AARON PLESSINGER

Though known as a specialist among ruts and mud, Ohio’s Aaron Plessinger could never be counted out...regardless of the terrain the KTM rider was competing on. This was evident as action began at “The Wick 338,” where Aaron powered his way to a notable standing of fourth, on the overall timing and scoring sheet. He was steadfast in the deepest sand, never allowing his chassis to slide too deep into the depths of the Northeastern landscape...which translated into the first moto, where his jump from the starting grate was commendable. And despite encountering a few mistakes on the first lap, Plessinger had managed to gather a standing of sixth as the green flag was thrown. His style was as smooth as one could imagine when flowing from berm to berm, and he appeared to be on a soaring trajectory when nearing the halfway point...he had managed to pass Phil Nicoletti (briefly) when cresting a subtle anthill, but his momentum was too much for the outside wall to take — therefore the Ohio native would subsequently go off-track, and a result, lose three positions! His goggles were now severely deterred — and after pulling into the mechanic’s area, he had faded to a position of seventeenth. His new sense of vision was a tool that undeniable enabled him to move forward, and he once again, presented top-tier speed while entering into lap traffic. He, Cullin Park, and Alvin Östlund were on a similar pathway en route to the finish line...but Plessinger was only able to work his way around the Floridian, while the Swedish competitor resided just ahead. Ultimately finalized in twelfth, Plessinger was eager to rebound in the latter portion of the afternoon program. The Ohio native was then established in fourth after only a few minutes of action in the second round, and “AP” seemed to do whatever was necessary in order to stay intact, with the first three riders on the leaderboard. He seemed comfortable in this realm of speed, and even with the most elite racers from around the world in front of him, Aaron’s presentation of momentum wasn’t far off. He was in a flow that was somewhat all on his own, but in the latter stages, he continued to work his way toward Hunter Lawrence. Fourth place seemed to be the definitive result, long before the checkered flag waved...and with composure, the former champion excelled —to create a fourth place performance for this moto, and sixth overall on the day.