Racer X Outstanding Performance: Josh Grant
Monday, April 16, 2012 | 12:30 PM
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It’s not like Josh Grant hasn’t been down before, it’s just that he’s always bounced back up, too.
While never quite consistent enough to knock down a championship, JG has always been known as the guy who, anytime, anyplace, or anywhere, can find the mojo to run with and beat anyone. We’ve seen the flashes before, and we’ve seen them, often, when he was bouncing back from a tough race, or a crash and injury. But this time, it looked like he might have finally gone through too much.
He missed the entire 2010 SX season with a shoulder injury, then his 2010 outdoor tour was cut short with another injury. He missed nearly all of 2011 with a pair of torn ACLs, then his comeback this year was cut short with a broken shoulder blade. He finally returned a few weeks ago, but he wasn’t riding anywhere near his old form.
Grant, once again, showed flashes of excellence in New Orleans.
Carl Stone photo
Finally, in New Orleans, we saw another flash. Grant got a good start—second—and found some of the old mojo again, pulling away from the riders behind him and holding strong for 20 laps. He finished second on his DNA Energy/Jeff Ward Racing Kawasaki, with only Monster Energy SX Champion Ryan Villopoto in front of him. With JG, you never know when he’ll find the magic, but at least we now know it’s still there.
And for that, his first supercross podium since 2009, we reward him with this week’s Racer X Outstanding Performance Award. Congrats, Josh. Let’s hope the next one doesn’t take as long to get!
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Awesome ride for JG#33, good to see you back on the box!! Looking forward to the outdoors and you back in full swing!
Got to hand it to him...Josh got the start he needed and rode solid thru the whole race..when he is on he can run with almost anyone...lets hope Grant can stay healthy and show us some of that magic in the upcoming great outdoors!!!
I agree, Congrats JG.... I have to admit though, I didnt think he would ever see a podium again.
Congrats to Grant, but to be honest it wasn´t really a great ride.
He got second because Metcalfe, Brayton, Weimer and Millsaps had a bad night. Hell Alessi could´ve been third.
Great ride, definitely a improvement from a few weeks ago when it looked like he was not trying at all! I too thought we would never see another podium from him, way to prove of wrong JG33!
"mike ...have you seen my voo doo doll?' signed Tony......second behind RV is kinda like winnin' and its not his fault whos NOT there or had a bad night...there are no * or almost's or wouldashoulacoulda's in MX or SX except for those used by 5 and 22 guys. Glad to see him finish more than 2 races a season and I hope his results just gets better.....
@handlebardragger - dude your name should be knuckledragger because you have all the intellect of a primate - your posts are consistenly ignorant...especially the one the other day about the Dunlop tire guy. Anyone wil tell you you change a tire sprocket side down turd...- i really do not like to banter back and forth via the net but dude c'mon - you are a tool.
With that said well done JG - you have to be in it to win it - or finish second. It doesn't matter who is in the race or not...first turn crash or not.
Awesome ride for JG33. Was afraid he had lost his will to race. Glad to see him on the box again, hopefully he can keep it together for the outdoors!
Nice work Mr. Grant and hats (helmets?) off to your team owner for sticking with you. You'll have your work cut out for you during the outdoor but given that's more your element anyway, all the best.
That was a sweet ride JG! Alot of critics will utter "but other guys are out" . BS!!!!! In it to win it, Grip it and rip it! That was super sweet!!! Keep up the good riding. Just stay healthy til the out doors and keep on making idiots eat their words!
before that second place finish JG33 only races 8 SX main events (and probably less MX outdoor) in three years of injuries (2010, 2011, 2012),
so, just one word, AMAZING
Congrats to Jeff Ward Racing as well!!! Glad to see Josh on the podium again!!!
Would love to see Chisholm on the box too. Keep up the good work guys.
agree with tonewall. 2nd to poto is like winning. I bet JG cant wait till thunder valley...
OK- I will admit as well that I thought Grant would never get closer to a podium thant riding his bike back to this pits after an uninspired 11th. Watching the race he looked smooth and relaxed and was a great race for him as he beat guys like Brayton, Milsaps, Weimer and Metcalf who should be battling for second on a regualr basis..... but are not! Weimer is a total whinner as well