Page 62 - ISSUE_59

KYLE CUNNINGHAM
250 MX / 13TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / TILLS
>> These final few rounds are a complete 180 in comparison to the amateur championships many of these riders competed in, just a few short months and years ago. The 5 lap, and lucrative “20 minute motos” are a thing of the past; now replaced with redundant 35 minute efforts, all the while surrounded by the top players in the game. A veteran of Kyle Cunningham’s talent is willing to seek and exploit the weaknesses of the rookie class. Ironman was no differ- ent, as each go around of the first moto, he seemed to have someone else breathing down his neck, revving their motor to the hilt in every corner, and at times, even screaming as they lurked upon him on every piece of the track. Knowing that if he could just maintain his will power, he could hold on, he tried everything in his move to never slip. And he would succeed for the most part, although a few hiccups here and there could hinder his optimum score, he knew he had given it his all once the final few laps were among him. Pushing to his final passing of the announcers tower, he would go onto finish between Jeremy Martin and Chase Sexton, for ninth place. Time to suit up for one last ride, and with a latch of his final boot buckle, a fist bump from his mechanic,
it was time for both he and machine to morph into one consensus unit. It ap- peared so, railing the grotesque ruts on the opening lap, never once falter- ing or looking around to see who or what was at bay. It was just he and the racetrack, as he was chipping away at his own time, not anyone elses. As the laps dwindled on, the numbers of 74 and 129 were fading further and further off, and his only goal was to catch the rider in front of him. It was working; the dangling carrot effect pushed him to final line, resulting in a spectacular 14th place finish. Nodding his head for the true, hard-earned effort he gave, the series was over, and a thirteenth overall would be the final spot for the tally sheet.
62 GRITMOTO • AUGUST 27, 2017