TALON HAWKINS - GRIT 250 250SX

GRIT-250 | 250 SX

June 3rd, 2024 6:30 pm

The altitude of Denver was evident as machines and athletes alike prepared for battle on Saturday. And Talon Hawkins seemed ready to carry even more velocity than normal (which was baffling to think about), when rolling through corners and rhythm lanes alike at this particular stadium. The angles of numerous ramps were rather steep, some calling the transitions and slopes rather abrupt...but his ever-adapting riding style found a way to propel him into the highest tier of the 250cc hierarchy. Hawkins was engaged as the eventual thirty-second board went sideways for the first heat race of the evening...spinning around the racing surface with as much throttle control as his KTM engine allowed. Scrubbing the steep single before the finish-line to the best of his ability, he would limit the "pop" off the mound via compression of both fork and shock - emphasizing the smallest of details, which led to amplified margins over Max Miller being created. The minutes continued to pass, and the top soil that once appeared manicured and watered was now beginning to break away...causing a few slick portions of soil around the mechanic's area. Nevertheless, he wouldn't glance "too" far in the direction of his crew chief as he blitzed by the barrier...hanging onto fourth place, after only being passed by Levi Kitchen! With Jordon Smith going down as well, Hawkins was close enough to the factory rider to inherit a position on behalf of the mistake by the North Carolina native...resulting in an undoubted highlight of his career being earned, via third, at the checkered flag! With championship contenders, Levi Kitchen and RJ Hampshire being the focal point of many in the crowd, his infiltration of the sixth-place position couldn't be ignored as the first five minutes of action transpired. Leaping onto the step-on/plateau on the far side of the race track, it was apparent that the top of the obstacle was beginning to decay with divots from athletes rear wheels as they spun forward with a stabbing of the clutch. He somehow managed to clear the accompanying single though, rather fluidly, while monitoring the blue fender of Phil Nicoletti who was pursuing him and could be seen from his peripheral view. The three-quarter mark of the moto became more of a tangible marker as time progressed, and though Nicoletti had worked his way around (along with Cole Thompson and Robbie Wageman) Hawkins was going to try and make one last charge as they entered the realm of the checkered flag. His efforts to cling onto the array of Yamaha's that were ahead resulted in a position ahead of a KTM opponent (i.e. Julien Beaumer) being sustained at the checkered flag...where he was granted ninth overall, in the final standings.

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