Page 90 - Issue-35

JUSTIN STARLING
250 SX / OKLAND
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / WILSON
>> Justin Starling has had some wild nights throughout the 250 West Coast series. The rider hailing from Florida has been involved in battles in seem- ingly every race but despite all that he has remained consistent; A tough thing to do in the young, unpredictable 250 class. He’s finished right inside and around the top fifteen heading into Oakland and was looking to break free and finally put together a flawless ride.
Starling kicked off his day by putting forth a nice fourteenth place effort in qualifying. That led him into his heat race where he got a subpar holeshot starting in ninth place. He made a few passes in the opening laps but got to- gether with rookie Justin Hoeft resulting in both crashing. Starling would have to settle with another LCQ but he would handle it well by getting in the lead early ultimately finishing second after points leader Shane McElrath worked his way around. Nonetheless, he was on to the main event.
With the third worst gate pick, Starling managed to weasel his way through the carnage in the first few corners of the main event and emerge from the opening lap in an outstanding fifth place. It was by far his best start to a main of the year and he made sure to try and capitalize on it. Starling held his own with the factory riders up front getting involved in battles with Nicoletti and veteran Kyle Chisholm. Plessinger than came knocking on the door halfway through the race making an even bigger battle. The four riders battled seem- ingly the entire main event but when the checkered flag waved, it would be Starling who would finish at the rear end of the battle in eighth place. It was by far his best performance of the year with his personal best heading into the evening a fourteenth. Starling will want to carry this big swing in momen- tum into Dallas and go into the break with a pair of top tens.
90 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 5, 2017