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BLAKE BAGGETT
450 MX / 5TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> The “top ve” of any professional event, is something to be held in high regard. It’s an area of elite, and top-tier quality, where few racers will ever contest throughout the duration of their careers. It’s a place where championships can be maintained and won, as well as monetary bo- nuses begin to come into play. It’s in constant revelation of many riders head’s, including that of Blake Baggett. He’s always considered himself one of the best, and it isn’t hard to realize that, when taking a glance at his resume. Solid nishes continue to pile up as his career wears on, and he looked to continue that trend as the series headed into Washougal. He knew a practice time in the front of the eld could generate a great starting position, as this particular gate-drop catered those to the inside. And luckily, his wish would be granted. He would beam out of the launchpad for moto number one, the 450 seemingly entrenching itself into mother earth to begin. A wide-open prairie would await him, and he looked to search far and wide in hopes of advancement. Tomac, Musquin, and Roczen would work their way through out to the front of the eld, yet he was holding his own with the elite in close proximity. His front end, albeit a mere split second, would shimmy and shake up the hill after the start, but he wouldn’t bat an eye. With a train of factory riders, and re-emerges to the series just behind, he had all he wanted in a short radius. Yet, his foundational movements and repertoire of training would hold strong, as he kept his nose to the grindstone. The white ag would come out, and he would register sixth, knowing that he had one short lap remaining. It would then conclude, a sixth would be his in the registry. For moto number two, the sun would begin to crest, a mere beam shining directly into his goggle lens. But it wouldn’t deter him from cracking the throttle; making moves along side Barcia early on, he knew his sprint speed in the beginning would separate himself from the rest of the pack. He bolted down the drop-off near the start, barreling down on both front and rear brake, in order to capture the absolute furthest inside rut the corner had to offer. And although a few laps in the process saw him catching his foot a tad, he wouldn’t let the glimmer of mistake falter his consciousness. He lived in the moment, pursuing the nal ag until the bitter end; fth was his on the scoring tab, generating fth overall.
44 GRITMOTO • JULY 29, 2018