Page 268 - MPG_JAN_2017

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IMAGE / WONDERGOAT WORDS / KILPATRICK DESIGN / WILSON
>> Hardy Munoz tore his rear Dunlop into his home soil as the Florida native put the Yamaha power down and grabbed the holeshot ahead of Jalek Swoll and Austin Black. Swoll sat in position to take the overall with 1-2 moto scores, but he still seemed eager to fight his way into the lead as he looked for passing lines to find his way around Munoz. The two leaders were practically glued together for the first flying lap as they crossed the finish line separated by just under .3 of a second. They slowly began to drop Austin Black in 3rd place, but the KTM rider was still in a solid position for the overall with a 3rd place finish looming. The two leaders came together just in front of the announcers tower and they took each other out of contention for the moto win and the cham- pionship. Austin Black picked up the scraps and took over the lead as well as the potential championship victory as he only had a couple of laps remaining until the checkered flag. Marcus Phelps pushed as hard as possible to close in on the KTM rider in the lead, but he wasn’t able to close the gap in time as Black greeted the checkered flag. The Oregonian claimed the championship with a fist pump over the finish line as Phelps and Eigenmann rounded out the overall po- dium.
268 MPG • JANUARY 2017