Page 28 - Issue_68

RJ HAMPSHIRE
250 SX / 4TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> In the realm of the hip hop industry; there aren’t many places around the globe that are in simi- lar distinction of Atlanta, Georgia. From the likes of Andre 3000 and Outkast, to the street notion
of artists like T.I. and Young Jeezy, the foundation of the hip-hop game had been set many years ago. However, as with all things, a new breed of individuals will arise, bringing a new wave of craft to the game, with artists like Young Thug and 21 Savage bringing in new ows, lyrics, and beats with every passing album. Supercross is in the same train of thought, an art that’s based off the foundation of searching new horizon’s, bringing a vast array of new styles and techniques to the game at each round. Innovation you ask? Look no further than RJ Hampshire. Whether it’s wheel tapping with certain body positions, or creativeness carving out rhythm lanes, he’s at the forefront of the eld, pushing boundaries like no other. Practice was much the same, uncorking lines of triple combinations within the rst few laps, and looking behind to see who would be following. He wanted to do just enough, to reiterate proper execution, yet hide his creativity from the opposition. It would work, as main event number one, showcased how different his lines would be, in compari- son to the majority of the eld. The timer was on full effect, and with this rst moto resembling a heat race, he knew the RPM’s would have to redline with urgency, in order to secure a solid nish. Soaking up the small rollers in the turning rhythm section, he would see a peep of a fender out of his right side, the peripheral vision noticing the speck. Never faltering, he would protect the inside in the following corners, transitioning into the white ag lap. He was holding down the seventh position, and would stay here for the remainder. A duplicate effort would be shown in the following round, the chaos of rst turn jamming ensuing. He looked to get around quickly, as he knew the front of the eld would stop for no-one; looking to elevate his pace in ascending fashion, he lap seemed to best his previous effort. He was living for the moment, going for the gnarly double-triple combination, following the start straight. Kissing the front fender, he would let the chassis down, making the move in clean fashion. Never looking to see who was behind, it was just he and the track; he would go on to nish fth. It was now time for the event’s conclusion, and he wanted to leave a lasting impression on all of his supporters. Elbowing with the likes of Kyle Peters in the early going, there was a scratching of plastic that would leave a streak of residue on his opposi- tion. It wouldn’t faze him an ounce, as the eld would seriously shuf e every lap. Hugging the inside of the right-hander after the nish line, there was no way he could leave the door open. He was all over Forkner, making him think about every move; he would hold on however, pushing up the face of the nish line on the checkered ag lap. The fourth place nish would cumulate to a fourth overall nish on the evening.
28 GRITMOTO • MARCH 4, 2018