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JACOB HAYES
ARENACROSS
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / KILPATRICK DESIGN / WILSON
>> Babbit’s / Monster Energy / AMSOIL Kawasaki’s Jacob Hayes
kept his teammate (Gavin Faith) within his sights throughout timed practice as he clocked the 2nd fastest lap. Hayes laid down a 20.55, only a couple tenths behind the defending champion. The North Carolina native was on a mission in his heat race as he put down the power of his Kawasaki and shot out to an early lead. He slowly, but surely accumulated a gap ahead of the Honda of Ben Lamay, setting the fastest lap of the race at about the midway point, and went on to take the win with a couple seconds to spare. Hayes was matched up against Gared Steinke in the first head-to-head battle of the evening; it turned out to be one of the best battles of the entire night show. The two of them battled tooth and nail all the way to the checkered flag, but it was Steinke that ended up coming out on top and advancing to the next round. Hayes had a point to prove in the first main event as he worked his way forward from a 5th place start. He was able to tag onto the familiar rear fender of his teammate in front of him as he got a tow through the pack that eventually lead him to 3rd position where he stayed for the remainder of the moto. The second main event was a battle of attrition for the Babbit’s Kawasaki rider that saw him make a comeback from a 14th place start on the opening lap. By the time Hayes had began to carve his way through the field, the damage was already done and the leaders had already got away; he was able to claw back seven positions and work his way back into the top 10 in or- der to salvage some points in a ride that could be pivotal in the cham- pionship later on down the line. Hayes will undoubtedly be looking for redemption in Grand Rapids as he considers himself a frequent main event winner this year.
56 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 9, 2017