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DEAN WILSON
450 MX / 2ND
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / TILLS
>> The land of 10,000 lakes, nestled just on the border of our northern comrades, provides this weekend’s stop of the tour. With the abundance of surrounding water supply, many flock to cool down as the humidity rises with the coming days. Not the riders on the AMA motocross tour however, as this race can provide yet another opportunity for riders to garner much needed attention, hopefully on their path to a lucrative 2018 contract deal. Dean Wilson peared to have a positive vibe when rolling through the front gates Saturday; all of his pre-race memo’s had been checked, and it was now time to place all the work done through the week, onto the table for all to see. His line selection was impeccable, swiftly bouncing off of each and every berm in sight, but just placing the fork guards on the hair of the deep powder, carefully missing the thickest portion of the loam by a subtle inch or two; it would be redeemed for an excellent time. He awaited the first gate to fall, his forearms draped over the crossbar, his hands clasped together; it was time to strap the helmet on. Crossing over the pad, he immediately quick third and glanced out his peripheral vision, as this was one of the longest starts on the circuit. Second place as they ended the first lap, Wilson found himself in familiar territory; albeit it had been a while. Jousting with the toughest warriors in the game, Wilson trailed Marvin Musquin until lap seven, where a charging Eli Tomac would force his way around. No reason to hang the head, the jersey would still blow in the wind, as he launched through the finish line section one last time; beyond stoked, he wanted more. A fourth place start for moto two was a translation of momentum, he was yearning to continue to ride the wave. His quads were on fire for the duration of the moto, as the number 15 was just not sitting down. Although slightly dragging the rear brake when necessary, it wasn’t to slow down; just to ease the chassis a bit, and continue to lower the lap times. It would work, as he would pass Justin Bogle on lap four, and settle in just behind the KTM tandem out front. Crossing the line in third, the excitement was obvious for the Husqvarna pilot. A second overall was well deserved.
10 GRITMOTO • JULY 23, 2017