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Matthew LeBlanc
85cc (9-13)
IMAGE / TENHAGEN WORDS / KILPATRICK DESIGN / WILSON
>> Matthew LeBlanc had an exceptional weekend of consistent results at the 2017 JS7 Freestone Spring Championship. The Louisiana native only finished off the overall podium in one out of five classes that he contested, proving his speed no matter what bike he is riding. LeBlanc was able to take second place overall
in both the Mini Sr. classes, third place overall in the 85cc (9-12) class, fourth place overall in the Supermini 1 class, and first place overall in the 85cc (9-13) class. The boy from the Bayou kept it quick and consistent throughout the entire week of racing in Wortham as he was able to grab his sixth title at the event. In the first 85cc (9-13) moto, LeBlanc was forced to battle his way into third posi- tion on the opening lap. The Orange Brigade rider gave up a disadvantage to Jett Reynolds and Ryder DiFrancesco at the beginning of the race, and was forced to play catch up for the remainder of the moto. He put the hammer down very early on and blasted past DiFrancesco on the first flying lap, subsequently setting his sights on Reynolds in the lead. Although LeBlanc was able to match the lap times of the Team Green Kawasaki rider, the gap at the front of the field was too much to overcome and he had to settle for second place heading into the final moto. The Louisiana native jumped out to an early lead in the second race and imme- diately found himself in a battle with his fellow Orange Brigade rider, Maximus Vohland. The two of them duked it out throughout the opening couple of laps, swapping positions back and forth, and LeBlanc was forced to settle into second position temporarily. He put in his personal best lap of the race on the third lap in an attempt to stick to the rear fender of the Californian, and he pressured Voh- land into a mistake that allowed him back into the lead. LeBlanc was aware that the overall victory was his as long as he finished first in the moto, consequently backing off the pace and bringing his KTM home safely to the checkered flag in order to earn himself yet another number one plate in the Lone Star State.
60 MPG • APRIL 2017