HARRI KULLAS - GRIT 256 450SX

GRIT-256 | 450 SX

July 2nd, 2024 2:00 pm

Numerous riders from the current MXGP circuit, along with various other championships around the world, would attend the national in Southwick, Massachusetts on Saturday. Athletes like Harri Kullas, who had ridden in the states on numerous occasions beforehand, were eagerly awaiting to showcase their sand-riding skills while stationed in the Northeast. The rider out of Estonia, was highly versatile...and sought to gather a single digit finish if possible, beginning with qualification in the morning hours. The track would change rather quickly as laps amassed, but Kullas was still able to sustain starting position of twenty-second when all concluded. This preceded the main event(s) that followed, and the athlete board the KTM machine was sensational off of the starting grid, managing to push his way through the apex of corner number one with notable speed. He somehow gathered a standing of tenth by the end of the first lap, and proceeded to battle among the top contenders in the AMA Championship! He would float over the highest of singles with precise vision upon landing, using every bit of suspension travel possible before embarking on some of the deepest berms across the American circuit. All the while, he would have to defend his position from Garrett Marchbanks and Shane McElrath. Though the Yamaha athlete made his way by, Kullas' line of defense was admirable and kept the NC native in the rearview while he continued to attack the course. Though it was a battle with Malcolm Stewart, near the end of the moto, which had the crowd on their feet. Members of Team Husqvarna were encouraging Stewart to move forward, but Kullas wasn't going to let the opponent drift away that easily...and instead, battled the former 250SX champion with tremendous tenacity until a few laps were left to complete. And in the end, he once again closed the gap between he and Garrett Marchbanks...though the ClubMX rider was just out of his grasp at the checkered flag. Ultimately finalized in tenth, his outlook for the next moto appeared positive. His initial standing of twelfth, to begin the following round, was a solid place to work from. He (Kullas) would pass Shane McElrath after a few laps of action, though Jason Anderson simultaneously made his way by...but the Kawasaki rider wasn't one to just propel his way into a distance that couldn't be toppled. Kullas studied Anderson's lines before making his way by, on the eighth lap - and at that point, it was a matter of trying to nullify the margin between Garrett Marchbanks and Christian Craig at the finish line. Both of the established American riders weren't too far ahead as the sixteenth lap was completed, and though Kullas couldn't surpass them, his efforts were noted by all in attendance - equating to tenth in the moto, and ninth overall for the day's final score.

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