Page 94 - issue-36

BLAKE BAGGETT
450 SX / TEXAS
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / COPELAND DESIGN / WILSON
>> Baggett started of his weekend just like last weekend by being im- pressively fast in qualifying. The Rocky Mountain ATV rider qualified 4th in the morning sessions and looked to have a good comfort level on the slippery track. Once the heat races rolled around Blake had a great jump on the start and nearly grabbed the holeshot, coming out of the first cor- ner just behind Friese. They would both be passed before the next turn by Dungey and Baggett would be in tow with the defending champ for al- most all of the heat. Marvin Musquin was hot on Baggett’s hills and would eventually pass him on the final 2 laps. Baggett would cruise to 3rd in his heat, locking himself into a decent gate pick for the main event. Blake would get a mid-pack start in the main and cross the line for the first lap in 10th just behind Dean Wilson. After a moment spent in 9th, a charging Dungey pushed Baggett back into 10th. Slowly but surely Baggett found his way into the 8th spot by just shy of the mid-way point and would move into 7th shortly after Tomac lost his front end following the triple. Baggett would then have his own issues with 6 minutes remaining on the clock causing him to lose 8 positions in just a few laps dropping him to 15th. Eventually the incident that happened in the whoops forced Blake to pull into the pits for a lever adjustment which would explain his rapid fall in the running order. He would go on to finish the race in 17th. Not
the results that he was looking for after starting the day out so well. This continues to be a trend for Baggett, having speed but not results when it matters most in the mains.
94 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 12, 2017