JUSTIN HILL | GRIT-214 | 450SX

JUSTIN HILL | GRIT-214 | SX 450

With the track crew conducting a phenomenal job alleviating the course from a surplus of rain, Justin Hill knew that the layout would be race-ready by the time qualification concluded in Seattle. Though practice was rather difficult, with Cooper Webb, Eli Tomac, and Chase Sexton even having a bit of trouble running through the course, he knew that developing a flow amongst the marred soil would be imminent if he wanted to get comfortable prior to the night show beginning. Doing his best to double his way through the circuit, his rear wheel would constantly spin while flying through the longest of rhythm sections (particularly, those left of the starting gate). But with finesse, he was able to transfer with a sense of superior confidence; heading into his heat race while yearning to dart away from the majority of the field and perform well in front of his native Northwest crowd. The layout would be filled with soft soil (as previously stated) with lines scattered every which way, and he was aware of bikes flying in a multitude of directions as he sprinted toward the finish-line in an optimal position. Hovering near a standing of tenth, his execution of the whoops would be critical as the first two laps of competition were completed; developing a rhythm while standing on the balls of his feet, and keeping the ever persistent Josh Cartwright at bay. Minuscule doubles were now amplified with difficulty, as bike paths had been carved through every facet of the course; and subtle kickers were now filling the ravines, as countless wheel sets would pass through them. Sprinting across the start straightaway with less than a minute and half to go, he was mindful of not applying too much rear brake into the corner that followed, maintaining his designation of seventh aboard his Team Tedder, KTM 450. Luckily, in the moments that were just thereafter, he was able to secure a residency of seventh prior to heading to the finalé. As gates fell, it was Chase Sexton who immediately marched forward and took reign of the field. He would linger near eighth, immediately attempting to clear his vision as he swept through corners and straightaways alike, with soil now caked all along the fenders and chassis of his machine. Laps four, five, and six, were critical in his pursuit of a single-digit overall; avoiding the problematic right-handed corner (just near the Monster Energy leaderboard), which caused a few riders to knife the front-end and subsequently crash to the ground. With the pipe of his machine radiating with heat, he continued to pursue a higher standing - determined to clench an overall inside of the top-ten ahead of Dean Wilson in the final two laps of competition. Though being overtaken by Christian Craig just before the checkered flag, it was Hill who obtained tenth place in spectacular form as action concluded in Seattle.

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