Page 64 - Issue45

Justin Brayton
450 SX / 13TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / KUHLHOFF DESIGN / WILSON
>> Smartop/Motoconcepts/Honda rider Justin Brayton came out swinging in Salt Lake City for the first heat race of the evening. After a fifteenth place finish in Seattle, Brayton needed to find some redemption this weekend on the perfectly prepped “State of Sport” track. Right of the start of heat number one, Justin Bray- ton found himself in fifth place, a mere one spot away from a fourth place transfer spot. Brayton was not the only one looking for a ticket to the Main though, a very determined Marvin Musquin was right on him and a battle was soon underway. On the final lap, Brayton and Musquin made a little contact and it is Musquin who comes out on top and is going directly through to the Main Event. Even though he was headed to the Semi, Justin Brayton put on a hard fight and an awesome heat race ride. With the Main Event in sight, Justin Brayton rocketed down the long start straightaway for the second Semi race and grabbed the holeshot with ease. Justin Brayton may have had an early lead in the Semi, but he was not alone. An eager Dean Wilson was right on the tail of the number 10 machine. The two riders fought for the lead all the way to the checkered flag. Brayton was about half a bike length short on Dean Wilson when they went over the finish. After an extremely close Semi win, Justin Brayton was rightfully headed to the Main Event. Early in the Main, Brayton sat in eleventh place and was able to move into tenth about halfway through. With five minutes and 1 lap to go, he fell back to twelfth place. Then with only 1 lap left, Tickle made a pass on him putting him into thirteenth place on the finish line. I’m sure Justin Brayton was looking for a finish within the top ten, but he was able to build upon his last results and that is something to be proud of.
64 GRITMOTO • APRIL 23, 2017