Page 48 - GRIT_ISSUE_60

MITCHELL HARRISON
250 MXGP / 5TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / TILLS
>> The trials and tribulations of a professional racer can take a serious toll on mind, body, and spirit. Jet lag, time changes, and a variety of exposure to dif- ferent climates can leave a competitor feeling so fatigued and drained, it can
be hard to muster the adequate energy to finish a race strong; not to mention
a championship series. Mitchell Harrison does all the adequate training to feel competitive, and coming into this round of MXGP it was no different. With a sat- isfactory result in his practice and qualifying efforts, he would look to replicate it in the first moto. And that he did, after a solid showing in the early going, had him battling with unfamiliar competition such as Thomas Kjer Olson. Scrubbing the huge single in the middle of the raceway, he would actually shift up a gear into the next double, launching to flat, and then letting the engine braking of the 250f provide the resistance to make the following left hander. The little moments were adding up, so much so that his 2:05 effort was just on the back wheel of Hunter Lawrence by moto’s end; he couldn’t make the move however, and would finish fourth. The second moto wouldn’t be quite as picture perfect as the first, as the track began to grow rougher with each passing moment. Splitting the middle of these Red-Bud-like rollers, he would launch the following single with so much au- thority, trying to catch his familiar foe of Chase Sexton. Not due to lack of effort, but the passes didn’t seem to be coming as easy for Star Racing Yamaha rider. Regardless, he was holding his own, capturing a ninth place by moto’s end; still less than 40 seconds off the leader. Both moto scores, would combine for a fifth overall.
48 GRITMOTO • SEPTEMBER 4, 2017