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BLAKE BAGGETT
450 SX / 3RD
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Looking into the crowd on this nal race-day of the season, you were quick to spot the amount of Oakland Raiders attire in the grandstands. A sea of black and silver, these guys seemed to be full of enthusiasm, with the franchise now moving to the storied town of Las Vegas, and leaving California to the wayside. They’re known as some of the most barbaric, craze- lled fans in the league, and always want to nd some sort of exhilaration to satisfy their needs. Blake Baggett caught their attention early for some reason or another; and it could’ve been a combination of things, to initially snag their immediate view. Was it his charismatic are, pre- sented over the “SX” triple? Or his blitzing combinations of piecing the assortment of rhythm sections together? If we had to guess, it was a totality of all, as he truly was turning the layout into a work of art. Charging until the nal ag ew, he would come away from practice with a sense of reassurance, and honestly just ready for the gate to fall. In the midst of a stacked heat race, a fourth place start was man- ageable for the number four. Working his way around teammate, Benny Bloss, he had his eyes set on the big two; that of Musquin and Anderson. Flourishing in out- door style roller section, each lap, he would stay within striking distance of the two favorites. However, the race would end up being too short, and Baggett would look for redemption, after a third place nish. Baggett came hot off the press to begin the main event, tucking in right behind Musquin and Tomac. They would pull the number four, and he would watch their every move. But little by little, they began to inch. Being stuck in a bit of no man’s land, Baggett knew he couldn’t get stuck into the lull of complacency. Glancing over his left shoulder over the “SX” triple, he saw a bit of red, and it was that of Christian Craig. He knew he was being chased, but continued to look forward, generating steam towards the nish line. With the laps coming to a close, the number four’s stamina was apparent; there simply wasn’t any fading or closure on his out right aerobic capacity. And by the end of the moto, he would sit just how he started; a very respectable third place, and great way to end the season.
14 GRITMOTO • MAY 6, 2018