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JOSH GRANT
450 SX / 5TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / WILSON
>> Josh Grant made his return to action this weekend here in Salt Lake City. The veteran Monster Energy Kawasaki rider missed some time due to injury but used that extra week off for Easter to make sure he came back completely ready and at 100%. He had enjoyed a pretty nice year so far prior to his injury and was actually beginning to ride exceptionally well with back to back season best finishes in an eighth and a fifth at his last two races. He entered SLC with the intent to pick up right where he left off and improve on that fifth-place finish.
Out of all the riders in qualifying practice, Josh Grant looked the most impressive. He threw down the second fastest lap time of the day going just a tick slower than his teammate Eli Tomac. The two Kawi boys clearly had some mojo going and looked to carry it over to the night show. Grant kicked it off by nailing the holeshot in his heat race and never looking back. He had minimal pressure from Justin Bogle and Broc Tickle throughout the race but for the most part took the win with ease. He looked more than ready to repeat that performance in the main.
The gate dropped in that main event and Grant executed another solid start. He rounded lap one in fourth but quickly got by Bogle to take over third place. He held that spot for a while before his teammate, Eli Tomac passed him a third of the way through the race. He held down fourth for quite some time before Musquin came knocking at his door late in the race. Grant showed his endurance and put up a fight with the KTM rider and the two swapped positions a few times but Musquin would ul- timately win the battle and take over fourth. Grant would finish strong back in the fifth position. It was a stellar ride and a tie of his season best finish. He’ll aim to make it three podiums in a row next weekend in the Big Apple.
22 GRITMOTO • APRIL 23, 2017