Page 50 - Issue-61

JOSHUA GRANT
450 SX / 9TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> The Houston Texans have been one of the most bizarre teams in the NFL since their inception, not too long ago. Each year, it’s as though they have secured a solid draft pick, or made the proper trades, in order to succeed in the regular season; aspiring for a playoff run. Yet, it never fails, as though bad luck strikes, and the team is muttered by the losing stench, and they look to rebuild. Jadeveon Clowney, Dashaun Watson, and even superstar J.J. Watt, have all been bitten by the injury bug, and it’s as though the team takes a turn for the worse, shortly there after. Josh Grant has had instances of this in the past, and even with off-sea- son crashes, rumors have lingered; questioning his performances, and how he will fare for the upcoming season. However, unlike the Houston Texans, he seems to always be sur- rounded by a promising unit, looking to support and rally, prevailing even when their “Team Captain”, so to speak, goes down. So coming into NRG Stadium, both he and supporting cast made a pact, of holding their bond no matter what the night may bring. Throughout practice, he looked very fluid, trying both the scrubbing and double-through technique follow- ing the sand section; as well as throwing in that ever-so luscious triple. It was good to have an array of tools in his toolbox, as he never knew what the night show may bring. Lurking his pre-race thoughts, the switch would be flipped, and his efforts would carry into a feverish first turn charge. Never looking to see who was beside, he would defy all odds, at times subtlety cross-jumping and looking to make moves in a hurry. Launching through the middle rhythm lane, and leaping into the straightaway, he was doing all he could to get around the likes of Broc Tickle, as they chased Seely and Roczen. The throttle would remain twisted until the dyer end, looking as though he’d been vying for a championship; he would qualify with a fourth place finish. As the bulbs of the stadium beamed along the top of his visor, his goggles stared down, watching the gate as it crashed to the ground. Shuffling through the gearbox, third was chosen and wound out, until the forces of gravity delayed her push. Looking to move forward in the early on, he began to cut off the apexes of these numerous bowl turns, not necessarily going for the front wheel of his competitors, but shutting the door with a gust of tornadic winds. Like those leading the field, he too would search for the relic that would propel him moving forward. It was through the middle rhythm lane, where he would attempt to triple out, and avoiding the extra landing time throughout the section. Contesting the likes of Jeremy Martin for the duration of the moto, he would eventually sew up the ninth place position, looking to continue his climb throughout the series.
50 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 14, 2018