Page 38 - Issue-48

ADAM CIANCIARULO
250 MX / 4TH
IMAGE / CAVAZOS WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / WILSON
>> Sacramento, California, a place for Kings to reside. Bibby, Cousins, and many
other top tier athletes of the NBA have passed through this West Coast staple of a town, bringing praise to the streets with their purple stream of uniforms. Another man trying to wear the crown of king once leaving the Folsom stomping grounds? None other than Adam Cianciarulo. His demeanor was filled with swagger from the moment he stepped foot on the Hangtown premises, the autograph lines as long as ever, and his confidence being boosted by the minute with the amount of praise he was being presented. Coming into practice, his time and overall pace reflected his inner being. He was able to slide the rear end when needed, cutting across ruts at times, but it didn’t matter. He could make the lines work, if only he could get out in front of the back, or
at least in a space with enough room to pivot by himself. Time began to pass, he sat down in his chair underneath the awning, fastened his boots, and was ready to take, what he felt, was rightfully his. Lining up just ever so slightly caddy-corner, he wanted to position himself solid going into the left hander; he did, fighting amongst the up-
per echelon of the field, as they rounded the next left, and up the hill. He would lead them around, running a solid pace, much to what we’ve seen throughout his amateur career. Bouncing off the rev limiter, he could feel the pressure around, but chose to pursue forward. But Osborne was in fact coming; making the move near lap seven. His mistakes were few and far between, but every dab, or front end wash, would cost him, but he would continue to rally. He was making up time in rather unorthodox places, wheeling over the short, lofty step up on the far side of the track; truly remarkable, but he did what he had to. His work would be complete, and by the end of the moto come across finishing second. All aboard for moto number two, the hype train is coming to deliver, and it did. Although a little tougher circumstances, with the track deteriorating, he was scanning the field like defensive back in the secondary. Battling with the likes of Martin, Plessinger, Savatgy, he felt solid, working his way in the upper half of the top ten. The mechanic, relaying a task of double duty, was communicating in the headset, yet screaming his heart out to encourage his pilot to bring the plane home safely. And he did, finessing the last few laps with precision, enough to bring home fourth overall on the day; although the eighth wasn’t ideal, he garnered solid points.
38 GRITMOTO • MAY 21, 2017