Page 22 - Issue-61

JUSTIN BRAYTON
450 SX / 6TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / ROEWER DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Justin Brayton rode a good race last weekend at the season opener grabbing himself a seventh-place finish and a handful of points. Starting the season off on a decent note the Smartop/Motoconcepts Racing rider had some work to do during the week to get himself more dialed in for the second round of Monster Energy AMA Supercross. Looking comfortable throughout practice Brayton qualified fifth overall with a 53.603 lap time. Only tenths of a second off of the fastest lap set for the day. Heading into the night show with some extra confidence, he was lined up for the 450 SX Heat Two ready to get to racing. Flying out of the gate aboard his Smartop/ Motoconcepts Racing Honda, he was riding right around mid-pack through the first turn. Making up ground quick Brayton inched his way forward each lap moving all the way up to fourth by the end of the race. Looking com- fortable on the tricky Houston track conditions, Brayton was riding strong as he headed into the main event for the night. As the thirty second board dropped for the second main event of the season Brayton flew out of the gate putting himself well within the top ten through the first turn. Nailing a good start is always a critical part of racing and Brayton did just that putting himself in a good position early on in the race. By the second lap he had reeled Blake Bagget in close enough to begin really putting the pressure on in hopes of making a pass into sixth place Continuing his charge he was able to move his Smartop/Motoconcepts Racing Honda up a position into sixth place. Riding an almost flawless main event Justin Brayton was able to hang onto his sixth-place position all the way through to the finish off the main event grabbing himself a sixth overall for round two. With a seventh- place finish and a sixth-place finish Brayton is sitting comfortably in sixth in the points chase.
22 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 14, 2018