Page 14 - Issue-61

JUSTIN BARCIA
450 SX / 3RD
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / ROEWER DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Justin Barcia has been looking more and more like himself again this Supercross season back to the front and bar banging just like we remember him. Riding aggressive last week-end he was able to grab his first SX podi- um in years aboard a Monster Energy Factory Yamaha as a fill in rider. Put- ting himself right into the 2018 championship race. Riding strong throughout practice Barcia was sitting ninth fastest heading into the night show. Lined up and ready to go for the second heat race of the night, the Yamaha rider charged out of the gate putting himself right up front behind Jason Anderson. Riding aggressive throughout the entire heat race Barcia finished it off in second moving onto the main event. Carrying the confidence from his suc- cessful heat race into the main event, Barcia grabbed himself he holeshot putting himself in first immediately. With Ken Roczen all over him he quickly lost his leading position and fell back into second place where he would stay for almost half of the race. As time ticked down Barcia was staying aggres- sive, even though he was beginning to fade back he kept his head high.
He soon lost his second- place position to Jason Anderson and had Cole Seely all over him. Working hard to not let Cole Seely pass him, the Monster Energy Factory Yamaha rider had a close call through a technical section almost going down. Luckily, he was able to save it and not lose any more positions. Now sitting back in fourth place, Barcia was just outside of the po- dium and not happy about it. With only two laps left of the race Seely made a small mistake that opened the window for Barcia to get the pass back on him reclaiming his spot on the podium. Justin Barcia was able to finish off round two of the season with another podium spot getting third overall. With two consecutive podiums Barcia is currently sitting third in the points chase.
14 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 14, 2018