Page 66 - issue05mpg-Final
P. 66
CARTER HALPAIN
250 B LIMITED
IMAGE / TENHAGEN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / WILSON
>> As always, there are a few casual, new coming fans that attend these events. They come, looking to see some motorcycle racing action, and end up leaving in awe of what they had just witnessed. One often mistake that they usually make, is that of their interpretation of the “B” class level riders. Equivalent to a grade- school scoring system, B may mean slightly slower, and at times, intermediate. But we have to reiterate, there is nothing intermediate about riders such as Carter Halpain. A local Texan, he was looking to carry the state flag proud, bring- ing a gold medallion back across state lines, a criminal trespassing with danger- ous intent. With a large gate of competition, his feathers were a bit ruffled on the opening lap of heat one, being forced into a traffic jam where it was tough for him to get in the zone. The track, although as wide as could be, still was treacher- ous, and the best ruts were being taken by those who sat just in front of him. He found faster lines anyway, lugging the bike a gear tall, and keeping his momen- tum around the bowl from start to finish, and when he had to pivot and undercut the corner to make pass, he would do that too. The end result was that of just trailing fellow Texan, Ethan Mann. The fourth would give him a decent gate pick for the main event. It was now time for the main event, what truly mattered in
this championship format. There was no debacle this time around, his Yamaha bursting out of the hole and into the lead early. Flicking the machine to the right over the double in the back, he was flying into the finish rhythm section, all the while hugging the inside off the following right as he would slowly, but surely creep away. Each lap the pit board reading “YOU CAN” as the KTM of Zane Mer- rett would fade in his peripheral vision, as he would creep into the parallel lanes behind. He knew if he could just keep rattling off these 32-second laptimes, he would be in good shape. That task would be completed, as he would cross the finish line one last time in the lead, claiming overall victory and being crowned champion.
66 MPGDIGITAL• MAY • 2017
