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theGRIT
JEFF COX
While it may not have been exactly the mark McElrath was shooting far, it was enough to move Shane up two positions in the standings by the end of Saturday afternoon. Qualifying in 8th, there wasn’t any- thing for Shane to feel too special about but the track design suited the Red Bull KTM rider well as he
cruised into an easy 2nd place finish in heat one behind points-leader Malcolm Stewart. After brutal weather early on in the day, the track had shaped-up nicely for the main event with classic ruts on the lips of each rhythm and the glare of sun shin- ing down over the crowd. Before the first main event gate drop in Gillette Stadium, the end of the year stench lingered over the impressively formed track, with McElrath expecting nothing but the lead out of the gate. Bursting out of the first few corners with Stewart close behind, Shane’s wishes were answered as he started the race out front for the first time this season. The brilliance was short-lived for McElrath, though, as Stewart made quick work of the #30 pushing the KTM back into 2nd where he would find it difficult to run the pace. Maybe it was another side-effect of the pre-season setback Shane had experienced because it wasn’t necessarily any specific section that he seemed to falter, rather, it seemed to be more of the championship hunger that carried the top contenders past him, pushing McElrath back to 4th by the races’ end. Ultimately, Shane has now placed within the top-four over the course of the last four rounds, dating back to Detroit. Seem- ingly all but officially healed, Shane’s level of riding has been extremely close, yet still a click off the front-runners as the heads to East Rutherford for round eight. Who knows, New York may be the right kitchen for McElrath to try making his podium-worthy concoction before the two coasts match up in sin city in two weeks.
words/BRENTECKERT
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