CHRISTIAN CRAIG

The Californian was acclimated to the hard-packed conditions of Washougal...and it was evident as he swept through the flattened corners of practice with precision. Christian Craig was an ace, in regard to lugging the Husqvarna chassis around with optimal speed, and maintained that output of velocity as the opening race of the afternoon began. The roost in the state of Washington was brutal, but Craig had managed to combat the projectile-like clods to earn a standing of eighth, as the first-third of the moto had concluded. He was hounding the rear wheel of Yamaha’s Phil Nicoletti, hoping to overtake the seventh-place position...and after a mistake from the veteran (i.e. Nicoletti) would be sustained, Craig advanced to seventh. His sights were set on Dylan Ferrandis, who was lanes ahead...but the distance was far from a deterrent, in regard to Craig’s ambition on the motorcycle. He continuously chipped away, never losing sight of the checkered flag as the thirty-minute mark was eventually surpassed. And as all eventually came to an end, it was Craig who claimed seventh as he exited the raceway. He began the second moto in ninth, but was seventh on lap two after passing Grant Harlan and Justin Cooper. Craig then attempted to replicate the line choices of Dylan Ferrandis, but the Honda rider was riding rather superb among the slick terrain. And that scenario led to the halfway point, where Christian would have to defend the seventh-place position from both Freddie Noren and Justin Cooper...but the Yamaha rider would work his way by, with notable speed. Now eighth, he would eventually lose positions to Freddie Noren, Marshal Weltin, Harri Kullas, and Derek Kelley...yet the effort of the veteran was worthy of applause as he eventually sped toward the checked flag. Continuing to display remarkable timing among the whoops, corners, and elevation changes, Craig knew that the twelfth-place position (with Phil Nicoletti behind him) must be acquired if he hoped to reside within the top-ten of overall standings. Even with the heat, and adverse conditions that were presented, Craig would do just that — earning an eventual standing of twelfth as he rolled across the finish line jump. Which, when combined with his first moto tally (i.e. seventh) was strong enough to secure ninth overall, and commendable momentum prior to beginning the break in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship.