SETH HAMMAKER GRIT-231 250MX

SETH HAMMAKER | GRIT-231 | 250MX

Continuing to display brilliant performances after returning from injury, Pennsylvania's Seth Hammaker would assemble another positive showing while racing at the Ironman National. Hoping to conclude the year on a solid note, the number thirty-five would put the entirety of his focus on the various practice rounds which were throughout the morning; and secured a showing of third as all was said and done for time(d) trials prior to advancing into the main event(s) that followed. Once the gate(s) fell for the afternoon stages of competition, Hammaker would prove that he could contend with the strongest racers from around the globe; via a third-place registry on the opening circuit, while battling alongside Tom Vialle and Ryder DiFrancesco. He would hold here for three laps, prior to being overtaken by Jo Shimoda and Haiden Deegan, though Hammaker refused to quit, even with pressure amounting. However on lap seven, he would take advantage of a slightly slower(ed) pace on behalf of Ryder DiFrancesco, and pass the Californian while seeking to advance even higher on the leaderboard. This would proceed the halfway point of the moto, where the circuit was now full of deepening trenches that could drag the frame of each motorcycle that passed...but Hammaker was prepared for it. Landing from the infield tabletop with his engine absolutely pinned, he would leap into the elevated corner thereafter while gauging to see how far behind DiFrancesco had faded...but the number seventy-five would keep him honest as the final moments of the moto came to fruition. It appeared (at that point) that Hammaker would have a fourth-place occupancy clenched - but an unfortunate mistake and costly mishap on the last lap (in the rhythm lane under the catwalk) would have Hammaker descending in the running order to just behind Hunter Lawrence...obtaining sixth, as the dust settled in Crawfordsville. Moto-two wasn't long thereafter, and as Hammaker competed amongst the top-ten (via ninth) in the early going, it was evident that the pack around him would attempt to swarm him when entering corners that were rather two-lane(d). The smoothest portions of the raceway would become narrow, but the Pennsylvanian was making it work as he maintained locked and focused behind the handlebars. Brief battles between he, Daxton Bennick, and Hunter Lawrence were portrayed in front of the entire audience in attendance at Crawfordsville; where all would recognize the intensity he embodied while shuffling positions with Pierce Brown and Stilez Robertson when nearing the checkered flag. Yet ultimately as the thirty-minute marker would come to fruition amongst a battered Ironman circuit, it was Hammaker who sustained (and kept) twelfth-position when passing the checkered flag...leading to a remarkable standing of ninth in the overall record book, to end the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

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