GRIT 311 — 450SX — 8th — Dean Wilson

The racing for Saturday's festivities, was set to be legendary...especially with competitors such as the veteran.

Dean Wilson, aligning on the starting grid. He would visualize a myriad of eye-opening laps being presented in practice, and through the sessions that transpired, his ability to craft lines together, would rival that of Cooper Webb, Ken Roczen, and many others. Fans of the established competitor cheered as he exited the raceway....and when the thirty-second board eventually was turned sideways for heat number one, he immediately aspired for a notable position amongst the pack. Wilson's skills amongst the sloppy terrain would translate to an immediate fifth-place standing, where he remained through the third circuit. However, it was on lap five when Garrett Marchbanks would track him down, making a definitive pass and leaving Dean in the sixth-place residency. From there, Wilson continued to power forward - charging amongst the adverse conditions to eventually secure a notable sixth-place result at the finish line, which transferred him directly to the highly competitive 450SX finalé. For the main event, the veteran aptitude of the former 250cc champion was stellar. Dean would navigate through the troublesome first turn. and hectic opening lap, to take a position of sixth. He resided here, for a few laps, before undergoing a battle with Justin Hill. Though Wilson quickly rebounded, and he advanced into sixth once more, while passing Malcolm Stewart.

Dean would do his best to reside just outside of the top-five - proving that he still possessed world renowned speed, despite generating a unique professional schedule, at this point in his career. As the contest neared completion, that of Shane McElrath and Chase Sexton, would attempt to rival the athlete who sported the number fifteen across his machine. Wilson, despite putting forth an admirable line of defense (i.e. safeguarding many inside lines) would be surpassed with the final flag nearing. Though rather than drift further down the running order, he would salvage the effort with a series of phenomenal laps toward the end of the contest. As all concluded for this unforgettable event in Philadelphia, it was Wilson who scored an admirable eighth-place result when navigating past the checkered flag. The performance was indicative of Dean's true talent on the motorcycle, and proved that the former champion could excel even when retirement was nearing - and his skills could translate, to even the toughest of atmospheres in two-wheel racing