Page 44 - Issue_39

DYLAN FERRANDIS
250 SX / 5TH
IMAGE /MPG WORDS / KILPATRICK DESIGN / WILSON
>> Dylan Ferrandis has shown a lot of potential since he made the move from Europe to the United States. It’s only his rookie season of Monster Energy Supercross and he has been able to qualify on pace with the front runners, put himself in tremendous positions out of the gate, and subsequently lead laps. The Star Racing Yamaha rider’s results have been marred by dodgy circumstances, miniscule mistakes, and general growing pains but it’s fairly likely given his speed that he will grace the podium before the end of the season. Ferrandis is admittedly homesick and experiencing difficulties fitting in with the team -- once he’s able to put those problems aside and ride like he was able to on his home continent, there will be undoubtedly be another regular podium contender. Once practice got under- way in Toronto, he was able to drastically improve his time between sessions by over one second as he jumped up to the fourth fastest qualifying spot. Ferrandis got off to a dream start in the first 250 heat race as his incredible starting form has continued from the first two rounds. His Yamaha really stretched it’s legs down the enormous start straight and the Frenchman was able to grab the advan- tage heading into the first corner. Ferrandis battled tooth and nail with Alex Martin in the early stages of the race, swapping positions back and forth momentarily, but the TLD KTM rider eventually made a couple mistakes and dropped back through the field. Christian Craig slipped into second position with Martin’s teammate Jordon Smith following closely behind. Ferrandis showed undeniable speed and an impressive amount of composure to lead the race from start to finish, claiming his maiden heat race victory in Monster Energy Supercross. Ferrandis secured another exceptional start when the main event got underway in the Rogers Centre as he took the early advantage. The French rider rode with style and flair from the lead as he battled back and forth with Joey Savatgy on the opening laps. He lost the lead in the opening rhythm lane, but was able to power back past the Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider in the whoops and execute a block pass. Ferrandis was able to lead for the first four laps, but Sa- vatgy eventually made the pass stick and Zach Osborne soon followed. The Yamaha rider was thrown out of his rhythm and made a mistake on the very next lap, falling back to sixth position in the process. Ferrandis held strong in sixth position for the majority of the race, eventually putting his bike on the line to defend the position against a charging Jordon Smith, and taking the TLD KTM rider out in the process. After he settled back into sixth position, he was able to take advantage of a late race mistake by Savatgy and move up to fifth position. Although Ferrandis wasn’t able to finish where he started, he was able to nab another result at the sharp end of the field and lead some laps in the main event. The Frenchman gathered valuable race experience on America’s biggest stage that will easily put him one step closer to his first main event victory come Daytona.
44 GRITMOTO • MARCH 5, 2017