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Aaron Plessinger
250 SX / A-1
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / LANG DESIGN / WILSON
>> Star Racing Yamaha has been the most dominate 250 team in the past few years. Two outdoor titles with Jeremy Martin, two SX titles and an outdoor title with Cooper Webb, and multiple race wins from Alex Martin and Aaron Plessinger. Coming into 2017, the team has lost three heavy hitters. Cooper Webb, Jeremy Martin and Alex Martin all have moved on to other teams. This leaves Aaron Plessinger with some big shoes to fill. The team obviously wants to keep winning championships and Aaron is their guy to do so. Finishing 2nd in last year’s 250 east coast SX championship, Aaron is ready to take control of the 250 class in 2017. You could see the confidence in Plessinger on the gate of the first main event of the year. Listening to music in staging while dancing to loosen up in classic Plessinger fashion, he looked as if he was lining up for a local race in his home state of Ohio. When the gate dropped Aaron did not get the start he was expecting. Timing and scoring had him 15th place out of the first turn, but by the time you looked up to
see what place he was in Aaron had already worked up to 6th place by the end of lap one. Making quick work of two more riders Aaron was in podium position early and had his sights set on the leaders. Working his way passed Rockstar Husqvarna’s Martin Davalos for 2nd around the half way point, Aaron’s goal of winning Anaheim One was starting to form. The next few laps Aaron would close the gap on the leader Shane Mcelrath slightly, but unfortunately ran out of time. Although a come from behind 2nd place finish, Plessinger seemed disappointed on the podium. He is showing the attitude of a champion and proved to the class he is here to contend for this title. Considered the favorite to win this championship in many eyes, a podium at the opener puts him in a great position to continue the Star Racing Yamaha winning streak.
26 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 9, 2017