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IMAGES / LAKE KILPATRICK
Blake was ready to get his season back on track early in Michigan. During the morning program, Blake looked fast and qualified a solid 8th place going into the racing. When the gate dropped for the first moto, Blake got a decent start and put himself into top ten contention early on. He had made his way into 7th place as they neared the halfway point. Then, 8th place, Musquin, started to pressure him and Blake was
forced to pick up the pace. Musquin eventually got around him but it encouraged Blake to speed up. Blake was now challenging Nicoletti to reclaim 7th place. Blake was able to get it done and focused on finishing the moto with some solid laps. He would take
7th and focus on the next gate drop. When moto two began, Blake got off to a good jump but was pinched off early. He made his way through the chaos and was sitting just outside of the top ten by the second lap. With twenty minutes left on the clock, Blake began to pressure Nicoletti and was able to slip by him for 8th place. Then, with about ten minutes to go, “El Chupacabra” was in full effect as he began to pressure the riders in front of him. He made the pass on Bogle in the off camber corner and set his sights on Musquin who was in 6th. They began to catch 5th place as well and it was a three-way battle. With six minutes to go, Blake made the pass for 6th and started to pressure Musquin for 5th. On the last lap, Blake was able to make it happen and finished an impressive 5th. Blake would go 7-5 for 6th overall at Redbud.
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