Page 80 - ISSUE _38

DEAN WILSON
450 SX / 10TH
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / KUHLHOFF DESIGN / WILSON
>> As new member of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team, this Clermont, Flor- ida rider is definitely ready to show us what he’s got. Last weekend in Minneapo- lis, Wilson ended the evening with a twelfth place finish. Tonight in A-Town, the pressure was on for the number fifteen. It was time to turn it up a notch. Wilson found himself lined up in the second 450 heat race of the night. The fight for a top four position and a golden ticket straight to the Main Event was intense. Wilson danced across the treacherous whoops and charged through a rough and tough sand section. Dean finished the heat in a fifth place position; close but no cigar. Wilson was heading to the Semis, and with such a solid ride in the heat, we all knew that he would be able to put it all together. An excitingly competitive group of racers lined up for the 450 Semi #2. The high hopes of fans take over the dome as the sweet, familiar sounds of the starting gate fill the air. Canard gets the holeshot; Alessi and Wilson are close behind. Dean Wilson charges into the whoops and is able to quickly make a move on Alessi in the following clay-packed corner. Wilson soon found himself closing in on Canard; the race was coming to a close as the crowd stood on their feet. We all knew that if Wilson could gracefully attack the whoops section again, that would be his only chance to make the pass for first place. One lap to go and a medical flag flew, causing both Canard and Wilson to rightfully proceed with caution and slow down right before the whoops section. Wilson was unable to make the pass before the checkered flag, but he did finish in a respectable second place that would send him straight to the Main Event. The thirty-second card for the Main Event went up and the gates went down. It was show time. Dean Wilson started the moto off in twelth place. Wilson found himself right on the verge of breaking the top ten throughout the whole moto. Dean Wilson was able to dig deep late in the race and finish with tenth place position, an extremely respectable spot for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Rider. I can’t wait to see what Dean Wilson has for us next weekend at Round Nine.
80 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 26, 2017