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KYLE CUNNINGHAM
250 MX / 14TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / TILLS
>> This track is unlike any other on the schedule, providing an abun- dance of sand, compared to the abundance of compost, rut-littered tracks elsewhere on the schedule. You often see foreigners to America excel here, as they’ve come alive on tracks that aren’t groomed to the “T” and have ridden absolute natural conditions throughout the course of their lifetime. This was Kyle Cunningham’s time to shine, as he wanted to establish himself as a rider that can withstand all elements, and excel on any type of soil. The first moto pushed him in a less than desired spot, forcing the majority of the tearoffs to come off in less than ideal time. Railing the sands as if his life depended on it, there were times where his clutch lever was mere inches from the solid ground, all the while, his 250f pegged into third, and even fourth gear. He’d trained on these types of tracks before, and knew in order to excel, he most carry his momentum; otherwise the train would come to a halt. Pushing like no other, he would hover in the high 2 “teens” laptimes, search-
ing for that ever so luscious 2:12 mark sat by RJ Hampshire. As the checkered flag flew, he would bring home the 18th place ride; disap- pointing, but willing to rebound with his true effort in moto two. A twelfth place start for moto two, positioned himself much better for the laps that ensued. He and his mechanic working as one, the encouragement was seeping through the goggle lenses, every time he worked his way down the start stretch. With his classic, elbows down, throttle twisted style, he was battliting with the likes of Lorenzo Locurcio and Colt Nichols, sand- wiched between the two. He would stay there, bringing home an 11th place finish and 14th overall.
86 GRITMOTO • JULY 9, 2017