Image: Octopi Media

Christian Craig’s heat race crash and subsequent hand injury turned his Saturday in Orlando into a night of salvaging championship points, his third-place finish in the main event feeling like a win in the end.

Following a win at Indianapolis 3, Craig came into Orlando with momentum and confidence. The Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha rider sitting just three points back from his teammate in the 2021 250SX East championship standings.

Craig got off to a great start to the day knowing he had to grab a good result to stay in contention before a 10-week break as the 250SX West class gets underway.

“The weekend started off great. I qualified first,” Craig recalled. “I loved this track, everything about it. The dirt was hard-packed, just like the test track, so I was feeling so good.”

Those good feelings continued in the heat race with Craig grabbing the lead early on and looking competitive. Things went sideways quickly thereafter as he’d crash and hit the ground hard.

“Some sort of little case turned into a big fall. I’m sure everyone has seen it on TV. I banged up my hand pretty good. I wasn’t sure I was even going to race, but we had it taped up by Dr. G. and had to grit it out. I knew I had to do what I could to get through tonight. We have 10 weeks after this, so I can heal up then.”

Taped up and ready for battle, Craig made his way to the starting line and put on a gutsy performance that landed him on the podium.

“I was able to get out to a good start from way on the outside in the Main. I got into third quick and stayed with Colt for a lot of the race. Then I had some sketchy moments, so I backed it off and finished third.”

“I only lost two points to Colt. After the Heat race, if you would have told me I’d get third, I would have been jumping up and down. It was a win in my books after that crash. We’ve got a long break, so we’re going to heal up and get ready for Salt Lake.”