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BLAKE BAGGETT
450 SX / 4TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / KILPATRICK DESIGN / WILSON
>> Blake Baggett has really come into his own this season as a member of the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM team. The former 250 Outdoor National Champion has always had the raw speed to be successful throughout his career, but it’s no secret that he has struggled in the past with SX. He seems to have put those struggles behind him and is definitely feeling at home on the KTM as he’s been putting in incredible results throughout the middle of the season, most notably the team’s first podium finish at the eighth round of the series in Atlanta. Baggett flew under the radar last weekend in Daytona after encoun- tering some misfortune on the opening lap, but the California native put in one of his most impressive rides of the season by slicing through the pack from twenty-second to seventh. He had no problem carrying the momentum from his miraculous ride one week prior into the qualifying sessions at Lucas Oil Stadium, placing his KTM in fifth position after all of the sessions came to an end. It was a tremendous commencement to the racing action for Baggett as he was one of four KTMs to jump out to a top five start in the second 450 heat race. The California native followed closely behind his teammate, Davi Millsaps, for the opening half of the heat race, nipping at his heels with every possible opportunity. Baggett was eventually overtaken by Marvin Musquin at the midway point of the moto, but he
kept it pinned and continued to charge after the leader. His start and his speed were both exactly where they needed to be in order to replicate his podium finish from Atlanta which would fill him with a bundle of confidence as headed back to the semi to prepare for the main event. Baggett’s start was even better when the gate dropped on the 450 main event as he rocketed off the line to an uncontested holeshot. The #4 put in a tremendous open- ing couple of laps as he managed to hold off a charge from two of the fastest riders in the field, Eli Tomac and Ryan Dungey. Unfortunately for the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC rider, his time at the front of the pack was limited as the Monster Energy Kawasaki of Eli Tomac came storming past before the whoops; Baggett didn’t carry as much speed through the rollers after the finish line and gave up the inside line to Tomac, falling back to second position in the process. Shortly thereafter, Dungey followed the Monster Energy Kawa- saki rider through and Baggett took hold of third position with Marvin Musquin in tow. He clicked off the laps and stayed in contact with the two leaders for the first ten laps of the race, but eventually made a slight mistake that cost him third position, and dropped him out of contention for the podium. Baggett regained his composure and held off a charge from HRC’s Cole Seely, holding onto a solid fourth place position which will allow him to gain some momentum heading into Detroit.
20 GRITMOTO • MARCH 19, 2017