Adam Cianciarulo cracked the top 10 at Washougal last weekend. Image: Simon Cudby.

Amateur phenom Adam Cianciarulo will take confidence from his best showing yet in the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, finishing 10th overall at Washougal last weekend.

The 16-year-old has this year made his much anticipated transition to the professional ranks with the famed Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team, but has struggled to gain momentum since missing the early parts of the season.

With his first top 10 result to his credit after going 6-16 on Saturday, Cianciarulo continues to refine his racing strategy in a bid to climb further up the order.

“I think it was definitely a step in the right direction,” he told Racer X Online. “Really only thing I could ask for right now, I basically just said, ‘screw it, I’m not going to pace myself on the day. I’m going to give it everything I have in the first moto and finally show some people at least a little bit of what I can do’.

“I actually started a little bit father back and was able to work my way up past some good guys so that was a nice change of pace instead of going backwards. At the end of that one I was hurting but I was good.

“Second moto, bad start. I think I came around on the sight lap and I was going up Horsepower Hill and I wheelied through the rollers and I’m like, I don’t think this one’s going to work out too well.

“I did the best I can. I basically just rode that thing on heart and willpower. Ended up 15th or 16th.”

Cianciarulo debut at Hangtown in May was delayed due to illness just days out from the season opener, not returning until round five of the series at Budds Creek.

With four rounds remaining in the 2013 season, Cianciarulo now sits 18th in the championship standings.