Page 52 - ISSUE 29

JUSTIN BARCIA
Justin Barcia’s 2016 campaign has not gone the way he and his AutoTrader/Monster Energy JGR Yamaha team had anticipated. They came into the year with high hopes after a plethora of podiums and a pair of
spectacular wins during the previous outdoor season. Unfortunately, things would go south right from the get-go in Supercross when Barcia would injure his thumb that would require surgery. That immediately set him behind the rest of the field and once he returned, he sincerely struggled only able to notch a season best of tenth place which came at the final round in Las Vegas. Barcia was ready for the outdoors to begin so he could try and reignite that spark he created last season but the struggle would continue during the first half of the season. Inconsistent motos and bad starts plagued him early on but he would begin to improve as we rolled into the latter half of the season. He has finished in the top five at the last six rounds even nailing a second overall after a fun day of battling with Marvin Musquin a week ago at Budds Creek. So it seems that Barcia and JGR have finally returned to harmony and things are starting to look back up for them. They look to end the season strong at Indiana and head into the offseason on a positive note.
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GRITMOTO • AUGUST.29.16