RJ HAMPSHIRE - GRIT 233 250SMX

RJ HAMPSHIRE | GRIT-233 | 250 SMX

The newly announced member of the United States Motocross of Nations team, Husqvarna's RJ Hampshire, would join the field of competition once more within the SMX Playoff series - for the 250SMX class, which was stacked with top-tier talent. Knowing that he would have a surplus of attention now upon him as he blasted through the infield area, Hampshire immediately welcomed the attention with extraordinary showing(s) throughout time(d) trials. He proceeded to continue that notion into the first moto as well, where Haiden Deegan took an early lead and Florida's Hampshire would find his way around the circuit in an initial residency of fourth. Leaping over every roller/makeshift rhythm section in sight, Hampshire was truly generating as much RPM from the Husqvarna engine as possible prior to descending into various ruts that hooked alongside the inner-most track marker(s). His flow within the fourth-place spot was commendable, but it was evident that Jo Shimoda was on a pursuit that couldn't be halted, by the time lap four came to fruition. This "charge" of sorts would precede a pass being made on behalf of the Kawasaki rider, pushing Hampshire to fifth while he would do his best to mimic the role in which the Pro Circuit athlete was carrying out. Continuously seeking higher and higher speeds throughout the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth minute(s) of action, would enable RJ to nearly overtake Tom Vialle with the checkered flag on the horizon. But it was to no avail, and the number twenty-four was forced to exit the raceway with fifth-place in hand prior to beginning round two. Hampshire would anticipate another grueling moto to be on tap for the second portion of racing, and greeted the challenge with fearlessness as he soared across the finish-line to gather seventh in the opening standings. The "loose" but determined style was an advantageous series of traits that were within the arsenal of the Floridian, and as he began to make a charge to higher positions on the leaderboard as laps progressed, all in the crowd would gasp as he leapt off the track before the slight uphill on the circuit! Nearly crashing as he was forced to ride alongside the layout on the concrete, he luckily wouldn't lose much time after retaining the seventh-place position. He was hopeful that all of the erratic mistakes (on behalf of amplified effort) were omitted, but the Floridian still proceeded to walk the finest of lines per se when attempting to gain ground and make passes - which catapulted him past Justin Cooper with four laps remaining, while he sought to overtake Haiden Deegan as well! Though unable to surpass the rookie, RJ's second place performance (of fourth) would certainly reiterate as to why he was asked to compete on the MXON team; generating a fourth-place overall in the meantime, while looking ahead to the foreseeable future.

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