Page 216 - MPG_JAN_2017

450 A
S CANTRELL
IMAGE / WONDERGOAT WORDS / KILPATRICK DESIGN / WILSON
>> It was a Yamaha duel for the holeshot as Brandon Hartranft and Nolan Heppner got out front early, but they were immediately chal- lenged by the KTM of Sean Cantrell. The Californian was able to work his way past Heppner, but Hartranft maintained his advantage in the lead and did his best to work up a comfortable gap. Mean- while, Challen Tennant recovered from an average start and forced his way into 3rd position before the end of the opening lap. The
Star Racing Yamaha rider urgently closed up on the rear fender of Cantrell as the two of them kept the pressure on Hartranft. The New Jersey native showed impressive composure to hold onto the lead, but Cantrell was able to use an outside line before the whoops in order to make the pass into 1st position. He put the hammer down with a clear track ahead of him as he set the fastest lap of the race and began to stretch the gap ahead of the Yamaha duo. Tennant was pushing hard in order to get around Hartranft as Cantrell began to inch away, but he ended up making some miniscule mistakes that forced him to lose time on Hartranft. Cantrell was in position to grab the overall victory with a 3rd place in the first moto. Tennant would need to make a pass for the lead if he were to hold onto any hopes of the overall victory, which seemed more and more outlandish with only one lap to go. Tennant was finally able make his way around Hartranft in the same place that Cantrell made the move, but it wasn’t enough as Cantrell brought it home to the checkered flag. The TLD KTM rider wrapped up the overall victory with a seriously impressive ride. Tennant would have to settle for 2nd overall with Cycletrader/Rock River’s Justin Cooper coming home in 3rd.
216 MPG • JANUARY 2017