Page 32 - Issue 79

RJ HAMPSHIRE
250 MX / 10TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Let’s rewind a few short years ago, when RJ Hampshire wasn’t the most well known name on the amateur tour. Although taking a big hiatus during his transition years, (from mini’s to big bikes that is), he was still a threat every time he was on the track. However, his nal year of Loretta’s in the A class, showed his true worth; where he would claim multiple championships, and sign a pristine contract with Geico Honda. They realized the amount of potential the Floridian had, and have kept him signed until the present day, where he would again display grit and speed at Thunder Valley. Although much sand wasn’t involved with this surface composition, he could still be found on the edge
of the rear fender and ringing the Honda’s transmission for all it had. Wheel tapping and scrubbing wherever possible, had him at the front of the eld, once practice had nished. Buried extremely deep off the start for moto number one, his rst lap position was in the mid twenties. Miraculously, he would blitz, zig-zagging in and out of traf c, with abso- lutely pristine technique and focus. By the midpoint, he would be on the tail of rookie Enzo Lopes, where he would nd his biggest challenge of the moto. Inside to outside, skimming and hopping; if you name it, he was doing it, all in search of gaining another position by the checkered ag. Unfortunately the number 816 Suzuki was stingy, and wouldn’t relinquish his position; he would have to settle for thirteenth, but would come back for the second moto with a vengeance. A tenth place start would be much better, and quickly he would become in a heated battle with the number twenty-eight of Shane McElrath. Pushing into the headwind, in the up hill double section after the start, he would chase down the KTM and plow his way around. Next up would be Justin Cooper, as the two Loretta’s standouts would join into a bit of a dual nearing the white ag. Pull- ing out everything in his arsenal, Hampshire would hold on the gas a bit longer, diving to the inside ruts of a left-right combination, and make sure the door was shut. He’d taken over the seventh place position, and he appeared to be home free. The checkered ag was just off in the distance, and it wasn’t a mirage; a few more seconds, and tenth over- all would be his. He would capture it, and take it for the end of the day.
32 GRITMOTO • JUNE 3, 2018