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THE MOTOPLAYGROUND RACE
at Ponca City
LUKE FINEIS >>
Anyone who can control a raw 450, must be given true respect, as many can’t ride or control a stock machine in the first place. The pure, slay-
ing power and aggression these machines can produce is nothing to laugh at, and anyone who can han- dle these so-called “beasts”, must be noted. You wouldn’t necessarily expect those in a novice and lesser experienced division to be able to master this art, however Luke Fineis and his team seemed to put on an outstanding showing throughout the first portions of the weekend. Start- ing with the onset of qualifiers, the order of being in a great spot for the second moto, a solid finish in this race was a must, as key placement could solidify a high percentage of victory, in a matter of a few seconds. Chopping the clutch and throttle as the field scooted down the opening straight, a process of elimination went in the following laps. Each
flag was a different connotation of sequence, and a bit of reassurance with every passing moment. Nod- ding to his mechanic, he seemed to stretch the gap over DJ Weber to
an extent where he could somewhat relax; but Weber was always there to constantly remind him of his pres- ence. The number ninety-nine on his machine was in clear correspon- dence with the amount of titles and moto wins he would seem to claim this year. This kid just couldn’t miss for the weekend, and he looked to duplicate his result for the second moto. Pacing out front early on, his number plate, goggle lens, or roost guard, wouldn’t be pelted with an ounce of dirt. He was as clean as
a whistle for the first lap, breezing by the mechanics area in rhythmic
450 C
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