Page 71 - ISSUE2GRIDFINAL

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ATLANTA!
DRAIK BEAUCHAMP : KTM RC 390 CUP
Beauchamp established himself as one of the favorites for the race victory from the early stages of the weekend as he immediately laid down a blistering pace in practice. The Tennessee native was able keep Benjamin Smith within touching distance throughout most of the sessions, eventually qualifying in second place on the grid behind his Quarterley Racing/On Track Development teammate. The lights went out on the first race and Beauchamp immediately tucked in behind Smith on the opening couple of laps, but he was forced to deal with the blazing speed of Alex Dumas throughout the midway point of the race. The fourteen year old Canadian rider worked
his way towards the front of the field, but Beauchamp remained calm and composed, keeping
the leading duo within his sights. He bided his time until the final laps of the race, snatching second position away from Dumas on the final time around the circuit in an effort to disallow the Quebecois from launching a counter-attack. In the second race, Beauchamp rocketed down the start straight to an early advantage on the first lap, but things changed in an instant as he was forced back to fifth position by the third circulation of the two and a half mile course. He forced his way into fourth position and began to help push the leading group away from the rest of the field, creating a battle of four. He displayed excellent racecraft yet again as he put himself in position to challenge for the lead in the final stages of the race, but Smith performed another disappearing act on the last lap and Beauchamp was forced to settle for second position.
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DRAIK BEAUCHAMP
ROAD ATLANTA