Doug Gust: Rise of the Machine - a Racer 450 Feature Article by Ryan Webb

Every other Sunday a Yellow Z400 calmly strolls up to the starting gate wearing a blue number plate with the a large white number 55 clearly visible. It is highly unlikely anyone doesn’t know who is tucked behind the M2R Helmet and Scott goggles but even if you don’t know about Doug or his history it’s easy to tell something sets him apart from the rest of the field. Doug hails from Salem, Wisconsin, a state formerly famous for a little band called Slipknot. Since 1994, when he’s not racing, Doug owns and operates Digger Doug’s Excavating service and practices on a home track that rivals many of the tracks on this year’s national circuit. That's only the beginning of the story.

Doug has been racing since the age of nineteen, at the current age of thirty seven; Doug has more experience under his belt than anyone else at the Pro level. Doug has won every race with the exception of Glen Helen were he placed second due to a bad first moto start. Not only is Doug currently leading the points battle and the moto win record this year, he’s also a heck of a nice guy. Lets see what Doug has to say.

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