DAXTON BENNICK GRIT-217 SX FUTURES

DAXTON BENNICK | GRIT-217 | SX FUTURES

Yamaha's Daxton Bennick displayed yet another incredible performance while stationed in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Saturday; exhibiting world-class speed(s) at the Pro Am level in front of thousands in the surrounding area of New York City! Bennick would feed off of the environment and embody a sense of excitement that was exhibited in his riding style on Friday; instantly battling at the top of the leaderboard to compete for the overall pole position. His momentum just after the finish-line would be spectacular, rounding the corner that followed with intensity to begin his circuits with urgency; and that ultimately translated for the roughly forty-five seconds (or so) that was to come until reaching the final obstacle yet again. Finishing in the second place residency as festivities on Friday ceased, he then surged into the qualification realm on Saturday with confidence that couldn't be forged. Throughout the early afternoon hours, Bennick was a mainstay at the pinnacle of the standing(s), hovering right around Julien Beaumer and Ryder DiFrancesco before eventually obtaining fourth and heading into racing action. As the field then rounded the first corner for the finalé, it was Bennick who was stuck (albeit slightly) around the middle of the pack; which would subsequently hinder him as Julien Beaumer sped away from the pack. He would also be caught in a pile-up amongst the double beginning the mechanic's area, where Evan Ferry and other riders had come together though luckily he was able to work around the incident and emerge fifth as lap one was completed. Quickly moving into third by the end of lap two, he then marched forward to the rear wheel of Ryder DiFrancesco, where he'd see a passing opportunity with roughly two-minutes and forty-five seconds left on the clock. It was at that point that he'd gained substantial time on the Kawasaki rider in the whoop section and had moved to the inside of his machine in the left-handed corner that followed. And once the window of opportunity was taken, there was no stopping Bennick from powering past! From that point, until the clock struck zero, it "seemed" as though Beaumer had too large of a gap made, for action to be taken...but there was no quit in Bennick, as he sprinted through the final lap(s) and moments of the moto, to create a dramatic finish literally in the last corner! He had rapidly shrunk the lead by means of lap traffic and furthered charging with roughly forty-seconds to go, and saw an opportunity to be made in the final turn before the checkered flag. Beaumer (at that point) would dash to the outside with a lapped rider in the middle, and Bennick would choose to accelerate on the inside and use the inner lane as a means of passing. The number 241 would simultaneously relinquish his application of the brakes while nearly drifting into the right side of Beaumer, nearly making the pass as they exited the bend, although just short when both riders crested the finish-line takeoff! Though Bennick was finalized in second, the crowd would cheer with support and enthusiasm as both athletes exited the raceway.

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