race recap
SHANE MCELRATH | GRIT-217 | 450SX
April 25, 2023 · Shane McElrath
SHANE MCELRATH | GRIT-217 | SX 450
Suzuki's Shane McElrath is a rider who never gives up, even in the face of adverse conditions like those of MetLife Stadium on Saturday evening. The newfound full-time 450cc rider had encountered difficulties upon entering into the premier division once and for all, but the relentlessness of the number twelve was accounted for by all in the crowd as they watched him through the main event at round fourteen of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series. Following a tremendous practicing effort that him into the night show, the North Carolina native would have a difficult time fighting for an immediate transfer position inside the segment of heat one. He would be forced to work his way forward from twelfth, while quarreling with the likes of Josh Cartwright and other main event contenders as they passed the halfway point. It was quite the contrast of offensive and defensive tactics for McElrath, who wanted to storm through various outsides with his Suzuki 450cc machine pinned to the highest degree; all the while maintaining a cognizant understanding of what was going to take place if he allowed Kawasaki's Cartwright any opportunity (at all) to pass him. But McElrath's race craft ultimately prevailed after moving into the final transfer position, where he and the number 519 would pace one another for an entire lap prior to his machine soaring across the line with ninth-place in hand. For the main event though, all knowledge of the "dried" layout that h'ed garnered beforehand was now gone, with the track turning into a giant puddle with unrecognizable lines. However rather than become frustrated, McElrath took the track for what it was; and proceeded to shift through the transmission as hard as possible in order to put the majority of the pack behind him. Leaping through the opening rhythm lane by way of doubling with the utmost concentration, his pattern of staying out of the deepest holes and subsequent toughest lines would pay off as the first five laps had been completed. Moving quickly ahead from the likes of fourteenth, he would be in the tenth-place position as they cleared the first third of the moto, remaining here while steadily picking-off riders who had fallen in the coming laps. Moving past the likes of Benny Bloss and Kevin Moranz while keeping Dean Wilson at bay, McElrath was undoubtedly going to capture his best performance of the year if he could just stay upright...and that's exactly what Shane would do. Cemented here (in sixth) as this unique atmosphere in NYC came to a halt!