Page 53 - MPG_NOVEMBER_2018
P. 53
KILPATRICK
as the Supermini 1 division, finishing all four motos on the podium. LeBlanc started things off on the right foot in the second Supermini 1 heat race, blasting out of the gate to a second place start behind Chance Hymas.
He was able to keep pace with the Team Green rider from start to finish, turning the fastest lap of the race while chasing the Kawasaki’s rear fender, but he wasn’t able to make a move and was forced to settle for second position. In the second moto,
the Yamaha rider wasn’t able to execute the start that he needed in order to battle at the front of the pack, finding himself on the edge of the top five as the pack emerged from the opening cor- ner. The start didn’t phase him in the slightest and LeBlanc quickly fought his way to fourth place, subsequently making a move
on Hymas for third, and his late charge to the podium earned him a second place overall behind Kaeden Amerine. In the Mini
Sr. 1 division, LeBlanc showed his dominance ahead of the competition as he stormed away from the field in his heat race, setting the fastest lap of the moto in the process. The Louisiana native finished the race with a gap of more than ten seconds
in hand, putting him just where he needed to be heading into
the final moto. His confidence
on the 85cc machine translated directly into his starts as he muscled his way through the first corner with gritted teeth, grabbing another holeshot. LeBlanc im- mediately became engulfed in a fierce battle with Hymas until the penultimate lap of the race, but his metronomic consistency and solid lap times forced the Idaho native into a mistake and he kept his Yamaha on two wheels all
the way until the checkered flag, scoring the first number one plate of his highly anticipated career with Yamaha.
WWW.GRITMOTO.COM
53