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SETH HAMMAKER - GRIT 232 250SMX

September 11, 2023 · Seth Hammaker

SETH HAMMAKER - GRIT 232 250SMX

SETH HAMMAKER | GRIT-232 | 250 SMX

Never a rider to be counted out or overlooked, Kawasaki's Seth Hammaker possessed speed that exclaimed talent and competitiveness as qualification began at the zMax Dragway for this early September weekend. His line choices amongst the muddy surface were remarkable and certainly boosted his confidence as the two sides of the starting gate converged for moto-one...where he and Levi Kitchen would quarrel over the lead prior to the Yamaha adversary taking his claim for the lead once and for all. Hammaker would be just behind for the first two circuits, launching through the abrupt faces of the rhythm lane with fearlessness prior to embarking on the third lap where a mistake would leave him sliding into the ground amongst the muddy soil. It would be in the right-hander beneath the tunnel-option where his application to the front-end was too much to be sustained, forcing him to pick up his motorcycle with muck upon his grips and fire the engine as quickly as possible. He eventually gathered his processes and returned to the midst of battle in fifth where he and teammates (Jo Shimoda and Austin Forkner) would battle - where he would keep the Missouri native at bay while doing his best to mimic the line choices of Jo Shimoda. Flowing over the hip-double before wheel-tapping his way through rollers that followed, he (like many others) would begin to enter into the off-cambered corner on the outside before cutting over the middle apex with a plethora of drive; sprinting to the finish line with as much momentum as possible as the final few laps came to fruition. Ultimately finishing in fifth as action ceased, his sense of staying power in the second round of racing would be admirable amongst the seventeen-lap exhibition. Beginning in fourth, he was able to maintain a flow within the top six for a significant amount of time before undergoing a battle with championship contenders, Justin Cooper and Hunter Lawrence. Though both of the top-tiered prospects were able to make their way forward, his sustainability amongst their power output would leave him credited with eighth as action neared its conclusion...and upon the checkered flag waving, Hammaker's sweeping through the muddied soil(s) of Charlotte would register him in the aforementioned standing which was strong enough for sixth overall on the day.

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