Page 32 - Issue_67

DYLAN FERRANDIS
250 SX / 2ND
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> During his rst year in the United States, Dylan Ferrandis proved that he is one of the best riders in the world after transitioning the U.S. circuit without much issue. He certainly had a few struggles along the way but before his outdoor season getting cut short due to injury at Budds Creek, he had only nished worse than eighth overall one time between both AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross. His overall consistency was something that is rarely seen from foreign riders in their rst full venture to the States. He even went out and got a moto win at Southwick in the outdoors. Ferrandis also had his fair share of stellar performances during the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series. He podiumed in his third career race at Daytona and then nished with a career best second at the end of the season in East Rutherford. Unfortunately to start this year, he was involved in that brutal rst turn crash last weekend in Arlington and nished eighteenth. He was upset he did not get to show his skills in the main event, so he was eagerly anticipating lining it back up this weekend in Tampa. Ferrandis must have been stewing during the entire week since the previous race because he came out on re in qualifying practice. The French rider set the fastest lap time of the 250 class with ease. The track appeared to suit his style like a glove and he was excelling in the beachy sand section along with the tight switchback. He felt like it was his night to lose heading into the races. Ferrandis began his heat race by rounding lap one in third position. After his impres- sive qualifying effort, he was expected to move quickly to the front, but he did just the opposite. He struggled mightily early in the race and got shuf ed back by Cameron McAdoo and Martin Davalos. He would linger back there for a while before slowly working the kinks out a couple of laps into the race. He moved back by McAdoo on lap four and then set his sights on the lead two riders, Davalos and RJ Hampshire. He slowly inched up on them and began to pressure Hampshire, but he ran out of time and had to settle with the third-place nish. Despite the rough start, Ferrandis ended strong and looked to have found his rhythm just in time for the main event. Ferrandis got out to another great start when the gate dropped for the main. He and Zach Osborne came out right with each other and engaged in some healthy back and forth action before Osborne solidi ed the spot-on lap two, putting Ferrandis in fourth. Ferrandis stayed right on Osborne’s rear wheel and did not let him slip away. He was so
close that on lap ve when he passed Hampshire for second, Ferrandis was right there with him and also made the pass on Hampshire to move into third. This seemed to ignite a re in Ferrandis and he began to really nd a groove. He was clearly outpacing Osborne and was searching for a way to pass. After numerous attempts during a great battle, Ferrandis nally made the pass on lap twelve. Austin Forkner held the lead less than two seconds ahead of him so Ferrandis knew he had a clear shot at a victory. He began to inch up on Forkner, but he would either make a mistake or Forkner would just eek out some more space between the them. They played cat and mouse all the way until the nal lap where Ferrandis knew he had to make his move. He drove hard into Forkner in the tight switchback trying to push him out of the way but Forkner proved strong and held his ground. The two banged bars and Ferrandis would be unsuccessful in the pass attempt. He would not have enough time to give it another shot as there was only half a lap to go. Ferrandis would nish in second position. He was disappointed he did not secure his rst ever win but happy to be up front racing the top guys hard after the ugly start to the season he had last weekend. Ferrandis will surely keep things interesting as the season turns to Atlanta.
32 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 25, 2018