race recap
DYLAN FERRANDIS GRIT-225 450MX
July 4, 2023

DYLAN FERRANDIS | GRIT-225 | 450MX
Proving that he possessed serious speed on this Michigan course, at last year's Motocross of Nations, Yamaha's Dylan Ferrandis would resume his storied run at Red Bud on Saturday with a multitude of strong laps during qualification. The number fourteen was tremendous, and proceeded to continue on that trajectory in the first moto where he would rival Jett Lawrence for the hole-shot designation; but would be swept (on the outside) by that of Ty Masterpool and was forced to reside third as the green flag waved for lap number one. Ferrandis then began the extensive process of trying to work around the Kawasaki rider, which was much tougher than expected. Masterpool seemed to control the flow of the racetrack, residing amongst various inside lines without blocking, but riding a rather wide machine while he pursued a faster lap-time as well. This would actually allow Chase Sexton to close-in and surprisingly make a pass before the fifth lap was completed, near that of LaRocco's Leap. Sexton would quickly move by that of Masterpool as well, leaving the number fourteen behind, where Ferrandis then contemplated on how to make a pass stick on the newcomer to the 450cc division. But Ferrandis' descending through the running order wasn't finished there, as he was then passed by Adam Cianciarulo on lap seven! Frustrated, but refusing to quit, Ferrandis then decided to amass another charge - which resulted in a pair of passes being made, on Cianciarulo and Masterpool. He would claim the latter at the end of the roller section on lap twelve, where he blitzed by the number eighty-one as Masterpool appeared to be caught off-guard. Nonetheless, he was then solidified in the third place spot. And eventually, the former champion from France would hang onto the bronze medal residency until the final flag was thrown - concluding the moto here before adventuring into the second round. As the gate(s) then fell for the latter afternoon portion of racing, it was Ferrandis who immediately attached to the rear wheel of Jett Lawrence and claimed second as the green flag was thrown. Ferrandis would then arguably amass the "first charge" of anyone in the series, on behalf of catching Jett Lawrence; which caused the number eighteen to turn his head (on multiple occasions) in the direction of the French rider. Ferrandis was relentless when pursuing a higher standing, but Lawrence returned fire with daring laps of his own...which broke the aforementioned charge that was displayed by Dylan. And even as Chase Sexton managed to close the gap in the latter stages of the moto, it was Ferrandis who remained resilient en route to the sixteenth circuit. He decisively defended the second-place position from the number twenty-three, while claiming second for the moto as well, and a silver medal overall!