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COLE SEELY
450 MX / 3RD
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / TILLS
>> As many may know, as the series rolls into Unadilla, there are many who are guessing and betting on who will be chosen as our countries representatives
for the Mx of Nations. With the field seemingly being tossed up at every round, it was a true shuffle of candidates, as the final team wasn’t a certainty in any- one’s mind. And when the announcement was read, it was that of Cole Seely as the lone 450 rider to be chosen. He knew he had to back up his selection with
a solid performance today. Coming through the early portion of the first moto,
his classic-elbows down style was paying off, as his delicacy on the throttle was allowing the 450 to grip optimally in the depths of these gigantic grooves. As the moto loomed on, however, his West-Coast familiarity was thrown further and further away from his comfort zone, as rain began to move in. He wouldn’t falter, and reassure he can handle every condition, in the blink of an eye. As the track worsened, his positions would increase, so much so, that he amassed a third place finish by the checkered flag, receiving a well-deserved pat on the back from his team. Once he walked out of the semi for the second moto, the track was much was than imagined. He needed a floatation device in order to not sink the 450, but opted to just shift up a gear, and skim the tops of these makeshift ponds instead. Fourth place off the start, the track had him sliding every which way, the corners being formed with giant ruts shaping more like zigzagged pat- terns, rather than the normal arcing U’s. Pushing his Honda to the hilt, his effort was almost counterintuitive at times, as the harder he charged, the more he would slip. Ripping down the start straight, his temper flaring, he was splashing both mechanics and track crew alike, taking any which way in order to secure the best position on the raceway. With the shortened moto however, riders such as Dean Wilson would stay ahead, and Eli Tomac would move around, placing him in a sixth place ride, but third overall.
14 GRITMOTO • AUGUST 13, 2017