Page 31 - MPG_AUGUST_2017

KILPATRICK
GARRETT MARCHBANKS
Garrett Marchbanks racked up a multi- tude of titles throughout the course of the spring nationals, proving himself to be at the top of the food chain in the B class this year. The Utah Native earned the 250 B championship at the eighth annual Daytona RCSX in addition to a second place overall in the 450 B class before heading to the JS7 Freestone Spring Championship to grab another number one plate. The ball didn’t stop rolling there as the Team Green Kawasaki rider stepped up to another level for the Cal Classic and Mammoth Mountain Motocross, dominating the Golden State with seven number one plates to his name. Marchbanks punched his tickets to the Ranch this year with a flawless weekend
in the B class at the Ironman Amateur Re- gional, rightfully generating loads of hype around himself heading into the Ranch af- ter an uncharacteristically subpar showing in 2016. Marchbanks had no problem win- ning motos last year, but luck didn’t seem to be on his side from Tuesday through Saturday. The rider out of Utah is one of the most successful in Loretta Lynn’s history, earning six number one plates between 2011 and 2015 in one of the most dominant streaks that the Ranch has ever seen. After spending an entire year on
the 250, he’s won nearly every moto that he’s lined up to race; it’d be foolish to bet against him for a title in 2017.
NATE THRASHER
Nate Thrasher put in some of the best results of his career at Loretta Lynn’s in 2016 under the Rides Unlimited KTM tent, matching his best ever finish with a fourth place overall in the Mini Sr. 1 class. The successful results that he earned at the Ranch spurred him on towards Mini-O’s with an abundance of confidence and exceeded expectations by snagging five number one plates and the Pro Circuit Platinum Pipe Award. The Tennessee na- tive’s impressive results towards the end of the 2016 season attracted the attention of Team Green Kawasaki, bringing him under the tent for the 2017 season. Unfortunately, his debut season riding for the amateur motocross giant has been clouded by nag- ging injuries, causing him to miss some of the major spring nationals. Nonetheless, Thrasher showed his speed at Millcreek with a trio of number one plates to show
for his efforts and he put his Kawasaki
in the top five in all three classes that he contested. His history of podium finishes throughout the recent major events that he’s raced make him a shoo-in to stand on the podium for the first time at the Ranch.
KILPATRICK
WWW.MOTOPLAYGROUND.COM
31