Page 91 - MPG_JANUARY

KILPATRICK
There are a lot of varying mentalities when lin- ing the gate for a division such as the School- boy 2 class, at an amateur national. You have those, who are just proud to be there. Then, there are there sleepers, those who have a slight chip on their shoulder, feeling as though they haven’t been recognized and given credit they truly deserve. Lastly, there are the few, truly looking to make this a career, and are under the watchful eye of all team managers, personnel, and CEO’s in attendance. These guys, face loads of pressure every time they are on the track. They can be racing for con- tingency money, potential sponsorships, and factory contracts; one solid performance, can catapult them to the upper echelon of racing teams. A bad outing, however, can have them pushed to the wayside and be forgotten about when the 2018 season rolls around. Pierce Brown, deals with this pressure, every time he lines the gate. He thrives in it, stepping up his game whenever his back seems to be against the wall. No situation can be too tense, and he doesn’t succumb to outside forces closing in.
It was ever apparent in the first heat, with guys like Stilez Robertson, and Jo Shimoda at his doorstep, after his spectacular break out of the gate. Robertson, willing to match his blister- ing laptime on the third go around, provided a check within Brown’s peripheral vision. Mean- while, a Honda was eerily creeping nearer and nearer. It was Shimoda, but these two couldn’t match the final tally of Brown, who would go on to take the win. Division number two saw, Cai- ro, GA transplant, Juan Valderrama move into the lead in the early going, after a third place start. Grant Harlan, a standout in the B Class, would move into third, followed by second, as the laps would click off. Kaeden Kniffing, would bring home third, as Valderrama seemed to
be dialed in at the front of the pack, claiming the victory. For the runoff, make no mistake about it, Pierce Brown was looking to make a statement. Clicking third gear immediately after crossing the metal bracket, Brown would push hard in the opening laps, sprinting away to establish a gap of air; the lead would consis- tently grow, as Mason Gonzales rode strong in second, and a charging Seth Hammaker would move to third. But they would be of no match to Brown, as getting out of trouble early on, would pay dividends. He would cross the line in first, sweeping his title off the slate, heading back to California with yet another number one plate.
SCHOOLBOY 2 (13-16)
PIERCE BROWN / MOTOCROSS
WWW.GRITMOTO.COM
91