Page 59 - MPG14

theGRIT
Once the lights were dimmed down at the Dome in St. Louis, the Pro Circuit Kawasaki team’s sighs of agony remained heard as the void of race win’s drags on. The night started off with Bower’s exploding off the starting line in heat two, coming out of the first few turns in 3rd behind Davalos and Malcolm
Stewart. Over the course of the next couple laps, Tyler remained within a few bike lengths of Stewart, having gotten past Davalos cleanly on lap two. When the final lap came, Davalos had timed his spot for the pass as he tripled out of a rhythm section to the inside of Bowers. The pass forced Tyler to double the triple out of the turn allowing RJ Hampshire to capitalize on the mistake. In a matter of two turns, Bowers was back in 4th where he’d finish before trekking back to the semi and forming the main event game plan.
As the only race worth points began to unravel in front of the St. Louis crowd, Bowers was subject to another first turn mishap, clouding the entire rest of his performance. The heat race start seemed to be a step in the right direction but with Dakota Alix connecting with Davalos and tuff-blocks, the two downed riders left the inside line blocked for Bowers who couldn’t find a clean way through. The start had Bowers back in 15th across lap one where he made easy work into the top ten by lap three. By lap seven, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit bike found its way into the top five, completely turning around the early race misfortunes. The race wasn’t over yet, though, as Bowers began to falter, being picked off slowly by Hampshire, Rodriguez, and Frye. Sitting in 8th, Bowers got up to 7th after one of the many struggles of Stewart allowed the #54 by. Bowers, ultimately, lost two positions on the last lap to finish 9th, right where’s been all season long. Now, what started to seem like bad luck results continues into consistent 8th and 9th place finishes, not the type of positions Bowers is satisfied with. Using
the performances of his past for reference, he still can’t be counted out from any predictions for next week in Foxborough. Tyler’s got heart, speed and the frame to push his way forward, with Vegas coming in hot, look for #53 to go all-in in the coming rounds.
words/BRENTECKERT WWW.GRITMOTO.COM
59