Page 60 - ISSUE_53

ADAM CIANCIARULO
250 MX / 11TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / KUHLHOFF DESIGN / TILLS
>> Florida native, Adam Cianciarulo had to be feeling some confidence arriving in Michigan after his very impressive 2-5 finishes, resulting in a fourth place overall in Tennessee last weekend. Cheers from the incredible fans at Redbud filled the air as the 250 class filed into the staging area for the first moto of the day. Cianciarulo lined up his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki ready for some Fourth of July weekend action and excitement. The Red thirty-second card complimented the red, white, and blue American pride that decorated the grandstands as the gates fell. It was go time. After a mistake in the first turn, almost resulting in a crash, Cianciarulo found himself in the thirteenth place spot as he plummeted off the face of the choppy ski jump. Adam knew that he had to start making moves if he wanted to get where he needed to be. After a pass on McAdoo, Cianciarulo found twelfth place by the halfway point. The second half of the moto is when the number 36 machine really started getting things done and he managed to get around Savatgy, Nichols, and McElrath, moving himself into ninth place. After a stall from Hampshire, Cianciarulo was able to finish the first moto in the eighth place spot, a great place to be heading into the second moto. With a better start, Cianciarulo could still capture the overall that we all knew he could get. High-spirited race fans were patriotically packed along the fence line as the riders lined up for the second moto of the day. The gates fell and the riders galloped down the start straight, plunging and swerving through the first turn. Unfortunately
for AC, he could not capture the start that he wanted and once again found himself back in the teens. He needed a repeat performance of the first moto if he wanted to move through the pack, but with the track conditions changing and worsening, this was going to be a challenge. Cianciarulo proved he was up for the challenge as he passed Locurio and Plessinger and moved into the thirteenth place spot by lap two. Each passing moment became more intense, but Cianciarulo was able to maintain composure and finish the second moto in thirteenth. After and 8-13, Adam was leav- ing the Great Lakes State with an eleventh place overall. Hopefully he can be off to a great start at the next round in Massachusetts and show The Wick that he is a podium contender.