Page 34 - MPG9

RJ HAMPSHIRE
Although unknown to most throughout his amateur career, RJ had a prominent stint on minicycles. Finishing second in the 2002 Loretta Lynn’s 51cc 4-6 Oil Injected class to a somewhat popular rider, Cooper Webb, he then had a repeat performance in ’03,
finishing runner-up in a moto, battling with Adam Cianciarulo.
So the gator hasn’t lurked underneath the murky waters for too long, however a brief hiatus of becoming a so-called “regular kid” put his dash to professional stardom on hold for a little while during the late 2000’s. RJ traded the scrubs for snowcones and found himself chasing the baseball dream, something very admirable for a rider of his caliber. With many feeling he may have suffered a career ending injury this past year at the Red Bull Straight Rhythm, Hampshire persevered and didn’t skip a beat after finishing a remarkable sixth at the opening round. He looks to further his success north of the border this weekend in Toronto.
>>
34 GRITMOTO • MARCH.14.16
>>