Page 74 - ISSUE_54

ADAM CIANCIARULO
250 MX / 10TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / TILLS
>> European settlers migrated to Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, in hopes of a land with newfound dreams and aspirations. Although many years ago, they braved the risk of the unknown, all in desires of a dream they’d had for many years. We too have many riders in the AMA motocross series, who wish to do the same thing. They’ve missed out on many so-called “normal” implications of life, sacrificing it all, just to chase a dream they’ve had since their days of childhood. And Adam Cianciarulo is no different. Travel- ing all across the country, this stop has landed him at MX 338. Home of the wicked sands, our closest thing to the Sahara. He had excelled in this climate throughout his amateur career and was looking to do it again; and if practice was any indication, his demeanor when residing back at his pit area, was that of happiness and fulfillment. As the field rocketed out of the gate for moto number one, he was trying to sort himself
out throughout the pack of elite two digit riders. Whisking in and out of the berms as
the field hit the opening stripe, both stamina and speed were ready to brigade. Battling amongst the top half of the field for the majority of the moto, the sweat began to drip from his brow; only a few more laps left, as he hovered near the top quarter portion
of the field, in a constant sea of changing lap after lap. Finally, the checkered flag had fallen, and has he blipped the throttle through the final corner, a sigh of relief granted him a fifteenth overall, but he knew he could rebound. Moto number two saw a recipro- cated effort, as he bounced off each rider as if they were a pinball machine throughout the sections of corners. Dropping down into the treacherous valleys, the chop of the M.A. sand was begging to accumulate, each rider dragging a few handfuls of grain with their tread of the rear tire. Gleaming off the expressions of the passionate fans, he knew had to rally to maintain his top ten overall position. Battling with the likes of riders on
the Star Yamaha, Geico, and Pro Circuit squads, his vision was a constant rainbow, a blurred picture of the world’s most elite constant swarming the peripheral as if they were a pack of bee’s. As he approached the two lap board, his heart rate monitor began to scream, nestled between fellow amateur standouts of Chase Sexton and Colt Nichols, indicating a warning of slowing down; never such a though ran through his mind, as he continued to climb deep into the depths of his training mindset, knowing if he continued to push, a top ten would be rewarded. And that he did, finishing out the day with a com- bined score of 15-9 to land him in tenth overall.
74 GRITMOTO • JULY 9, 2017