Page 48 - GRRIT-11

JUSTIN STARLING
Although struggling to really challenge the lead group, this 250 East rider continues to be on the rise and his name is Justin Starling. Looking back, he’s had great amateur success growing up, winning 20-plus titles by the age of 18 and has since battled the professional
ranks with the lack of factory support. Having struggled through the full privateer-lifestyle in previous years, 2016 has provided a prime opportunity for Starling with the Traders Kawasaki Racing Team behind him. Now with help in the pits and the truck headed for Detroit, Starling can focus on race day and race day alone. It must be taking him some time to adjust to the new equipment, though, as Justin hasn’t quite broken the top 15 through the first three rounds. On top of that, round number four of the East coast series is in Detroit, where Starling will have to battle the memory of Heat race #1 in 2014.
If you don’t remember, the track had an extremely unique, old L.A. Coliseum-type feature that year. The track rode up into the grandstands before making a left turn and heading downhill with a small lip leading into your normal, dicey rhythm section. While running 4th, Starling came down this steep section from the seats where, near the bottom, he clipped a tough-block off the edge of the lip and completely swapped down viciously into the middle of the fast-paced section of the track. He came back to finish 12th in the main that night but, as a result, Starling and Detroit have some history. The #62 bike, trying to respond this weekend, came into the motor city attempting to conquer old demons and to push even further to the front of the pack.
48 GRITMOTO • MARCH.21.16
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