Page 56 - ISSUE-81

KYLE CUNNINGHAM
450 MX / 10TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Leaving High Point last week, many were shaken and a bit rattled by the grueling track conditions that were presented. Treacherous ruts, mind-boggling technicality, and pure speed shown by the leaders of the eld, left many of those in the mid to latter por- tion of the back, biting their nails with nervousness. However, Kyle Cunningham wasn’t ustered in the slightest, and when looking ahead to Muddy Creek, welcomed similar track conditions with open arms. Throughout practice, the track began to be combed up almost immediately. Within the rst few circuits, lines were being etched like grooves in the sand, as the clay began to mold and shape like pottery. He could push his machine anywhere, and the tread of both front and rear would grab, sticking like glue. It provided him with reassurance, knowing that he could push the envelope a tad, and still get away with staying upright. All of the boosted morale came to a climax for moto number one,
as the gate would fall and he would storm up the start straight. Diving into the rst turn, he bee-lined towards the nish, itching to get his transponder registered. Buried deep in the thirtieth place, he yearned to solidify his status as a threat, while soaring up the Red Bull triple. Trying his best to scrape the hay-bale of the inside, he nearly snapped off the left footpeg of Brandon Scharer while trying to make a pass. Never once slamming the emergency brake, he powered through, rummaging deep within his arsenal of weapons as the clock neared the twenty-minute mark. Slowly but surely, the pace of those around him would begin to fade, and he would do his best to remain solid. The checkered ag would be whipping back and forth in the distance, and as he raided the spectator down- hill for the last time, his position would be an exceptional eleventh. With both bike and body refueled for the second moto, the glycogen stores and gas tank would be topped to the brim. Each lap, the reservoirs would be zapped just a tiny bit, but you could see he was well stocked while others began to deplete. Battling with Jacob Hayes for eleventh place on laps ve and six, the two mimicked each other’s every move. Although he absolutely itched to pass, he knew he must attempt in the right spot; otherwise, the risk could be failed, and a consequent loss of gap could ensue. He would readily make the jump however, residing in tenth place in the nal moments. And as he crossed the ag for the last time, he knew tenth overall would be his for the day.
56 GRITMOTO • JUNE 24, 2018