Page 58 - Issue_64

JUSTIN BRAYTON
250 SX / 9TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Jon Gruden has captivated this franchise and city in the recent weeks, as he was signed to an absolutely lucrative deal. Ten years, one hundred million dollars, and for a coach, is something that’s been unheard of until this point in time. However, their idea of thinking, is that leadership starts from the top down, and with the right man in charge, it can gravitate their players towards theirs maximum potential. Team owners in the past have done the same, when viewing Justin Brayton’s career as a whole. His coaching staff, so to speak, pushed and motivated him, so he could rise to any occasion, and achieve the proper amount of success for his passions. They were with him in full-force at the Oakland event, an entourage seeming to be around him at all times. Throughout practice, not only did he have his mechanic in their respective, assigned area; but he had men overlooking from the watchtowers, reiterating points to the entire team through headset technology. Coming back to the semi after qualifying, they would then huddle around, brainstorming, and jotting down what points needed to be improved, and any flaws that could be corrected on the machine prior to race time. For the heat race, it was as though the memo had been placed and put into plan immediately. Latching onto the faster rider in front of him, he would hound Blake Baggett for the duration of the moto. Outside-inside, inside-outside, as the grounds would open up, this sauna of a stadium would be venting throughout this day program. Unthawing so to speak, the ruts were continuing to deepen with every lap; his focus would remain on the distant matter, rather than in the foreground. He would finish seventh. They were off with the sound of the gunshot, his back wheel etching up the wall of the dragon’s back. Disaster, seemingly at the cusp of his right hand was pushed away, all with the twist of the throttle. The waffle grip seemed to be glued to his palm, as he would uncork the triple-triple line in the following rhythm section. With his chain guide clanking off of the concrete, the sparks would begin to fly literally, as he was hunting down Broc Tickle. Hovering in the low 50’s, each lap was consistent, although it was just a hair off of the leaders at the front of the field. Nevertheless, it was all effort given as the checkered flag flew. Taking ninth place was solid for the evening.
58 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 4, 2018