Page 14 - ISSUE_77

AARON PLESSINGER
250 MX / 3RD
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> As this track becomes littered with all types of ruts, bumps, and potholes, one must be supe- rior in creativity, in order to succeed. Although many would view this motocross track as a simple raceway in a eld, these racers are virtually artists with an open canvas. A plowed, fresh raceway offers competitors a chance to draw, splash, and carve with a particular set of multiple utensils. These tires can appear as brushes, knives, and stencils, etching their own signature into the history of Hangtown forever. Aaron Plessinger appeared to have his pallet ready from the get go, as he would dabble into multiple lines in quali cation. Inside to outside, cross jumping through multiple lines (within reason of course), and hopping over the occasional yellow track marker, he did what- ever he wanted, in order to please both himself and the audience in attendance. Captivating the entirety of all in attendance, he left center stage and exited right, bowing with much enthusiasm; the main event was coming shortly. Those in the crowd would scream and cheer, waving their ags as he dashed around the track for lap number one. Looking to move forward from the sixth place position, all effort was placed within the grasp of his right hand. The waf e grip began to melt within his palm, as his glove just simply wouldn’t let go. Scraping plastic with the likes of Joey Savatgy, the two navigated the downhills as they fended off roost from one another. Pellets would ricochet off of his chest, dirt even wedging his way through the screen of his helmet muzzle; meanwhile he would just continue to hunt down the checkered ag. The race would continue to dwindle away,
yet he remained in a highly touted position, moving past the number seventeen and eyeing Justin Cooper. Hounding the teammate, his few years on the circuit paid dividends, as he made his way around the number sixty-two; yet he now had to deal with Austin Forkner. The two were neck and neck until the last lap, when he would choose the outside line of a bottom right-handed corner; For- kner mean while, stalling the engine, would give up the position, and relinquish third to Plessinger. The thirty-second board would go sideways for moto number two, and he would click both bike
and mentality into overdrive. There was no stopping his run to the front, as he pushed the bike to near disaster in the early going. Hovering around second, he and Jeremy Martin looked to move away from Osborne, who was coming. A slight hiccup then allowed the number twenty-six of Alex Martin to get around, leaving the tandem of Minnesota brothers ahead of the number twenty-three. Plessinger would hound the KTM, yet feel pressure from behind, nearing the halfway point, of the number forty, Chase Sexton. Brie y losing grasp of fourth, Plessinger mounted a not too often seen comeback, making the move on lap twelve, as the Honda begin to tire. It was here where he would nish, taking fourth place in the moto, and a solid third overall.
14 GRITMOTO • MAY 21, 2018