Page 42 - GRIT-83

SHANE MCELRATH
250 MX / 4TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Being an athlete, especially at the professional level, there are just certain things that are
off limits, if you want to be considered top-tier or elite. For example, much of the general public looks towards the 4th of July holiday with eyes on hot dogs, burgers of all shapes and sizes, and cakes lled with red, white, and blue icing. It all seems tasty, and like an innocent treat, but when coupled with lucrative amounts of training and preparation throughout the summer heat, can spell disaster. It also provides a bit of mental edge, knowing that you withstood the lust of craving in, and are staying focused on the task at hand; which is exactly why Shane McElrath does it. He stayed the course in the week leading up to the event, knowing that if a solid nish was generated, he then would be able to party and celebrate. He was all business throughout practice, putting in fast laps in consecutive fashion; he would then exit the track as quickly as possible, ready to get back to the trailer and refuel. With a quick bike wash, lunch, and prepping of the machine, he was well on his way to a path of destruction. He managed to nd himself in an ideal position mentally throughout the rst few laps, after a holeshot, and looking to go into sprint mode, rather than prepare for a marathon. Hopping and skipping throughout the down- hills of the outbound section, the chassis would begin to swap just a tad, along with his triple clamps, in left to right fashion. Fighting alongside Joey Savatgy, the two, at times, were a mirror image of each other; in particular on the y away tabletop, just before the rollers. He managed to say to the left part of the track, while the opposition rallied right, and all in one unison, both
of their back wheels were icked towards each other. Who would land on the gas rst? You guessed it, McElrath, and he looked to blast towards the nish. With the white and black ag waving in the distance, it was fth position to settle. The second round saw him off to a start in the thirty-third spot, and looking to make a statement. Launching every particular single, mogul, and double jump with authority, halfway through the moto, you could see the skid marks be- neath the rear fender. His hands began to fatigue, a slight lactic acid built up beneath the grip of his metacarpals; yet he continued to let the beast rip. With Jordon Bailey in the rearview, ninth place was his for the taking, enough to garner fourth overall.
42 GRITMOTO • JULY 1, 2018