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RJ HAMPSHIRE
250 MX / 8TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MPG
>> Although this is a long series, and the 24 moto’s can be draining, it can
be easy to fall victim to a bad performance and feel as though the last event was the only that mattered. You must be resilitent, willing to put all nega-
tive instances in the rearview and push forward at all times. RJ Hampshire has had to overcome so many downfalls throughout his career, that’s been forced to figure out an equation to push through; if he can do it once, he can do it again. High Point offered another slate of redemption for RJ Hampshire, and with the conditions growing rougher and rougher throughout the day,
his hands were clasping in excitement. The tearoff stack was filled to the brim, the laminate substance oozing like glue in the heat. The field stormed off the line, 40 gladiators charging into turn number one with their bayonets fastened and pointed ahead; he found himself near the fourth position, after coming back from injury. He was slashing amongst the top of the field, the sword’s wincing against the chest protectors of his competitors. Skying over the tabletop under the Lucas Oil banner, he was pushing the 250f for all it had in the following downhill. Neverminding the bit of headshake that followed, he continued to look ahead, looking to fight for the next position. Coming around through the dwindling laps of the moto, the stamina of being bed-ridden, and off the bike were coming to play. He had nothing to be ashamed of, but would fall to ninth. Here we go again, yet another gate drop into the dusk. He would come away with another solid start, the number 31 registering with a sixth across the green flag. It’d been a while since anyone in the industry knew what he could truly do, but many were wrong, as he battled with the likes of Colt Nichols, and Aarron Plessinger. His team members would rally, as his
off the bike stamina would be a huge asset of what was to come. Flipping through tearoff’s as he flicked the Geico for all she had, his pre-race setbacks meant nothing now, as the number 31’s aggressiveness would translate to an awesome ever factory deal, he would bring home eighth place, and accompa- nying eight place overall.
50 GRITMOTO • JUNE 18, 2017