race recap
CHRIS BLOSE | GRIT-212 | 250SX
March 14, 2023 · Chris Blose

CHRIS BLOSE | GRIT-212 | SX 250
After watching Hunter Lawrence win in spectacular fashion in Daytona, the determination of Kawasaki's Chris Blose couldn't be ignored as he sped into the Midwest for round nine of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. The conditions inside the stadium would force the most technically sound riders to the top of the leaderboard; with the soil holding them accountable for their mistakes, and subsequently flinging many of them to the ground. He would conform to the track that would change by the minute, arriving in a position of fourth before advancing to the night show. Once here, his upshift to second would engage both mind and motorcycle, before the front-wheel was uplifted down the start straightaway. Fighting with all of his might to retain the lead (after a masterful starting sequence), he would do his best to remain calm while constantly at a maximum heart rate. Doing his best to seat-hop and triple his way through the section that preceded the whoops, he would continue to jump from right to left (subtly) while Jordon Smith could be heard on his inside. The Yamaha rider was known for his sly moves in berm(ed) corners, and his entry speed couldn't be ignored as many others were frozen with analysis. And though Jordon Smith would make the move for the lead (after a few laps of action) Chris' momentum never ceased; and was an outlying factor in residing second with only minutes left on the clock. Wheel-tapping his way through the mogul pad, the kicker (about four whoops from the end) would attempt to derail his trajectory when heading into the left-handed bend that followed. But his vision was impeccable and made sure that he stayed out of harm's way, en route to a spectacular second-place at the finish-line. The final race of the evening would have the crowd cheering with excitement, as thousands of roars would elevate his adrenaline to levels that couldn't be obtained in a subdued, practice environment of sorts. He, Nate Thrasher, and Jordon Smith were mirroring one another when bypassing the mechanic's area, never giving an inch as the their rear brakes attempted to slow their machines down. His transition from standing, to sitting positions were a technique that couldn't be quantified; aiding his lap-times on the second segment (of track division), where he possessed a surplus of speed that was identifiable by those in the chair backs. Laps nine and ten were crucial in his residency of accruing a top-ten; at least when watching Tom Vialle who had now began to fade, just a bit, from his immediate proximity. And once that defining gap was established there was nothing to refute his eventual capturing of sixth on the final leaderboard, which was astounding given his early race speed and heat race endeavor, that was conducted in the hours prior.