GRANT HARLAN | GRIT-219 | 450SX

GRANT HARLAN | GRIT-219 | SX 450

With a soil composition that was hard to decipher, many riders who rolled onto the racetrack for practice in Denver were a bit baffled to see how well the ground(s) of Mile High were faring as qualification transpired. The base would resemble that of Salt Lake or even Las Vegas (at times), but there was also a considerable amount of sand that had been mixed into the racing area...which played into the hand of Texas' Grant Harlan aboard his Manluk Rock River Racing, Yamaha 450. He would skate around the switchback area that proceeded the mechanic's area in practice, holding to the inside(s) as best as possible while applying the front and rear brake when landing from the substantial double-double combo that was amid the two bends. There was little that this layout could provide that would deter him from a path to the front, which translated to a phenomenal pace being conducted in heat one of the evening's showcase. Rounding the right-hander before the longest rhythm lane on the track, his ability to leap forward with back to back triple combination(s) would have the crowd in amazement; and forced Anthony Rodriguezbehind him to follow suit if he wanted to have any shot of clinching a top-sixin the current standing(s). There was a tricky, on/off in the short straight stretch of jumps that followed; yet somehow he was able to nail the sector with fluidity, even with a means of the aforementioned Honda rider (i.e. Rodriguez)showing him a front wheel from the right-side of his peripheral viewpoint. The fourth and fifth laps of this exhibition would be pivotal if he wanted to maintain the sixth-placeposition in the running order; and as he eventually completed those circuits with a steadfast approach to the finish-line, a notable sixth-place scorewas garnered before embarking on the main event. Throwing caution to the wind, he would burst from the gate(s) of Denver with aggression and a fierce mentality while navigating through the opening two laps of the main event contest. The riddle of this blue-grooved soil would have ruts that had a slick base, with some not being deep enough to house both tires and causing subsequent wash-outs from many outside of the top fifteen. Yet he was able to stick and plant the chassis of his Yamahainto the outside of the corner after the whoop section, somehow flowing through the outer rim while blasting atop the moguls at the height of third gear! Ever so often though, he could see Florida's Justin Starling infiltrating the entrance to the corner as he departed into the wall jump - doing his best to stay low and persistent on the throttle when landing from steep face and into the finish-line takeoff. He was mindful of how slick these insides were becoming, but also aware that a constant outside pathway would promote various members of opposition to exploit the shortest distances in hopes of making a pass on him...but luckily once he was situated into the ninth-place residency, Harlanwould stay there; ending his tenure in Denver on an extremely high note and generating career best accolades!

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