CHRISTIAN CRAIG - GRIT 258 450SX

GRIT-258 | 450 SX

July 15th, 2024 4:30 pm

The talent of Husqvarna's Christian Craig couldn't be denied. Year after year, and following countless serious injuries, the Californian once again returned to the professional motocross championship with his sights set on the highest of finishes. Once beginning the two-moto main event format in Millville, Minnesota, Craig had to be acknowledged by the competition...the track was prepped to perfection, as the 450cc class would race before the 250MX division, and Craig would take advantage on Saturday - relishing among his ties to the Minnesota region, and using his experience of year's past, to propel him into a prominent position within the top-ten. He maintained a solid and consistent output of speed, residing within single digit territory, well past the twenty-minute mark. And in all actuality, as the two-lap board neared, Craig began to substantially close-in on Dylan Ferrandis (who was sixth)! Though unable to overtake the Honda rider, Christian's final standing (of seventh) was admirable when charging into the second moto that followed. As the gate(s) fell in the latter portion of the afternoon, Craig would reside inside of the top-ten - and had definitively worked his way into sixth after seven minutes of action, before being overtaken Aaron Plessinger. Now seventh, he would do his best to mimic the Ohio native for as long as possible. His pace was applauded by those on the Husqvarna team, with members of the squad aligning in different parts of the raceway. And as he charged forward to the three-quarter mark of the moto, it appeared as if Craig was solidified within the seventh-place designation. He couldn't ignore the veteran, Phil Nicoletti, in the paralleled lanes behind him however...and instead, used the Yamaha rider as a means of motivation when storming to the checkered flag. The rollers were now extremely cupped, and each mogul on the track would have a kicker of sorts atop the face - with an abundance of ruts, trenched in each facet as well! But Craig wasn't rattled by any variable, desiring to pass the checkered flag within the top-ten. And that's exactly what would occur as precipitation would fall onto the racing surface, with hard-packed areas becoming rather slick, and puddles amassing in the bottom(s) of ruts. Nevertheless, Craig prevailed - undoubtedly earning a standout performance among his resumé of outdoor results thus far. His final moto score (of seventh) was enough to translate to seventh overall...generating momentum for the rounds that followed in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

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