justin Cooper in front at one point, the rookie would begin to fade, leaving Sexton eyeing his prey. Ready to devour, on lap twelve he would make the move. Residing in sixth, he would remain here for the duration of the moto, going on to nish seventh overall on the day.
26 GRITMOTO • JUNE 3, 2018