Page 45 - SEPTEMBER_MPG_2018

JOHNGREWE Loretta Lynn Amateur National Motocross Champion
John Grewe has one of the most impressive resumes in the Vet class at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, accumulating a total of five number one plates and six additional overall podium finishes in Hurricane Mills dating all the way back to 2012. The Michigan native is undefeated in the Masters (50+) class since making his debut in the division at the Ranch in 2016, winning five out of six motos in the process. He’s developed quite the rivalry with Barry Carsten throughout the last couple years of racing as the two of them seemingly improve more and more with each passing year, making the battles that they have on the track more and more en- thralling. It seems as though Grewe continues to improve with age as the Kawa- saki rider just can’t stop winning wherever he decides to race and the 37th annual Loretta Lynn Amateur National Motocross Championship was no different. Grewe entered both the Senior (40+) class as well as the Masters (50+) class, logging multiple podium finishes and wins between both classes. The Michiganian put his best foot forth in the Masters division as him and Carsten duked it out for the win in each and every moto. It seemed that their speed was closer than ever before and although Grewe clocked the fastest time in the first moto, his main rival was only a couple of tenths behind. The two of them had a titanic battle in the first
race as they swapped positions on the white flag lap, but Grewe was ultimately able to come out on top by under half of a second at the checkered flag. The second moto was a little bit more comfortable for the Kawasaki rider although he still came under pressure from Carsten, but he was able to manage the race and maintain a multi-second gap all the way until the checkered flag. Prior to the third moto, Carsten warned Grewe that he had nothing to lose, but that didn’t prepare him for what was to come. The gloves came off in the third moto as the pair of them traded first and second place multiple times throughout the first half of the race, but it wasn’t without incident as Carsten forced himself up the inside of the Kawasaki rider in the turn before the mechanics area. Both riders were attempt- ing to slot into the same rut, but the Suzuki rider claimed it as his own, separating Grewe from his motorcycle and breaking his thumb in the process. He got back up and finished the moto in second position, clinching his third Masters (50+) title in just as many years at the Ranch, but it seems as though an already fierce rivalry in the Vet class just got a little more entertaining moving forward.
2018
WWW.MOTOPLAYGROUND.COM
45
I GOT NEXT