RJ HAMPSHIRE - GRIT 248 250SX

GRIT-248 | 250 SX

May 20, 2024 9:45 am

The veteran of the division was awaiting the chance to bombard the competition with an array of tactics in practice, that consisted of phenomenal speed being displayed in every facet of the course. RJ Hampshire was astounding in the sand, and proceeded to move forward from his acclimation to the native soil (being from Florida), to the harder surfaces with confidence - never letting off the throttle, en route to capturing the top gate choice for his heat race that followed. Once there, the number twenty-four bolted from the gate while striving to put forth a commanding presence - scrubbing over the "SX" double before the sand with a brute flick, before powering into the rollers time and time again. Throughout the first few minutes of action, Hampshire had seemed to ascend throughout the standings...but wasn't at the pinnacle of the field. However, a restart that forced all riders into a single file on the start straight would categorize RJ into the top-five - quickly moving into the forth as action was restarted, after a swift move through the inside of the sand section. Now just behind Jordon Smith, with Jo Shimoda trailing, Hampshire wasn't going to wait (long) for the Yamaha rider to move out of the way...therefore he asserted himself forward, with just over one minute to go on the clock for third - while almost simultaneously overtaking Phil Nicoletti (who was second), to occupy the now, runner-up position. Tripling through the whoops, he was gaining time on Ryder DiFrancesco while being pursued by Smith...and the aforementioned move (i.e. hopping through the moguls) was the eventual catalyst to take the lead! Categorized as the race leader, his momentum was palpable before heading into the finalé. For the main event, he and twenty-one other combatants would reside - and those at the front of the field appeared ruthless throughout the first few laps, with the accustomed "series alphas" now converging with like-minded racers from the opposing coast...but Hampshire wasn't going to bow down to anyone. He resided first after a brilliant starting sequence while sweeping atop countless bowl turns at the height of the RPM range. His entrance speed into the whoops was astounding - and managed to help him distance his machine, ahead of Jo Shimoda and Jordon smith who were behind. RJ flourished with the spotlight upon him...continuing to excel as time progressed. What was once a half second lead, turned into a full, and then two-seconds (and so on). There was nothing that could stand in Hampshire's way, and he was "in a league of his own" per se as the entirety of this East/West Showdown transpired...eventually, he would cross the finish line victorious - leaving a definitive stamp on the series, for this Nashville round!

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