Page 58 - Issue-46

DEAN WILSON
450 SX / 10TH
IMAGE / LANG WORDS / ECKERT DESIGN / WILSON
>> After fifteen rounds of strong performances, Scotland-born Dean Wilson has already proven his ability to post consistent results on the 450 through 2017.
In fact, since earning his season-best finish of 5th at round six, Dean-o hasn’t placed worse than 13th with multiple rides being inside the top ten. The resur- gence of speed from the Canadian-raised rider has truly silenced the doubt
and, having finished 10th the past two weekends, had earned Wilson a spot on everyones radar for this past weekend in New Jersey. There, he qualified 3rd and appeared to have set the stage for his Husqvarna by laying down a blistering lap before the night show had even begun. Attempting to carry the momentum into his heat race, the jump for Wilson lacked in speed and prevented the #15 from reaching the top ten. Doing his duty on the opening lap, Wilson was able to move into 9th and began working upwards. Unfortunately, the heat race ended be-
fore Dean could make a move on 4th place and he was then forced to the Semi where he would race head-to-head with Cole Seely. The two riders were out front, alone, and battling late in the race. Wilson was in the lead briefly but with Seely making the a move stick, Dean took a 2nd place finish into the main event.
With the cameras flickering and stadium vibe overflowing with chatter, the gate dropped for the final time in New Jersey with Wilson hesitating off the line. The Husqvarna entered turn two outside the top ten and was obliged to work his way from the back. With Seely on his rear wheel, Wilson began to apply pressure
on Chad Reed in 10th before the Aussie relinquished the spot to Dean. Once
in 10th, Dean began to ricochet back and forth, passing for 9th, losing a spot to Seely and battling with Reed. Getting by Josh Grant and Justin Barcia late in the race, Wilson had reached 8th but when the storm settled, the hard charge of Eli Tomac and strong finish of Justin Barcia proved to be too much. The 10th place finish for Wilson was his third in a row and with the next round being Vegas, all bets for the season finale should be on Wilson making it a four-peat.
58 GRITMOTO • APRIL 30, 2017