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BEN WATSON
Ben Watson was one of the perennial con- tenders in the MX2 World Championship throughout the 2018 season, oftentimes challenging for the podium on his way to a 4th place overall result in the points stand- ings, therefore earning his spot on Team Great Britain’s Motocross des Nations team for the first time in his career. Enduro skills run in the blood of the Watson family as his older brother, Nathan, is a Factory Red Bull KTM rider competing in the World Enduro Super Series. It’s not as though the condi- tions were so poor due to the weather at RedBud that the track resembled that of an Endurocross circuit, but the same skill set that makes for fast times in an enduro set- ting can often translate to wet weather rid- ing and mucky, sandy conditions. Watson’s weekend didn’t start as he hoped consider- ing he finished 7th in the MX2 Qualifying Heat, but he was determined to leave it all out on the track on Sunday. The MXGP + MX2 race was over before it began for the young Brtish rider as he found himself in 20th position on the opening lap, heavily affecting his vision as well as his ability to come through the pack on the underpow- ered 250. Watson did his best to fight his way forward and toughed it out for a 15th place finish, but he was determined to
end the weekend on a high note. He took advantage of the inside gate pick in the second moto and came out in 3rd posi- tion before taking place in one of the most intriguing battles of the entire weekend, battling it out with the likes of Jorge Prado and Hunter Lawrence in an 250cc duel for the final two spots on the podium. Watson got the short end of the stick and ended up finishing in 4th position, but it was still an incredibly determined performance none- theless as he logged Team Great Britain’s top result on the underpowered MX2 machine.
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