Page 30 - Issue 79

GARRETT MARCHBANKS
250 MX / 9TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Being a rookie on this tour is tough, as there are numerous guys in this class who have been well groomed and truly mainstays in the program. Garrett Marchbanks was supposed to be at Loretta Lynn’s this year, tearing up the A class and putting his name in the hat for the AMA Horizon award. However plans deterred and he was moved up
in the pecking order, as Mitch Payton’s orders overtake all. But man has he shown some promise thus far in the series, and Thunder Valley was no different. Practice went exceptionally well, as he was in the midst of all contenders through the duration of laps. No shortage of stamina or outright speed, had him nodding his head with reassurance, once the nal ag had own. After a quick bike prep session and refueling of nutrition, he was off to the gate to begin moto number one. A tenth place start would have him in the midst of some of the best riders in the world, and he was showing everyone across the globe what he was truly capable of. Nestled between Chase Sexton and Plessinger for the longest time, he would actually make the move around the number twenty-three around lap seven. A spectacular feat nonetheless, but it was just a tad too short lived; as the Yamaha’s veteran like antics would have him catapulting by in the fading moments. The track would really begin to roughen up, but the mere teenager would show nothing but absolute grown man strength. Marchbanks, although sporting a three-digit number, would nd himself well in the top ten by the conclusion of the moto, placing eighth. Moto number two had him with a little less than stellar start, placing in thirteenth on the rst
go around; inching his way up little by little, he and fellow young’n Michael Mosiman seemed to link up with each other, bring back memories of the amateur national circuit. Launching up the Lucas oil triple just before the nish line, he would eye the number sixty-four whole-heartedly; yearning for that spot until the absolute last lap, the Kawsaki would be screaming to the hilt. The header, turning all sorts of colors, would nally get a breath of cool breeze once crossing the checkered ag, resulting in an eleventh place and ninth overall in the record books. Chipping away at the top ve, it’s only a matter of time before we see Marchbanks at the front of the pack for good.
30 GRITMOTO • JUNE 3, 2018