Page 52 - Issue45

HAYDEN MELLROSS
250 SX / 8TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / WILSON
>> With all of the great things about this sport, unfortunately there are downfalls, like everything else in life. Looking past the injuries, costs, and all of the other obvious variables, there seems to be a notion that you’re only as good as your last race, and each race is an opportunity and platform to secure your ride for next season. Hayden Mellross knows this all too well, as he’s been on the fringes of being let go, swapped, and traded, all for someone else to come and take the limelight away, as his contract at any moment can be tossed into the fire. He realizes that eyes are constantly upon him, and he must perform to the best of his abilities (and then some at times), in order to keep himself afloat amongst the murky waters of the field; otherwise he will be drowned and cast away, with noth- ing left to show for it. Salt Lake City was the present matter for himself, if he could rally and attract some attention; he would leave a lasting impression on team owner’s throughout the final few rounds. And boy did he come out hot, bonzaing every jump in sight, blitzing the whoops with dyer intentions, and revving his 250f to the moon for anyone who stood in his way. Although he may ruffle a few feath- ers, he knows that it’s a dog eat dog world at this stage of the game, and every lap counts when it comes contract time. With a solid finish in his qualifying efforts, it was now time to leave all of the miniscule matters aside, and focus on the big stage. The field dive-bombed into turn number one, he was frantically pushing amongst the best in the game. He was buried tremendously deep in this field of killers, and while many would bow out with a frown beneath the helmet’s surface, the young man just chose to boost the morale, and click the Yamaha into over- drive as he dug and clawed through the pack. Chalking up names such as Tyler Bowers, Justin Hoeft, and veteran Kyle Chisholm, he was having no shortage on line creativity; pivoting in the bowl turns at the apex, running guys when he had to, he figured if the barriers would allow the surface, why not use it. Pushing each and every lap, he utterly wanted to dip into that pristine 47-second range, racing the track rather than his competition. And it would work, now he was in the top ten and still climbing the ladder onto the summit of this Rocky Mountain! Fighting for all he had, by the checkered flag, he would push until the dyer end, claiming eighth place on the evening.
52 GRITMOTO • APRIL 23, 2017