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JOSHUA GRANT
450 SX / 9TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / ARMSTRONG DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Every motocross racer goes through their fair share of heartache through- out thier career and Josh Grant is no exception. He has been at the top of the mountain tops and the bottom of the ocean as far as luck goes and through it all he has been able to stabilize himself as of late. Just a few short years ago the 2016 season started without the #33 of Grant. Josh missed around half of the season before lining up at Daytona on a privateer Suzuki. Grant went out on the track and proved his worth to the sport once again, the reward was a fill in ride for Will Hahn on the Factory Kawasaki team. After having solid results as a fill in rider Kawasaki and JG33 came to terms and signed up a contract for 2017. As soon as Josh knew he had a ride for the 2017 season he went straight to the doctors and got surgery on both of his ankles so that he could come back at full health. Once returning to the track it became clear that get- ting the surgery was a good call because the old Josh Grant was starting to make appearances at the race track. The Josh Grant who could be a podium threat or possibly even win a race giving the right cards. Josh did really well
in the beginning of the outdoor season in 2017 but an injury ended his title hopes. A new year is here and Josh Grant is ready to take on the best the world has to offer once again. Grant seemed to be a touch off pace all day
as he qualified 17th with a 54.685 which was 2.279 seconds off of first place qualifier Ken Roczen. The Grizz put that behind him and jumped out of the gate in his heat race rounding out the first turn in 2nd. Grant got swallowed up by a handful of riders but was able to salvage a 7th, keeping him clear of the last chance qualifier. Josh got a 8th place start in the main event, sadly he made a mistake and dropped to 13th early. JG used his never quit attitude to claw his way back towards the top ten and eventually came home in 9th.
50 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 8, 2018