Page 10 - ISSUE_53

JASON ANDERSON
450 MX / 2ND
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / TILLS
>> Although the state of Michigan has been slowed at times, as of late, with
the departure of major motor companies, and other top-tier businesses, events such as the Red Bud national bring an ultra significant impact to the economy, stimulating a surplus in capital growth to towns such as Buchannan. Hotel rooms booked, restaurants and gas stations filled to the brim; people are coming in droves, just to see riders like Jason Anderson put on a performance of a lifetime. He was defying gravity early on in the day, soaring over the leap with a subtle whip to the crowd, demanding the attention of all in sight. As the moto’s rolled around, his demeanor changed in an instant; it was time to let loose. The spark hit the wick, and the field was underway, yet Anderson was buried extremely deep in the field, after getting caught up in all of the commotion of the first turn crashes. Crossing timing and scoring in 19th, he had work to do, but was willing to climb. Digging his tread in lap after lap, his speed following the ski jump was absurd, shifting up when landing, riding the outside lane, and cutting in at the last second; almost pancaking the following double, as he would land and hop through the breaking bumps into the following inside of the right hander. It was lines like these that propelled him past all riders, such as Justin Barcia, and Jus- tin Bogle. His rallying wouldn’t cease until the checkered flag, where he would cross the stripe in a remarkable fourth place. Man has this kid got a fire lit under his tail, as the second place start showed authority, trailing only Justin Barcia. The confidence was growing, as he pounded on JB’s door for quite sometime, relentlessly waiting for an opportunity to pass; it occurred on lap eight, however there was one other monster to deal with, that of Eli Tomac. Tomac would leap- frog, and Anderson did his best to let him know he was there, scrubbing every table top and single in sight, wheeltapping when he had to. But it just wasn’t enough, as the lap times spread little by little, Anderson would come around in second place, happy with the finish, but knowing he wanted that sweet taste of victory champagne again.
10 GRITMOTO • JULY 2, 2017