RJ HAMPSHIRE - GRIT 240 250SX

GRIT-240 | 250 SX

With valuable points at stake, Husqvarna's RJ Hampshire would magnify the course in Glendale as track walk began before practice. Emphasizing the smallest of details before engines fired, he and his mechanic would discuss peculiar portions of the raceway where time could potentially be gained...before unleashing an abundance of speed in the afternoon hours, and immediately displaying his skills that could possibly reign atop the final podium at series end. Nonetheless, he had to focus on the here and now - inching his way as close to the metal bracket in front of him, and releasing the clutch while upshifting via the left lever alongside the transmission, to begin heat two. Once into a standing of fourth (following the red flag restart), Hampshire quickly made his way around Hunter Yoder. He knew that his first few laps of the moto were imminent and had to be put forth with the utmost intensity. Hovering at the top(s) of each berm, he made sure to crest the likes of initial "SX" triple with authority before entering into the whoop section...knowing that the momentum he started with, was a foundation of sorts for obstacles in the foreground. The velocities sustained were evident of how hard RJ was charging, but the number twenty-four couldn't seem to garner enough of a surplus (in terms of speed) to catch and pass both, Jo Shimoda and Jordon Smith who were out front. He relentlessly pursued the opponents through the seven-lap contest, but would come up just short of occupying second...leaving him third as he exited the raceway. From the moment the main event began, Hampshire immediately portrayed determination that rivaled the other elite contenders of the field, including Levi Kitchen, Jordon Smith, and so on. He was behind the two aforementioned opponents and watched as they battled amongst one another, via the third-place position. Hampshire would make a move on Kitchen (for second) with three and a half minutes gone by, in the first corner of the racetrack, before embarking on the initial rhythm lane. RJ remained patient as he monitored the gap between he and Yamaha's Smith...until the fellow veteran would wash-out in the mechanic's area corner, with just under nine minutes remaining on the clock! Now into the lead, the path to victory lane couldn't have been much smoother. The veteran rode with immense composure and at a sustainable pace that didn't encourage overriding or mistakes of any kind. His mechanic would constantly let him know, as to how far back Levi Kitchen stood - but in reality, there was little that could bother the Husqvarna competitor at the front of the pack...leading eleven laps in total, to earn victory at the finish line!

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