Page 32 - Issue_sixtyfive

ADAM CIANCIARULO
250 SX / 2ND
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Adam Cianciarulo has been so close, so many times this year and his whole career for that matter. Every time the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider finds himself in the lead or fighting for the lead, he winds up on the ground. Every time he looks great all day in practice and the heat races and is considered a favorite to win the main event, he gets a horrible start and loses his chance at the win. Mistakes and minor inconsistences have been haunting Cian- ciarulo all season even when he appears to have all the momentum. With a five-week break approaching, he knew he had to go into it on positive note, so he was determined to come out of San Diego with a strong, mistake-free performance, and that performance hopefully being a win.
Cianciarulo looked great as soon as the day began in beautiful, sunny downtown San Diego. The rider hailing from Florida went out in qualifying practice and was able to set the second fastest lap time of the class just behind reigning champ Justin Hill. He looked aggressive and ready to compete with anyone.
When the gate dropped, and the racing began in the first heat race of the night, we saw Cianciarulo run out to the early lead. He grabbed the holeshot in front of his teammate Joey Savatgy and he did not relinquish the spot. In fact, he pulled away from his teammate and won the heat race with virtually no pressure. It looked like it could finally be his night to put all the pieces together and bring home a main event win.
The start Cianciarulo got in the main surely increased his odds at putting those pieces together because he rounded lap one in second place, right behind Savatgy. He saw the opportunity
to take the lead on lap two and snatched it. He wanted to get out front as fast as possible and just run away with it. It appeared he was executing that idea perfectly but midway through the race he would get surprise visitor. A revitalized Justin Hill came from behind to start applying pressure. Cianciarulo was starting to see Hill’s front fender in the corners and after a few small mistakes, Hill would be able to stick that front fender ahead of Cianciarulo’s and take the lead. Cianciarulo did not give it up easily however.; He immediately tried passing Hill back and had a few chances in a succession of corners, but he would come up short. He’d ride the rest of the main in second place and he would finish there. The second-place finish marks his best of the year, but he was disappointed he let that win get away from him. Despite the disappointment, he’ll take the positive momentum into the break and look for his first win of the season on the other side.
32 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 11, 2018