Page 44 - GRIT_86

BLAKE BAGGETT
450 MX / 5TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> With the New York Giants playing last night, much of the world focused in on the state, and pinpointed their eyes on one of the most highly touted draft picks in recent memory; Saquon Barkley. An outright runner with pure speed and zero fear, he captured the attention of fans the moment he stepped on the playing eld. And while watching sports highlights the morning of the event, Blake Baggett hoped to do the same. As he knew your setup, ash, and charisma could most certainly garner attention, but there wasn’t any substitute for outright speed and assertive force on the eld. He would relay this concept throughout the quali cation process, as he let the bells of his 450 be rung to the highest extent throughout the duration of the course. Every fan in attendance could hear him at any given moment, and would simply stand in awe. Chills would captivate the crowd, and their echo would ring into the shell of his helmet. It would excite him to the fullest extent, as he put in noteworthy times for the remainder of the session. Jockeying off the line for the rst moto, he would linger around the third place spot in the early going. There was no stopping his period of momentum from rallying as the laps begin to accumulate. He was leaving riders such as Ken Roczen behind, and that’s something to be said as we all know. Two digit riders were beginning to be passed as if they were standing still, and his pace continued lap after lap. Shooting rocks from his rear tread as if they were fastballs down the pipe, it was
a defense mechanism to keep the German away. It would work, as a radius of a hundreds of yards would result, and fth place would be his for the taking, even after the mid moto goggle change. Never one to back down from a battle, he quickly jumped in head rst to the trenches of the second moto. The track was becoming rugged and jagged, as at any moment, it could reach up and drive the riders into the ground. He remained steadfast with his focus, lugging the bike around with revolutions of momentum. It was a de nite determinant in his withstanding of pres- sure from Ken Roczen. He wouldn’t budge an inch, never backing down to the sound waves
of the beat behind. Never rattled, the nal few laps would be a period in which he was ultra calculated, as he would actually move around the number ninety-four. Sixth place was his, and strong enough for fth overall.
44 GRITMOTO • AUGUST 12, 2018