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BRADLEY TAFT
250 SX / 6TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / ARMSTRONG DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Cycle Trader Rock River Yamaha become a well known team over the past few years but they had their break through year in 2015 when Alex Martin was competing for wins. Since then the team has had some bad luck but 2018 is
a new year and it looks like the team is starting to have some good luck once again with the #53 rider of Bradley Taft. After finishing 16th overall last week- end at A2, Taft came into Phoenix with a chip on his shoulder. The Yamaha rider qualified well within the top ten and quickly transferred that speed into his heat race. Bradley ran in 3rd for the majority of the heat race and only lost one position and that was to one of the title favorite Adam Cianciarulo. The Yamaha rider got off to a 7th place start but was pushed to 8th by Chase Sexton on the opening lap. Taft latched onto the rear wheel of Sexton and began to work his way through the field, passing riders he has never beaten before. When the 53 came across the checkered flag he was just one position out of the top five with a career best 6th. Bradley has the speed and his confidence is certainly rising to new heights. Currently Taft is sitting 10th in the standings but is only 7 points behind Mitchell Oldenburg who is in 7th. Can Bradley get a top five in 2018?
42 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 28, 2018