up the pressure and dragging
Draper into the fight. The stale-
mate didn't last long. Before
the lap was out, Draper struck
decisively, slicing past both rid-
ers to seize second. From there,
he went on the attack, pouring
everything into a desperate
charge as he reeled in Ashburn
at the front.
It was go time for Draper on lap
four of the seven-lap race, as the
Kiwi drew alongside Ashburn on
several occasions, eventually tak
-
ing the lead at the exit of the pits
as both riders stopped for fuel.
Phoenix Honda Racing's Mike
Witkowski entered the conversa
-
tion at the midway point of the
race, moving just behind Kelley
to take over fifth, with FMF/KTM
Factory Racing's Jason Tino
now leading the XC2 class after
Walker took a spill.
On lap six, AmPro Yamaha's
Kailub Russell passed Kelley
to move into fifth overall, with
Witkowski now in fourth.
Draper looked poised to
secure his first ever overall vic
-
tory, stretching his advantage as
he and Ashburn completed the
penultimate lap. But the drama
was far from over. In the closing
miles of the final lap, Ashburn
clawed his way back to within
striking distance, closing to just
a few bike lengths before mak
-
ing a decisive pass heading into
the final stretch to take the win.
The race ultimately hinged on
a bold pre-race decision. Draper
gambled on a trials tire, banking
on its traction in the rocky condi-
tions, while Ashburn opted for
an FIM tire with more traditional
(albeit shorter) knobs. For six of
the seven laps, Draper's choice
proved brilliant. By the time he
crossed the finish line, however,
his rear tire was completely
worn smooth, making it clear
how Ashburn was able to reel
him in so decisively at the end.
"I tested the tire all week, and
it didn't wear too much—it felt
really good," Draper explained.
"I thought it would last, but I'm
hard on tires. It worked when
it worked, and I don't regret it.
Everything was flowing, and I
could stretch it out a little, then
Jordan would bring it back in. He
WIND
IN THE
P40
Liam Draper took
the runner-up
spot at Mine Made
Adventure Park.
