Page 26 - GRIT-82

LORENZO LOCURCIO
450 MX / 7TH
IMAGE / LANG WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> With the elements of summer in full effect, the heat and humidity of the eastern rounds are really beginning to place their toll on the riders. They have to be strong, and unwavering even with the dew point rising and they begin to roast under the helmets and jerseys. But relatively unknown young-gun Lorenzo Locurcio, had the crowd baf ed by his pure outright speed, even when temperatures began to swelter. He didn’t appear to be effected by either the heat of the atmosphere, nor from the competition, as he stormed around the green ag for lap number one. Seventeenth seemed to be a me- diocre effort, yet he quickly turned the negative into a positive, and absolutely marched forward through this rugged sand. Into the top ten by lap eight, no longer was he battling with privateers of mid-pack; he was passing riders like Weston Peick! Absolutely shred- ding this Northeastern staple, there wasn’t anything stopping him, as he waded through the marshes of golden soil. On the doorstep of Benny Bloss by the white ag, he was having a hard time controlling his excitement as the ag ew nearer and nearer. But he would hold on, taking seventh position, ecstatic for moto number two. The storm would come yet again, yet he would cement his position in the ground. He was a force to be reckoned with on this Honda, and letting everyone in immediate surrounding well aware of it. A much better starting position of eighth, had him well within factory rider territory, from the get go. Neck and neck with Benny Bloss, a ashback of amateur battles from respective championships, had both reminiscing of years past. He would then feel a bit of pressure from Phil Nicoletti, yet he would keep telling himself, “just one more corner.” The idea would work, eventually pushing Phil to the wayside, and leaving the number f- ty-four in the dust. His crew couldn’t believe the ride he was putting in, and factory teams were beginning to notice. He wasn’t budging from this seventh place nish, and would take the checkered ag in the same spot. It was a surreal feeling for the number fourty- four, and once checking the results board, he would realize seventh would be listed next to his name. He couldn’t believe it, and would hope to ride this surge of momentum for the rest of the season, on every stop of the tour.
26 GRITMOTO • JULY 1, 2018