Page 42 - Issue_sixtyfive

CHRISTIAN CRAIG
250 SX / 6TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Christian Craig is enjoying a very modest 2018 250SX West Championship campaign. On sev- eral occasions we have heard Craig voice his displeasures with his own results and how he wants to be fighting for wins, but many riders would give a lot to be bringing in the results that he has been getting. He has been in the top five at every round so far except one and that was due to being in an early race crash. However, with all those top fives, he only has one podium and that is where
the frustration is stemming. He has flirted with finishing on the box so many times and he even had a great shot at the win last weekend at Oakland but threw it away with a crash. He must be coming into this weekend in San Diego with a no non-sense attitude, ready to at least get back on the box before the extended break.
Craig looked great and aggressive in qualifying practice. The home grown, Southern Californian product pitched in the third fastest lap time of the class and appeared to be ready for some strong races. He meshes well with the city of San Diego so with that vibe and the fast time, he was set to have a good night of racing.
Craig got out to a solid start in his heat race. He rounded lap one in fourth and made quick work of Justin Hoeft to take over third on lap two. Once he made that pass, he began to apply pressure to Alex Martin, who after a few laps, succumbed to the pressure leading him to crash out of his spot and hand it over to Craig. By the time Craig got up there to second, Hill was too far gone to make a legitimate run, so he would have to settle with the second-place heat race finish.
Craig got an awful start in the main event. He didn’t make it around lap one until ten other riders had gone through ahead of him. A bad start like this is a rarity for Craig and it would surely put his skills to the test. He made a handful of moves in the hectic opening laps before settling into seventh on lap four, right behind Aaron Plessinger. Craig would linger behind him for a while but lose sight after Plessinger found a new gear and passed Shane McElrath. Craig tried getting close enough to him to make a pass but just couldn’t do it. But about halfway, he would gain one more position thanks to a crash from Plessinger. So now in sixth, Craig would ride a quiet rest of the race to the finish line. No one was too close in front of him or behind in the second half of the race. The sixth-place finish was definitely not what he would have liked heading into the break, but it will now serve as motivation to come out swinging when the season resumes.
42 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 11, 2018