Page 28 - Issue_67

AUSTIN FORKNER
250 SX / 1ST
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Austin Forkner did not even know if he would be ready to line up on the gate at the start of the 250SX East Coast Championship. A wrist injury he suffered in the offseason was holding him back and keeping him off the bike. Growing restless and determined to race the series, he would decide to grit it out against his doctor’s orders and begin preparations for the season. He got off to a great start in the season opener last weekend by winning his heat race but got taken out by Zach Osborne early in the main event. He remounted at the rear end of the eld but managed
to march through the eld to salvage a seventh place. He entered Tampa ready for redemption. Forkner got his afternoon going in the Sunshine state in excellent fashion. The Missouri native came out ring on all cylinders in qualifying practice and set down the second fastest lap time
of the class. He looked energetic, yet uid and he was ready to show off that blend of attributes during the night of racing that lay ahead. Forkner did not start his heat race the way he wanted. He got mired up in the middle of the eld managing to grab the green ag in sixth place. He wasted no time moving forward though by passing Jimmy Decotis and Sean Cantrell on lap two. Forkner’s next target was Josh Osby who did not stand a chance as Forkner was able to blow by him for third on lap three. He settled in there, but the two leaders had already skirted away, and he would be unable to catch them. He’d log some solid laps to nish third before heading back
to the pits to prepare for the main event. The main started perfectly for Forkner. The sophomore rider ew out of the gate and gave Zach Osborne a con dent, assertive block pass to take over second place on the opening lap. Forkner saw RJ Hampshire ahead of him and knew he had
to pass him quickly because he had Osborne eager to retaliate right behind him. Forkner would indeed manage to hammer by Hampshire on lap two and then put his head down. Usually known for his blazing fast speed and on-the-edge riding style, Forkner showed some maturity while leading and logged consistent mistake free laps. Despite this, he was not able to shake either Osborne or Dylan Ferrandis who had joined the fray. It would be Ferrandis who slowly started to work away at Forkner’s lead. Forkner did his best thwarting every little charge by Ferrandis but on the nal lap the two riders nally were alongside one another. Ferrandis had been so close to Forkner the last few laps and went in deep on Forkner in the tight chicane but Forkner managed to keep his bike upright and bonsai the whoop section that followed and he built his cushion back up. He kept that the rest of the lap and to the checkered ag to secure his rst career victory. It was a thrilling race where he showed true veteran poise and heart. He countered every move thrown at him and was able to prove superior and emerge victorious on the evening. This surely will give him a huge surge of con dence along with the fact that he is only ve points behind Osborne in the points standings.
28 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 25, 2018