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COLE SEELY
450 SX / A2
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / WILSON
>> Cole Seely has always had his nose in the top five over the past few years. He has evolved into one of the top, most consistent riders in the 450 class. He has proved those attributes already here in 2017 with a pair of fourth place finishes to start the season. The factory Honda rider was crav- ing that podium as the series headed back to Anaheim. Seely began his day with a nice qualifying effort putting down the eighth fastest lap time. The track was difficult and sure to get beat up with the extra moisture in it but he was more than ready for the task of mastering it. He would not get the best of starts in his heat race as he was a few spots outside of a transfer posi- tion. Midway through the race a big time, multiple rider battle occurred for third and Seely found himself at the tail end of it. He methodically watched
it all unfold and then capitalized on a crash between Anderson and Musquin just in front of him to sneak into the fourth and final transfer spot. He would qualify straight through to the main event. Seely got off to a great start in the main rounding the opening lap in third place. Only the 450 rookie, Coo- per Webb, and defending champion, Ryan Dungey, were in front of him and he would make quick work of the Yamaha rookie and get into second. He would keep tabs on Dungey during the first half of the race never letting him get too far away. Some laps Seely would even close in on the leader but he soon had other problems to worry about. His teammate and current points leader, Ken Roczen, came knocking at his door. Seely responded well and never gave Roczen a passing opportunity and the threat was soon neutral- ized when Roczen went down viciously in a rhythm lane. Then as soon as
it looked like Seely might have second locked up, he stalled his machine al- lowing Musquin to squeak by. And Seely would not be able to make up any more ground and would have to finish in third place, a season best.
12 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 22, 2017