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DYLAN FERRANDIS
250 MX / 1ST
IMAGE / LANG WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> 2018 did not begin too well for Monster Energy Yamalube/Star Racing rider Dylan Ferrandis. In the season opener of the 250SX East Coast series, he had some misfortunes that caused him to get eighteenth in the main event. At round two, he bounced back with a second-place nish but then the following weekend in Atlanta, he suffered a big crash breaking several teeth as well as his arm. He approached the rehab process differently than most riders. Instead of rushing to get back to the races as soon as possible, he made sure he was 100% ready to compete at his highest potential. He nally returned a few weeks ago at High Point nishing fourth overall thanks to a valiant charge in moto two. He followed that up by winning the second moto at Muddy Creek last weekend and nishing the day second overall. He looks like he has been out there racing all season and with Southwick next on the schedule, he was ready to take a shot at his rst overall victory after coming so close last season at the same track. Ferrandis looked great in the morning qualifying practice sessions. The French rider has plenty of sand experience after all his years racing the MXGP’s in Europe, so he was meshing well with the sand at South- wick. His best lap time would only be bested by one rider, his teammate Justin Cooper, so he clearly had the pace and was ready to do battle. Ferrandis did not get the greatest of starts in the opening moto. He emerged from lap one in tenth place but then struggled even further. He slipped back to eleventh on lap two and lingered around that tenth spot for a few more laps. He could not really nd a rhythm but on lap ve, he settled into eighth where he nally had a bit of a clear track to start to get his groove. At the halfway point he began to make his moves. He moved into seventh and then around RJ Hampshire for sixth. Next up was Shane McElrath who he gobbled up on lap twelve and then he would be able to surge forward and pick off Chase Sexton for fourth with just three laps to go. He put his head down to try and catch the lead trio of Plessinger, Martin, and Forkner but just simply ran out of time. He would nish fourth on the moto which considering his starting position, it was a very nice ride. Ferrandis could not improve on his start from moto one in moto two. The Frenchman rounded lap one buried in tenth but this time around, he made quicker moves. By lap six, he had inched all the way up to sixth and onto the tail end
of a train of riders battling for second. He seemed to lurk in the shadows of this battle and he struck as soon as someone made a bobble. He passed Joey Savatgy on lap seven and then Hampshire for fourth on lap nine. At this point, he was clearly going faster than anyone on the track because he picked off yet another rider, McElrath, the following lap. He was now in third and approaching a battle for the lead between Alex Martin and Austin For- kner. He quickly made up ground and started pressuring the battle and then suddenly on lap eleven, he inherited the lead. Martin and Forkner collided allowing Ferrandis to move right into the lead with ease. This also put him
in position for the overall victory. It appeared he’d ride easily the rest of the way to the victory but McElrath had stayed right with him ever since he passed him. Ferrandis felt the heat from last week’s winner all the way to the checkered ag but Ferrandis would hold him off for the win. His 4-1 moto scores earned him his rst career overall in the United States. He was more than happy on the podium and he has surely emerged as a huge spoiler in
the championship hunt. In just three races this season, he has a fourth, second, and rst overall. He may be left wondering what could have been if he entered the series healthy.
34 GRITMOTO • JULY 1, 2018