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ALEX MARTIN
250 SX / 5TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / ROEWER DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Alex Martin had a tough break at the season opener of the 2018 Monster Energy AMA Su- percross season, having a bad get off in the main event he fractured his right clavicle leaving him sidelined for the next three rounds of the season. Making a statement for his comeback, Alex Martin qualified for the night as the eighth fastest 250 rider. Lined up and ready to go for his first gate drop back since his injury, Alex Martin was looking calm and collected despite being hurt.The Troy Lee Designs/ Red Bull KTM rider got a good jump out of the gate in the second 250 heat race of the night putting him right in the front of the pack. Making moves early on in the race, Martin worked his way up to fourth very quickly. Looking as if he never got hurt the KTM rider rode a smart heat race and was heading into the main event healthy and fast. Now with his pre-race jitters out of the way Alex Martin looked as if he hadn’t been missing for the last three rounds. As the gate dropped for the main event he charged out of the gate, grabbing himself the holeshot in his first main event back. Hanging onto first place as best he could Christian Craig was quick to put the pressure on. Fighting him off several times, Craig eventually got the pass through the whoops sending Martin back into second.
It wasn’t until the halfway point until Aaron Plessinger caught up to him. Unable to keep his second place position, Martin fell back into third place. It was then a snowball effect of riders sneaking by him, until he was pushed back into fifth place. With it being his first race back this season, Alex Martin was smart to not push the envelope too hard. Finishing off round five of the season with a fifth place, it was a good welcome back to racing for the Troy Lee Designs/ Red Bull KTM rider.
38 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 4, 2018