Page 84 - Issue-48

SHANE MCELRATH
250 MX / 13TH
IMAGE / CAVAZOS WORDS / KUHLHOFF DESIGN / WILSON
>> After some strong top five finishes followed by unfortunate injuries sus- tained during last year’s outdoor season, Shane McElrath knew that he needed to come into round one at Hangtown consistent and strong, but also somewhat cautious so he can build momentum throughout the remainder
of the season. The Troy Lee Designs / Redbull / KTM rider lined up for the
first moto with confidence from a good supercross season and knew that he needed some good finishes to really set the tone for a strong run in outdoors. 41 riders lined up for moto one and the energy that filled the air could only
be compared to “first day of school” nervousness and excitement. The gates dropped and the boys were off. Unfortunately, Shane McElrath ran into a
first turn mishap resulting in a small first turn pile-up. The number 38 was in thirtieth place on lap one and he knew that he needed to start working through the pack quickly if he wanted a decent spot heading into the second moto.
By lap two, McElrath had already gained five positions and by the halfway point he found himself in the nineteenth spot. Shane McElrath was able to find some end of the moto spark and went past the finish line flag in a redeeming sixteenth place position. With a sixteenth place finish in the first moto, McEl- rath’s second moto could either make or break his overall for the day. Luckily, twenty-two year old grabbed a much better position off the start and was in the top ten early on. At the halfway point on a rough and rutted track, Shane had fallen back to thirteenth but he once again gained speed and strength towards the very end of the moto. Shane McElrath ended moto two with a solid tenth place finish. His 16-10 results put him in thirteenth overall at the end of this hot and sunny California day. Shane proved himself a threat towards the end of his motos and hopefully he can carry that skill into the next eleven rounds. With some better starts and a strong finish, McElrath definitely has top five potential.
84 GRITMOTO • MAY 21, 2017