race recap
ADAM CIANCIARULO | GRIT-213 | 450SX
March 21, 2023 · Adam Cianciarulo
ADAM CIANCIARULO | GRIT-213 | SX 450
Fans of the sport would have to acknowledge and applaud the effort of Adam Cianciarulo throughout various events in Detroit, as the Kawasaki athlete had given it his all throughout all stages of qualifying and racing before leaping past the final checkered flag of the evening. "AC" was exceptional during practice, finding rhythm via immense corner speed where he leaned the Kawasaki 450 at a tremendous degree; closing in on riders like Chase Sexton via marginal gains of milliseconds before laps were finalized. He stayed on this trajectory as the heat one narrative came to fruition, generating a start around fifth-place while hoping to move around Kevin Moranz and Grant Harlan as quickly as possible. That wish would come to fruition as the second lap began, with Adam trailing on his teammate (Jason Anderson) and Justin Barcia as the three attempted to evade Cooper Webb. The KTM rider as closing in rather quickly, but Cianciarulo's speed through the one-eighty turns on this track was a trait that few others could replicate; leaving him scented in third throughout the entirety of this eight lap contest, and finishing here once action ceased and athletes were forced to exit the raceway. He and the team would gather within the pit area to be briefed on what was at stake for the main event, with Cianciarulo's motivation being at its highest prior to rolling to the start line to begin the finalé. Once on the grid, it was hard to ignore the focus that the number-nine machine possessed, as he nodded his head upon upshifting his machine before the thirty-second board went sideways. And in the seconds that followed, the Floridian would display impeccable characteristics that enabled him to surge to the front of the field, leading well over one lap while defending the most sought after position from both Aaron Plesinger and Cooper Webb. Though passed not long thereafter, "AC's" grittiness was evident for thousands within the stadium to see; fighting for every inch of racetrack with the best of the best, in the 450cc division. This remained as the underlying memo of his 450cc expedition, where he refused to bow down regardless of how many opponents would pass him. Toggling between skimming and jumping through the whoops over the course of the last eight laps, he would be promoted one position on the final leaderboard at the expense of Aaron Plessinger; who'd crashed with only moments to go, and allowed Cianciarulo to carve a standing within the final, eighth-place slot.