Page 142 - GM33

SCOTT CHAMPION
250 SX / A2
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / LANNAN DESIGN / WILSON
>> Scott Champion has been around the sport for nearly ten years. He has found some success throughout his career and is a very talented rider. Scott now has a new home with BPR Yamaha and is looking comfortable aboard the new ride for 2017. This season didn’t start the way Scott may have wanted it to a few weeks ago in Anaheim but he was able to bounce back with a top 15 finish last weekend in San Di- ego. It was evident that Scott was ready to prove his worth to his team again on Saturday in Anaheim. He looked very smooth as always in practice in Anaheim and was ready to go racing. In 250 Heat 1, Scott was able to get a mid pack start and began working on getting into qualifying position. The track was fresh at this point and Scott was able to slice and dice his way into 10th early on. Scott would continue to hold down the 10th spot for a few laps and was pushing hard to catch Surratt in front of him. On the last lap, Scott was able to make the pass and the two began a battle that would last all the way to the finish line. Scott would edge out Surratt for the spot and go on to the Main. He was then pinched off quickly in the first corner of the Main Event and was forced to lay the bike down as the riders made their way around him. Scott got back up just inside the top twenty and was running 18th as the riders completed the first few laps. Then, just a few laps after,
a hard charging Jeremy Martin surprised Scott with a pass followed
by another rider, Nicoletti, who would get by as well. Things went from bad to worse as the Anaheim track forced another mistake out of Scott and he was assuredly in survival mode at this point. He would have to settle for 21st in Anaheim.
142 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 22, 2017