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KYLE CUNNINGHAM
250 MX / 9TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / KUHLHOFF DESIGN / TILLS
>> Willow Park, Texas native Kyle Cunningham proved that hard work pays off last weekend when he was able to capture a seventh place result, his season best, in the second moto at Unadilla. With only a couple of rounds remaining, rid- ers nervously lined up for round eleven at Budd’s Creek in search of stellar results to carry them into the final round at Ironman next weekend. The thirty-second card was up and the forests of Southern Maryland were whirring with the anticipa- tion of excited fans ready for a drag race to the first corner. The gates fell and the number 42 rocketed down the start straightaway and, avoiding all of the first turn carnage, was able to exit the first turn sitting in the seventh place spot. Cunning- ham starting making moves early; by the time the second lap rolled around, he had made a pass on Ames and comfortably moved into the sixth place position. The Autotrader/ Monster Energy/ JGR/ Suzuki rider stayed smooth and consis- tent on the somewhat slick and roughening terrain. Cunningham stayed in sixth, capitalizing on round 10, and was able to finish moto one with a new season best finish. The second moto of the day in Mechanicsville was expected to be noth-
ing short of riveting. With the end of the season was in sight, riders were willing
to put everything on the line to build upon, or gain redemption from, first moto results. The gates dropped and the second 250 battle of the day was underway. Kyle Cunningham was off to another good start as he came careening out of the first tight 180-degree corner in the tenth place spot. It was short lived as misfor- tune struck by the second lap, sending Cunningham back to the twenty-first place position. Kyle Cunningham is not one to give up easily as he quickly started passing his competitors, digging deep in search of results. By the halfway point
of the race, Cunningham had moved all the way into the twelfth place spot where he stayed until the checkered flag flew. Kyle Cunningham left Budd’s Creek with a new season best sixth, as well as a hard earned and deserved twelfth, giving him an awesome ninth place overall for the day. Hopefully Cunningham can bring this determination to the final round next weekend in Indiana.
72 GRITMOTO • AUGUST 20, 2017