Page 50 - Issue_78

BLAKE BAGGETT
450 MX / 7TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> When riders think about the Glen Helen, and it’s unique mystique, they picture ava- lanche type hills, and wide-open terrain as far as the eye can see. Some look in fear, trem- bling with enormous stomach churns, as they creep onto the starting line. Others clasp their hands together, rubbing with all types savoring expression. Blake Baggett is the latter, and upon his entrance to the gates, he knew this weekend would be of positive result. Practice his pace was quick, yet ef cient, using much of his bodyweight to really soak up this signi - cant chop, and put the suspension to its full use. He went to the paddock for a bit, seeing if he could make any slight adjustments to both his line choice and machine. After a few turns of the clickers, he was well on his way; ascending in time, and putting up a solid showing on the leaderboard. He wanted to continue to chase those feverish times to begin the moto and that’s exactly what he would do. Quickly nding himself within a battle amongst he and Ben- ny Bloss, the two would drag race into the far right section, furthest from the start stretch. Nearly coming together over the right-handed hip jump, they would ski into the humongous triple, and out of the sight of many. Eventually working his way into the fth place ride, there was no shortage of line choice array within his arsenal. Dodging pothole after pothole, the white ag would begin to wave, signaling a sign of surrender from the opposition; fth place would be his, and the second moto would begin shortly. Shooting out of the hole in cannon- like fashion, he looked to penetrate the eld with quick motions, as he knew if he settled behind anyone, he would become complacent and lose sight of the leaders. All through the “Talladega” corner, you could see him run with a slight arch in his legs, yet again saving his energy for the nal few moments of the moto. But almost immediately after, a huge getoff would cause the eld to power-dive into his machine; stuck on the brink of Mt. St. Helen, he would have to turn around, and ght his way through the eld. It was after frequent rummag- ing, where he would eye Cody Cooper; the two would be combatants, slashing their shrouds together in militarized fashion, and he would come out a victor, in the last few laps. After nding this nal spot, the race was over in a ash; a constant blur of meshed circuits. With
a ninth in this moto, his overall would re ect that of a seventh place nish. And although it’s solid, he knew he had more in the tank, as the next national would lay ahead.
50 GRITMOTO • MAY 27, 2018