Page 112 - Issue43

STEVEN CLARKE
250 SX / 21ST
IMAGE / LANGSTON WORDS / ARMSTRONG DESIGN / WILSON
>> There was a new name in the 250 East Coast main event this weekend in St. Louis. Well the #105 adventuremotoKTM.com/MTF rider was none other than Steven Clarke. @stevenclarke511 has few championships to his credit, including a world Junior 85cc title and a European EMX250 title. This was Clarke’s first race of the season and he had everyone asking “who is that 3 digit rider pull- ing starts”. After qualifying 24th overall on the day the KTM rider didn’t have the greatest gate pick in his heat race but that didn’t matter as Clarke nearly got the holeshot from the outside. Clarke came around the first corner in 3rd place just behind Osborne and Smith. Ferrandis quickly made his way by the #105 with AC and Audette following. Steve was passed by a handful of riders in the late stages but held on tight for a 9th place finish handing himself a direct ticket to the main event. Clarke got another great start from the outside narrowly missing out on some extra holeshot money, rounding the first turn in 2nd just behind Alix. Points leader Joey Savatgy made his way by Clarke in the first section on the track and from then on in was a downward spiral for the privateer. Steven Clarke went from 2nd to 19th in just over 5 minutes. The nerves probably played a big roll in Clarke’s debut, lets hope he shows up at round 8 in New Jersey in a few short weeks.
112 GRITMOTO • APRIL 2, 2017