Page 66 - ISSUE_58

DAKOTA ALIX
450 MX / 14TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / TILLS
>> Dakota Alix was seemingly unknown until his last few years of amateur competition, where he took Loretta Lynn’s ranch by storm, battling the likes of Jace Owen and Cooper Webb to each and every checkered flag. Fast-forward until the present, and the Vermont native has catapulted himself into a profes- sional 450 ride, and looking to proves his worth with each passing round. Tak- ing the gate for the opening moto, he was ready to roll after stomping his gate with the heel of his boot. As the pin fell, the field was off and he registered eighth across timing and scoring. Battling the likes of Cooper Webb, Blake Baggett, and Eli Tomac, he was holding strong in the front of the field. With
no shortage of competition, it was then Dean Wilson, and finally Benny Bloss showing a wheel, as at times they were two or three wide across the Maryland landscape. Keeping his head held high, his final residing spot would be that of 13th place. Looking to duplicate in moto two, his fourteenth place start allowed him to push forward and not be as overwhelmed in the beginning. His heart rate was steady state, as chaos was just in front. Battling with the likes of Kyle Chisholm and Benny Bloss, the number 70 of late was coming to the front
of the field. Reaching far and wide for smooth raceway, amongst the sea of chop, his 450 was dancing from left to right, swapping a fish tail, yet one thing remained constant; the right hand was twisted. Here it was, the checkered flag, and he would cross the final time in 13th, just behind filthy Phill, for 14th overall.
66 GRITMOTO • AUGUST 20, 2017