NATE THRASHER | GRIT-212 | 250SX

NATE THRASHER | GRIT-212 | SX 250

Hoping to accumulate as many points as possible before departing from Indiana, Yamaha's Nate Thrasher would be seeking the fastest lines around the course as the green flag was thrown for free practice. With a rather simplistic layout, the ultimate separator would be one's ability to limit their mistakes throughout the duration of the main event...and he knew his fortitude was up to par, long before day-time qualifying would conclude on Saturday. In the hours that followed, he would be placed into heat two alongside a number of other top-tier riders who were vowing to vie for heat-race gold. His clutch release and accompanying throttle control from the mesh grate would have him near fifth as the Indianapolis narrative began to unfold. Doing his best to stay as low as possible on these rutted faces, he would approach the "SX" triple with means to move forward; and would do so after passing Coty Schock and Tom Vialle while watching Max Anstie and Hunter Lawrence quarrel over the lead from afar. Thrasher's aggressiveness wouldn't be deterred, even with the ever-roughening track these athletes were competing on in Indy. However only two minutes remained when he approached the rear wheel of the British rider, running a fast outside line before the finish-line when a red flag was thrown! Now with his momentum halted, they would have to realign on the starting line in a single-file manner. Once the green flag was thrown, Thrasher would waste little time in making the move on Anstie, hoping to pass Hunter Lawrence all the while; but the Tennessean would come up short as the final flag was thrown, finishing second and hoping to move past Lawrence in the main event. But the number ninety-six would generate an astounding start when it mattered most, and proceeded to push forward (past everyone in the field) as the green flag was waved for the finalé. Thrasher would have to briefly battle with Chris Blose for second, but once around the Kawasaki rider his only tasks were to pass the Honda rider (of Lawrence) while keeping a charging, Jordon Smith at bay. He would complete the latter half of that memo with excellency, though his Yamaha counterpart attempted to infiltrate second on many occasions. But Lawrence who continued to lead, was demonstrating a pace that was hard to topple; with Thrasher remaining just seconds behind, for the duration of the moto. Throughout twenty of the twenty-one laps on the circuit, Nate would eye the ninety-six in the foreground; but he wasn't able to conduct a sense of speed to pass him. Therefore he would remain solidified in second, losing a few more points to the red-plate holder, but remaining within striking distance of claiming the championship.

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