Page 58 - Issue_60

BLAKE BAGGETT
450 SX / 12TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / ARMSTRONG DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Every time you seem to have Blake Baggett figured out he seems to prove you wrong either it be for better or worse. Blake has been on both sides of the spectrum since turning professional in 2010. Although Blake has had some hardships in his career his positives have always been enough for him to receive factory support each year. It seemed as Blake was going to settle into the fifth – tenth place range in the premier division until out of nowhere in the motocross nationals in 2017 he started to show untouchable speeds and signs of the 2011-2012 Blake Baggett or should I say El Chupacabra? Unfortunately Blake suffered from a severe thumb injury through out the outdoor season that derailed his title hopes. On the bright side it seems like the Old Blake is back and now that he has had time to recover from his injury the question is, can he bring his new found 450 success to supercross? Word at the test track is that Baggett is absolutely flying and will be a title contender. Blake got the hole- shot in his heat race, after leading briefly he found himself in a three way duel with Jason Anderson and Cole Seely for the lead. Anderson took the lead and Baggett looked comfortable in 2nd until a hard charging Eli Tomac came from mid pack to bump Baggett to third with two laps remaining. Blake started mid pack in the main event getting shuffled back to 12th after the opening laps. @blakebaggett4 got himself back to 11th and found himself in an all out fight with Josh Grant for 10th. At the midway point Blake took the spot and also capitalized on the misfortune on Eli Tomac to get into 9th. All the hard work Baggett had to do was discredited in the final laps of the race as he made a mistake at the end and finished up in 12th.
58 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 8, 2018