Page 30 - ISSUE_77

RJ HAMPSHIRE
250 MX / 9TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> The West Coast is typically known for it’s hard, slick base that gets blue grooved as the day progresses. When visualizing the “normal” California landscape, many picture the factory Super- cross track, either right off the highway, or in the valley, surrounded by barbwire fencing; hardly any ruts, and a place where traction is hard to come by. The outlier in the equation you ask? There are few, but the one referenced in the present-tense is that of Hangtown. It’s a track that’s been molded by its founders for numerous decades, with a concoction of soils present; the original California compost, heaping’s of sawdust, and a dash of clay, giving you the track as it is today. RJ Hamp- shire toyed with tire settings all day, dabbling back and forth between loamy and harder compound choices. As one practice session would pass, he would switch the rear in the meantime; choosing to try the other in the following. His team worked diligently in the little time they had, but was reassured with a thumbs up given in the last go-around. All systems were a go to begin the rst moto, as every machine was revving to their might into turn number one. Yamaha’s Justin Cooper got out to an early lead, and he could faintly see the rookie off in the distance. It would motivate him, knowing that a young counterpart could do so well early on; and he would then begin to charge. Using the front fender as a bayonet, he would poke and stab at Brandon Hartranft eventually slaying the dragon in the ravine before the nish. His sweeping line of inside, to outside, had him carry an absurd amount of momentum into view of the mechanic’s area, where his motor could be heard over everyone else. Reading the pit board, he kept playing the idea of “digging” deep within his predator like mentality. When others seemed to tire, he would continue plugging away, waiting for the two-lap board and his moment of bursting. It would come, and as the checkered ag ew nearer and nearer, he would inch closer to Shane McElrath. Coming up just a bit shy by the nale, but all in all, proud of his effort;
he would nish tenth. The track was chewed, the fans were drained, and the competition had been tested; yet he remained, hungry and rampant as ever. Darting off the line, he began to shift left as soon as he crossed over the launch pad, doing his best to cut off his opponents. Registering near eighth, the towel of his mechanic was waving in a clockwise motion, as he passed the mechanics area. Sweat, beginning to ll the foam of his goggle rim, reminded him of the exertion he was plac- ing in front of thousands. Hopping over the Red Bull step-up, he found a great line on the inside, pushing through the chatter and pot-holed left side of the course. Neck and neck with Justin Cooper, he couldn’t let up, due to the fact that Joey Savatgy was behind. The halfway point would near, and his position would be somewhat solid, but he knew he had more to give. The chassis would shimmy side to side through the staircase, after he tried tripling in, allowing him to gain on Marchbanks. The seventh place position of his would be secured as he approached the nish line, truly leaving it all on the table. With the nal time around, he would register seventh, accumulating for ninth overall.
30 GRITMOTO • MAY 21, 2018