race recap
COLE THOMPSON - GRIT 250 250SX
June 4, 2024 · Cole Thompson

GRIT-250 | 250 SX
June 3rd, 2024 6:30 pm
Many in the industry were thankful that limited precipitation chances were in the forecast, as this season had been rather marred by rainfall at numerous rounds of past weekends...though Cole Thompson seemed ready for whatever as he shifted into gear for "fast laps" of the afternoon segment of events, accelerating with fortitude while blitzing the whoops to the best of his ability. Many of these jumps and aforementioned mogul pad, were technical and pointed - creating an elevated level of challenge, along with the patented hard-pack soil that was native to this region of the country. Thompson appeared prepared for all it, however, especially after securing a standing of seventh in the initial laps of heat race competition. Though the track was still a bit moist, he managed to nullify wheel-spin when approaching the corner before the "SX" triple - pivoting while seeing a blurred, green fender in his rearview (which was Hunter Yoder) trying to surpass him. The fight for a transfer position was on, at that point, with neither rider budging when surging into the array of ninety-degree corners. Only a small portion of time remained, but he felt as if the latter portion of the racetrack was going to be in his advantage...therefore with an all-out dash through the final segment of rhythm, whoops, and accompanying switch back corners, he excelled with all of his might - finalized in fifth as action ceased. For the finalé, the action that had taken place as riders strove for single digit territory was intense. The occasional tuff-block would be clipped, as riders used unorthodox angles to make passes with the pack in this much of a jam. He remained aware that both, Robbie Wagemen and Lux Turner were near him - forcing him to toggle between aspiring to move forward, but also aware of potential block passes that were to come. The multi-lipped plateau that was just after the first corner was a strong point within his arsenal of lines, and Thompson leapt on and off with aggression - with the rear wheel constantly spinning while flying into the corner thereafter with confidence and fearlessness. He was striving to try and overtake that of Talon Hawkins who stood ahead of him - partaking in a game of cat and mouse as he and the opponent would pull away, and relinquish gains, in certain aspects of the course. The move on Hawkins would be made on the ninth circuit, which enabled him to receive a position that was just behind Phil Nicoletti. Though being pressured by Robbie Wageman in the closing stages, Thompson remained resilient and eventually earned a seventh-place overall position...which was a commendable feat, on this difficult Denver track.