AARON PLESSINGER - GRIT 243 450SX

GRIT-243 |450 SX

The Ohio native was seeking to gain as many points as possible as action at Protective Stadium began on Saturday. With a chance of rain in the forecast, many in the industry would look to "AP" as a definite contender for victory...though the sun began to peak through amid qualification laps. Nonetheless, the KTM athlete was ready to contend, and as he manual(ed) through the rollers with finesse, the crowd cheered en route to his performance in heat two where he began the eight-lap quest in fifth. He was behind Ken Roczen and mirrored the German rider through the multitude of flat/tapered corners; as many of the straightaways on the track would have a slight bending angle to them, forcing the athletes to strategize various entry points and accompanying segments of charging and braking. The number seven remained solidified within the fifth-place position, though Ken Roczen and Cooper Webb were just ahead contending at the height of possible speeds when nearing the checkered flag. Through laps seven and eight, there was no shortage of effort by the KTM rider...but Plessinger would eventually reside in the fifth-place position as all was finalized. For the main event, immense anticipation would build - and Aaron's opening standing of seventh quickly translated to sixth after he passed Adam Cianciarulo. Flowing through the right-handed corner just after the finish line, he monitored the approach by Justin Barcia. But felt as if he could defend his current standing from the veteran, as fatigue began to amount and the track deteriorated even more. Proceeding to stay within the middle portion(s) of the circuit where the ruts were deepest, Plessinger's balance amongst the trenches was second-to-none. He was incredible, and undoubtedly sped through the grooves with as much momentum as any other competitor on the roster...even in the final quarter of the moto! Though passed by Eli Tomac after an intense battle, he would accelerate as hard as possible with Jason Anderson only seconds behind...the Kawasaki rider wasn't going to give up, but neither would the "Cowboy" whom the crowd cheered for! It was a dash to the final double, but in the end, Anderson's tenacity was just enough to overtake Plessinger for this particular occasion. Still residing in eighth, the prowess of the top-tier 450cc competitor had never been higher - and he would continue to be regarded as a threat for victory in the approaching rounds.

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