race recap
AARON PLESSINGER - GRIT 233 450SMX
September 19, 2023 · Aaron Plessinger
AARON PLESSINGER | GRIT-233 | 450 SMX
Recently announced, and declared as a team member of the United States Motocross of Nations squad, Ohio's Aaron Plessinger would welcome even more applause than what he was typically accustomed to as fans arrived at the Chicagoland Speedway. The KTM athlete was excited to represent his country overseas in the coming weeks, but remained focused on the task at hand via securing as many points as possible at the second round of the SMX playoff's. His times throughout qualification were admirable, and as he flew through the finish-line section to pass by the green flag in moto-one, the Ohio native was proficient enough to be established in a standing of tenthwhile just behind that of Adam Cianciarulo. The pace in which these two conducted would be phenomenal, reaching into the range of fourth gear at full-throttle while they entered into the subtle climb of incline(d) concrete and outward of the racing facility. But it was Plessinger who seemed to be acclimated to both the layout and soil composition as laps continued to amount, where he had sustained a sixth-place residency (while making passes on riders like Cooper Webb and Ty Masterpool) by the time the seventh circuit came to fruition. There was little could stop the might and determination that "AP" possessed when flying through the deepening sand section, where he would carve through the halfway point and final laps of the moto with ruthless intent while trying to acquire as many positions as possible! And after overtaking Dylan Ferrandis in the final moments, the attrition of the number seven was enough to secure fifth in the final standing(s) of the moto. "AP" then returned to full-character aboard the motorcycle for the second moto of the day, displaying excellent speed when nearing the start straightaway on laps one, two, and three, to be distinguished in a position near that of ninth. There was little room for error when racing at this velocity, but Plessinger seemed comfortable with racing amongst the slimmest of margins while nearing track markers and outer boundaries alike. Nothing was off limits as he swept from corner to corner, relentlessly feathering the clutch to garner traction while making his way forward around Cooper Webb, Jason Anderson, and Dylan Ferrandis yet again. There was a level of fortitude that was acknowledged by all in attendance when watching the KTM rider gracefully balance his bike amongst ruts and berms alike...leading to an ultimate fourth-place categorization being listed (for the moto) and a fourth-place overall assembly of scores, as well.