Page 54 - GRIT_84

KYLE CUNNINGHAM
450 MX / 9TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Most of the time when coming to the Northwest United States, you imagine a calm, cool climate with a hefty breeze providing a bit of makeshift “A/C” effect, to the atmo- sphere. However, as the riders rolled into the Washougal national for 2018, they were welcomed with a plethora of heat. So much so, that the National Weather Service, issued
a heat warning for Portland, and the surrounding area, for the latter part of the weekend. Good thing Kyle Cunningham was prepared, as an abundance of uids lled both bike and body to capacity as he rolled to the starting area for practice. Practicing every different combination of this track throughout qualifying, it was a con guration of randomized sec- tions, accumulating together for a solid time as the checkered ag ew. The feeling of reas- surance overcame him as he placed his 450 onto the starting line for moto number one. Glancing down the grid, both to his left and right, a big breath of oxygen would ensue, as he took a mere second to actualize the moment. Before he could realize it, the gate would then crash, and he was sprinting towards this sweeping left hand turn. Swerving in and out of these tree lines and ridges, he felt comfortable near the latter portion of top ten positions in the opening laps. Small pellets of this deceivingly hard soil began to ricochet off of his knuckles, and although he tried to push through the pain as best he could, he had to switch lines. The roost of Benny Bloss was just too much, and therefore his path would now have to differ. Launching into the sand section on the white ag, he knew he had just enough gap over the rest of the eld to sustain his position, as the checkered loomed shortly ahead. And as the nal minute would count down, he would register eleventh across the stripe. With his body still on the time of the east coast, this second moto felt a bit later
than usual, in regards to his circadian rhythm. However, he would adjust and be ready to re on all cylinders as he stormed past the green ag. Dust began to really ll the lens of his goggles, a cloud of dried soil residue lingering over the facility. He would use it to his advantage, spraying far and wide to keep Tyler Bowers at bay. Every lap, he was as stingy as he could be in regardless to relinquishing his place within the eld. It would pay off, as he rocked the rollers one nal time in eighth position, strong enough for ninth overall.
54 GRITMOTO • JULY 29, 2018