Page 34 - GRRIT-11

RJ HAMPSHIRE
Still currently in the process of making a name for himself, the #31 Geico Honda of Hampshire has had good results thus far in 2016. With two finishes at the first two rounds in Atlanta and Daytona, RJ finished 6th and 7th respectively. Hampshire has further proved deserving of the support currently in his corner. With the under-the-radar style of Hampshire, many fail to realize the Florida rider quietly placed 5th last year in the 250 East championship.
Using that, RJ should be a shoe-in for this year’s championship hunt yet the entire field is incredibly stacked. With his latest result, though, RJ isn’t surrounded by doubt, but instead by bad luck. In Toronto for round 10, RJ faced a flat weekend with a rear tire malfunction and a dismal 22nd. Don’t count the Florida native out yet, though, because of last year’s results, Hampshire should remain on everyone’s watch list and should definitely improve upon Toronto’s result this weekend. With one of the premier factory teams and a list of successes, RJ needs a simple break to secure himself as a front runner.
It makes me think about the old saying “you’re only as good as your last race”. With Hampshire, the saying is faltered as the #31 is almost guaranteed to put the Geico-backed Honda near the front in the constant brawl for the 250 East championship. This
weekend’s stage is Detroit and Hampshire’s mission is to show the reason we all go racing; redemption.
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34 GRITMOTO • MARCH.21.16