Page 44 - MPG19

ADAM CIANCIARULO
IMAGE/ANDYCAVAZOS
It’s got to be a weird feeling for Adam Cianciarulo to line up next to Austin Forkner, both of
them sitting aboard a famed Pro Circuit Kawasaki 250. Although they are two different riders in
two different stages of their career, it’s difficult not to draw parallels between the two of them. Cianciarulo was the most decorated amateur rider to ever make his way into the professional ranks
back in 2013, practically the same position that his teammate is in this year. Things have not gone smoothly for Cianciarulo since his rookie season, the last couple of years have been plagued with injuries and illnesses that have kept him out of racing. His rookie debut was actually postponed due to an illness and he didn’t end up racing until halfway through the outdoor season. He’s had success in the 250 class, winning supercross races and landing on the podium in the nationals, but it all seems a
bit underwhelming after his amateur accolades set an unattainable precedence for his debut. Cianciarulo has never completed a full professional season - that will be the main goal for the Pro Circuit rider this year. His contract isn’t up until the end of 2017, therefore he’s not fighting for a bike to ride next season. He was going to line up to race the 250 East SX series earlier this year, but a broken wrist forced him out of the series and Mitch Payton and the boys at Pro Circuit decided to let Cianciarulo rest up for outdoors. Although this gave him a sufficient amount of time to prepare for the series properly, Cianciarulo still hasn’t raced since the middle of 2015; this is bound to affect him throughout the beginning of the season, but he should steadily improve as the racing trudges onward into the summer months. He had a mediocre Hangtown, finishing 13th overall with a 12th and an 11th on the day. Cianciarulo will be looking to take small strides toward the podium and break inside the top ten at Glen Helen.
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GRITMOTO • MAY.30.16
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