Page 36 - Issue_72

SHANE MCELRATH
250 SX / 4TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Going through the deep timber of the Northwest, you are sure to nd many wild, rabid creatures living in their natural habitat. Wolves, mountain lions, and bears of all kinds, it truly is a place of survival of the ttest. Once barricaded into their territory, you have to ght, and be willing to work for everything you consume, and a spot you can call your own. Much like the west coast division, of the Monster Energy Supercross Class, where each lap, of each race, is lled with insurmountable talent, and raw energy. Shane McEl- rath has been accustomed to this notion since the day he turned professional, jumping head rst into the series, and ghting off the best of the best. He has an eye for spotting the so-called, “Alpha” of the pack, and going straight for the jugular. He would do the same throughout practice, creeping up on fellow series front-runners, pacing them, toying with them for a bit. If he wasn’t able to make the move on the rst lap or so, he would continue to stalk their rear fender, barking and revving his motor until they had a lapse of energy. His motor would continue to ring into the thoughts of many, as the gate would fall for the heat race. Each time passed the mechanics area, you could almost seem him sali- vate through the snout of his helmet, oozing at the thought of Chase Marquier who was
in front of him. Scratching with tire tread, he would imprint his fangs on the oppositions shroud, leaping off the cliff of the second “SX” triple, and howling towards the sky. After minutes of snif ng the track from edge to edge, he would nd home, pulling his sled to a solid fourth place nish. The gate would fall, and the sleds would slosh through this rela- tively soupy raceway, mimicking the ice- lled lands of Alaska. So soggy, his motor would almost hesitate as he rung out the throttle on the second rhythm section combination,
but he wouldn’t lapse. He had faith in both the team and machine, that he could power this stallion to the front. Neck and neck with Adam Cianciarulo, the two seemingly had a piece of meat, and were biting both ends of it respectively. Lunging, digging the tire tread in, he would nally take it away, really setting the mood with his speed in the left-handed bowl turn before the whoops. The laps would continue to creep, and the night was almost over. Holding on, he just kept plucking away, lap after lap. Finally, the bells would ring, he would let out the nal howl, and come across the line, a solid fourth place overall.
36 GRITMOTO • APRIL 8, 2018