Page 49 - MPG-AUGUST

PONC A C I T Y O K L A H O M A
Kade JOHNSON
Kade Johnson has been setting the younger 65cc classes alight this year throughout the regularly contested Amateur Nationals. The Texas native collected a slew of titles throughout the 2017 calendar, but his most coveted achievement was his first Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National title in the 65cc (7-9) Limited class. The Seven MX backed rider carried that momentum into the Baja Brawl where he continued to add some gold hardware to his trophy collection, putting him in the right mindset heading into the 2017 Motoplay- ground Race at Ponca City. Johnson backed up his performances throughout the season with more domination in the 65cc ranks, scoring five moto victories out of six, therefore earning both titles in the 65cc (7-9) divisions in flawless fashion. The KTM rider made things easy on himself in the opening 65cc (7-9) heat race, pulling the holeshot and running away with the victory to an eventual five second advantage ahead of Enzo Temmerman. In the second moto, his start provided him with a bit of a challenge as he crossed the finish line back in fifth position on the opening lap, leaving him a mountain to climb throughout the remainder of the race. Johnson produced an incredible turn around and put himself in first position by the third lap of the race, charging all the way until the checkered flag. He was able to resist immense amounts of pressure from Temmerman as the white flag was shown to the pair of them, hanging on for the victory and the subsequent championship. In the second heat race of the 65cc (7-9) Limited class, Johnson put in one of
the comeback rides of the weekend as he battled from a start outside the top ten all the way to the front of the pack. Incredibly, the Texas native fought from eighth place to second in just one lap, setting the fastest lap of the moto on the successive trip around the track. Johnson proceeded to close an enormous gap in just one lap, passing into the lead with plenty of time to spare before cruising to the checkered flag with almost eight seconds in hand ahead of second place. All the hard work was done in the opening moto and the KTM rider made things easy on himself in the final moto, grabbing an early lead and never looking back. The #177 machine led the race from the drop of the gate to the checkered flag, meanwhile resisting pressure from Temmerman all the way to the final corner, in order to claim his second championship of the weekend.
WWW.MOTOPLAYGROUND.COM
49