Page 140 - MPG_JAN_2017

140 MPG • JANUARY 2017
450 Pro Sport
C TENNANT
IMAGE / WONDERGOAT WORDS / KILPATRICK DESIGN / WILSON
>> Luke Purther put his new Motoconcepts Honda out to the front of the field with a holeshot, but he wasn’t able to hold on to the position for long as Sam Wise slipped underneath him as they dropped down into the gator pit. The first lap was full of action as Challen Tennant found his way around Pur- ther before the spectators section of the track. Tennant was locked in behind Wise as they crossed the finish line with the green flag waving; he quickly made the move on the KTM in the lead as they came back through the first corner, taking a tighter line that allowed him to stick his Star Racing Yamaha in the potential tire track of the leader. Meanwhile, Sean Cantrell and Justin Cooper worked their way into podium contention after suffering average starts over the course of the next lap. Cooper pulled the pin as he attempted to work his way into 2nd position through the whoops section and he made the pass stick on the second time of trying. Tennant took advantage of the first lap that he had with a clear track ahead of him, laying down the gauntlet on his beastly blue chariot as he continued his disappearing act at the front of the field. The Texas native continued to churn out incredibly consistent lap times, maintaining a decent cushion back to Cooper in 2nd place with Cantrell close behind the both of them in 3rd. Tennant was able to lay down the fastest lap of the entire moto with only a couple of laps to go, firmly solidi- fying his winning position ahead of his Yamaha teammate. The Texas native has been lights out through the entire week of racing and his competition is going to have to find a way to disrupt his rhythm at the start of the moto if they want to stop him from wrapping up any more championships during the 45th annual Thor Winter Olympics.