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RJ HAMPSHIRE
250 MX / 6TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / ARMSTRONG DESIGN / TILLS
>> RJ Hampshire has changed up his program in 2017 and is working under the wing of his friend DJ who is a former professional rider out of Florida. DJ has helped with Hampshires riding technique, training and is even his practice bike mechanic. Even though RJ missed the first three rounds of the series due to injury it is clear that the work him and DJ are putting in is working. The speed is certainly come together for Hampshire and he is a regular sight in the top 5 as of late. The #31 of Hampshire had a terrible qualifying session leaving him with 26th gate pick, luckily his Geico Honda Hooked up wonderfully off the start and RJ got the holeshot. Hampshire was bar to bar with Savatgy down the start stretch and the entire mechincs area straight away. RJ tried to secure first by attempting to dive on the inside of Savatgy in the third corner. Hampshire made a bobble while attempting to do so handing Joey soul position of the lead. On the second half of the first lap Hampshire misfired in a deep inside rut giving 2nd to Alex Martin. After many laps of defending 3rd place from Plessinger the #31 made a mistake in the same corner as he did earlier but this time he was on the outside of the corner instead of the inside. Hampshire was then pushed to 4th. RJ only dropped one more position and that was to Jeremy Martin. Race two was pretty quite for the #31 as he started in 8th and finished 7th.
44 GRITMOTO • JULY 23, 2017