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JUSTIN BARCIA
450 SX / 5TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> The Triple Crown format provides a plethora of variables that other particular races on the tour, simply don’t bring to the table. Three different gate drops, put starts at the top of the to do list, for every rider who makes the night show. Consistency is also huge, as three different rst turn, and opening lap sequences, means three times the chaos and carnage, that normal mains provide. And last but not least, three different racing events, spikes
the heart rate, much more than normal; so stamina is an imminent factor, in deciding on who does well in this event. Justin Barcia was ready, willing, and able, after the conclu- sion of qualifying, eager as ever for the rst main event to begin. The eld would dash into the turn, the front-runners trying their best to double in shortly thereafter, and separate themselves. Taking the green ag, he would reside in third. The sand began to play a con- siderable role in his gaining on opponents, where he would wheel tap through the set of moguls, holding it on a bit longer than most. Rocketing through the next left, the ruts at the top of the corner pushed him quickly into the face of the triple, soaring, with Justin Brayton behind. It was he and the track, the two meshing as a unit. Each lap, he would continue
to click off; and before he knew it, this heat-race styled event, was over. He would nish third. Round number two was upon us, and his start, had him jousting with the likes of Tyler Bowers in the early going. Hopping from tabletop to tabletop in the far section, it
was an all out blitz, to get established early. Looking ahead, he would juggle both inside and outside lines, in the two way, just after the rst triple. Crossing lanes was a bit of a risky tactic, but he would excel in doing so. With Bowers on his rear fender, as time would subside, he would nish seventh. The whoops would begin to get cupped out, as the eld would begin their opening festivities of the last main. Sitting near the top ve, he knew this point of the layout would be crucial, if he wanted to stay a oat. Musquin was all over his tail, the two seeming to be in magnetic attraction to one another. The frigid temperatures of outside, were quickly an afterthought, with the intensity he was laying to this course. Sitting fourth with a few moments to go, it was just he and the nal laps, on his quest to the overall. He would place fourth, and fth overall.
20 GRITMOTO • APRIL 15, 2018