Page 26 - Issue-61

BLAKE BAGGETT
450 SX / 7TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / ROEWER DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Riding a large majority of last year with a messed-up thumb, Blake Baggett spent his off season fixing his injury and healing up for the 2018 season. Now with the ability to actually hold onto the bike, Baggett has been putting in the work to make sure he gets himself up on those podiums this Monster En-
ergy AMA Supercross season. Riding a strong race at the series opener last weekend a few mistakes left him back with a twelfth-place finish. Heading into Houston, Baggett had some things to improve on. Qualifying for the night show with the seventh fastest lap time, he was not far behind last weekend’s leaders, speed wise, on the tacky Houston track conditions. Lined up and ready to go racing under the lights Bagget got himself a decent start in his heat race for the night sitting right around third off the start. Trying to maintain his good position he had Weston Peick all over him, with him even getting a pass on him very briefly. Baggett, however meant business and regained his third-place posi- tion back almost immediately. Finishing off his heat race in third Baggett was looking fast heading into the main event. Looking to grab himself another good start for the night, the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM rider flew out of the gate and into the first turn putting himself within the top ten immediately. With Justin Brayton all over him within the first lap he fell back one position after losing his spot to the Smartop/Motoconcepts Racing rider. Now sitting in seventh-place the KTM rider was looking smooth on the technical track. Riding smart for the entirety of the main event Blake Baggett was able to grab himself a seventh- place overall finish. An improvement from last weekend’s twelfth overall finish. With twelfth and a seventh Baggett is currently sitting ninth in points.
26 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 14, 2018