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DEAN WILSON
450 SX / 9TH
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / WILSON
>> Dean Wilson has been settling into a groove lately as he continues to get used to that Factory Rockstar Energy Husqvarna 450. Wilson has proved to be one of the most consistent guys in the 450 field this season never straying too far from the top ten. This is a huge positive in his program as consistency has been the one element that has held him back during his young 450 career. With some better holeshots, we might see him start to continuously knock on the door of the top five and that was his goal entering the Motor City.
Wilson began his day by mastering the slick, technical track inside Ford Field. He qualified impressively in fifth place setting himself up for a successful night of rac- ing. When the gate dropped in his heat race, he fired out of the gate and into third position. He stayed close to Brayton for the first five laps before finally making his way around him. However, Brayton was not finished and he passed Wilson back the following lap. This set of a chain reaction for Wilson as he dropped four posi- tions on the last lap, losing the final transfer spot to his teammate Jason Ander- son in the final corner. Not the way he wanted to end his heat but he set out for redemption in the semi. Wilson got out to a similar start in that semi rounding lap one in third place. He made sure he did not lose any positions this time and he held onto the position to the checkered flag meaning he was finally on his way to the main event.
After reeling off two third place holeshots to start his night, Wilson could not nail one when it counted the most. He rounded lap one of the main event mid pack in tenth place. In the opening laps, he managed to get into eighth by maneuvering around a downed Anderson and passing Brayton. He stayed steady in that spot throughout the race until he got passed back by a charging Anderson with just
a handful of laps to go. Wilson kept it going and finished strong in ninth place. It was his first top ten since after narrowly missing out the previous two weeks. He still must be pushing for a little bit more and I think he knows a great start in the main event will get him there.
56 GRITMOTO • MARCH 26, 2017


































































































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