DEREK DRAKE - 224 450MX

DEREK DRAKE | GRIT-224 | 450MX

As Suzuki's Derek Drake arrived at the High Point Raceway facility, there was a sense of confidence that he embodied in regard to claiming a top-ten overall by the conclusion of Saturday's festivities. This circuit would warrant charging speed and precise maneuvering when mastering various off-cambered corners, which the Californian felt confident amongst as he patrolled the raceway for the first few laps of untimed practice shortly thereafter. He would engage in valiant efforts of minimal braking while dodging the largest braking bumps as he entered corners, leaning the bike almost horizontally as he carved amongst the wall(s) of peg-deep ruts in turns just after the finish-line. Which would lead to a strong gate choice prior to moto number one where, where he swept through the initial sections of actions amongst dozens of other riders - to emerge near fifteenthas lap number one concluded. You could see his comfort amongst the Pennsylvania terrain as he soared over the longest flyaway jumps, somehow managing to move the chassis in a free-flowing form while landing amongst an array of trenches that were no more than a tire width wide! He would escape the threat of being passed, by Phil Nicolettias the halfway point came to fruition; and even though the chance of error became greater (as the track hardened and became rough) it was almost as if his vision and precision rose to an even higher level. He was lugging his Suzukiengine when dashing through split-lane(d) sections, sometimes taking the shortest route(s) on the track as he nearly clipped the inner yellow markers time and time again...which eventually had him sustaining a notable margin over Romain Pape, to claim ninth, respectively. For the following bout, it would be Suzuki's Ken Roczen who took an early lead as the field proceeded to pursue him with all of their might; and in the patented downhill roller section, Drake would find a stellar pathway amongst a combination of doubles, that had him nearly paralleled to the Germanrider who led. There would be a series of near disastrous pot-holes that preceded the last uphill of track before the finish-line, that would nearly claim multiple riders inside the top-twenty as laps progressed...but with focus and vision that was of the highest regard, he would dodge and evade the problematic terrain while prolonging his lead over France's Pape who was (initially) just seconds behind. However in the final few laps, Suzuki's Drake would prove as to why he could contend at the highest tier of the 450cc hierarchy...ultimately claiming twelfthfor a magnificent tenth overall.

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