RJ HAMPSHIRE | GRIT-211 | 450SX

RJ HAMPSHIRE | GRIT-211 | SX 450

With Chase Sexton generating his usual practice antics as race-day began, there were intricacies of the Honda rider's race-craft that had to be acknowledged by all in the field. RJ Hampshire was cognizant of both Sexton and Cooper Webb as they sped toward the top of the leaderboard, especially as the Illinois native blasted his way through the whoops time and time again. He followed suit, escalating with momentum before triple-doubling into the corner with followed; locked into a stance on the chassis that wasn't going to be easily deterred. Stopping into the mechanics area for a brief discussion on suspension, it appeared as though he and team Rockstar Energy Husqvarna came to a consensus as practice would conclude. The lights were set to come on not long thereafter, and as he and other members migrated to the line for heat two, a series of pre-race rituals would ensue. He gathered his breathing and focus, pinpointing the inner most pathway of turn number one while binding on the rear brake and feathering the clutch. There were a litany of pathways through the next through rhythm lanes, but his focus was on deviating (intelligently) from the pathway of riders that were behind, after claiming the hole-shot! Varying-up his stance in the multitude of "s-turns" that followed, he eventually found a flow that was multiple seconds ahead of Cooper Webb who was in second. They both yearned to pass the finish-line with victory, but the veteran mentality was sure to break that of Hampshire...at least that's what many who watched were thinking. However he continued to flow from inside to outside before compressing the suspension on the face of the "SX" triple, looking ahead to the white-flag while planning to acquire a direct transferring bid that followed. That memo would be checked, with an immaculate first-place standing being registered prior to embarking on the twenty-minute (plus one lap) ensemble in the coming hours, which was a feat that few could imagine (especially when holding off Cooper Webb)! His aspirations were toppled, considering this was his first race on the 450! Coming into the main event feeling more confident than ever, he arrived at the conclusion of lap number-one in the sixth position, while seeking to make time through the daring triple-triple combo just after the over-under. The face (amid the transition of the two obstacles) would nearly buck Justin Barcia and Aaron Plessinger overboard on a number of occasions, and he too would clip the lip on the far left side to try and nullify the recoil of the shock. He couldn't let up, however, especially with Hampshire choreographing a stellar line in the rhythm section after the finish-line. The narrative continued to progress, bouncing through cupped rollers at the end of the initial rhythm lane before diving into the left-handed corner that followed. His Huqvarna 450 remained steady and continued on a linear trajectory however, keeping the eighth-position in sight as time began to dwindle. Hanging onto the handlebars with abundant strength as he sped toward the checkered flag, eighth overall was his for the taking as all ceased in Daytona.

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