Uncommon is it you hear a rider say such constructive issues a few bike. Justin Barcia is there, although, on his Troy Lee Designs/Crimson Bull/GasGas.
“The bike may be very forgiving, it’s simple to tune, and 4 or 5 races in the past we discovered setting,” Justin Barcia advised our Steve Matthes after recording third place in Seattle. “I can throw it round. It’s flickable, you already know? This bike is nice, I’m having fun with it. I’m glad, for positive. A greater begin would put me in a greater place, however total, my pace is actually good, bike is actually good, and yeah that’s combo.”
Barcia has three podiums this season and has finds himself simply 4 factors out of fourth within the standings (quietly, Ken Roczen, Jason Anderson and Barcia are having a heck of a duel for fourth in factors). Barcia normally nabs just a few podiums and a strong end within the standings, although. What’s getting consideration this yr is how he’s doing it. The outdated Barcia was an amazing starter after which fought like hell to maintain his place. This yr, he’s the one making the passes. He’s even saved them clear! Most of his rides have been of the come-from-behind selection, however he’s not even over considering his begins. As an alternative of re-inventing the wheel on these, he’ll simply preserve executing what he is aware of, and ultimately begin will come. If he does, a win is within the playing cards.
Barcia began this yr on the finish of a two-year take care of GasGas, and he has not been shy about saying it’s his contract yr. All through the season, he talked about just a few instances that he didn’t have something in place but for ’23. However as he’s gelling with the bike and displaying pace on the monitor—this is likely to be the quickest we’ve ever seen the 51—it might seem to be a return is turning into inevitable.
“It’s wanting good,” he stated final night time on the PulpMX Present. “That’s the plan and we’ll simply work on getting it sorted out.”
