Page 28 - ISSUE_59

CHRISTIAN CRAIG
450 MX / 8TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / TILLS
>> The Indiana Pacers have been known for the large amount of aggres- sion, and hard-nosed play over the years. We all remember the malice in
the palace, glued to the television screens as Ron Artest stampeded into the stands, hitting any fan, player, or referee in sight. It was a reflection of the at- titude the team embodied, never to get bullied, and always be the aggressor when it was their time to play. Christian Craig tries so hard to do the same. For moto number one, after a less than stellar opening sequence, he had to do some assertion to get where he wanted to go. Colliding with opposing brake and clutch levers, the field was beginning to pull, and he was digging through the pack with all of his might. His front number plate was hardly recognizable, with the amount of dirt that had been caked on to the graphic scheme. Nev- ertheless, he continued to charge, flicking the 450 to the right as they made their way through the finish line rhythm section. Digging each and every lap, his final efforts found him sword slashing with Benny Bloss and Justin Barcia. He would reside here until the last flag, taking ninth in the moto. The second round was a place for redemption, where his skills could come to fruition, and he could be admired as the sensei he truly was. Mastering a skill, and provid- ing a showcase of talent for all in attendance to gaze over. Each move was ef- fortless, as he began to flow like a slotcar around this rut-ridden raceway. The breaking bumps, now making the bike chatter, were of no match, as he was plowing through the mounds of dirt with a goal-line charge. Making time up
on those ahead of him, each lap, the deficit would begin to chip away. It was amounting, so much so that the moves were being made, and he had risen up to behind Eli Tomac. However, it was just a bit too late, and he would go onto finish seventh; mustering an eighth overall.
28 GRITMOTO • AUGUST 27, 2017