Page 10 - Issue_sixtyfive

MARVIN MUSQUIN
450 SX / 2ND
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Glancing into the daily regimen of any top-tier athlete, you will find that their process of suc- cess is that of repetition. Not too often are they adding variables into their plan, looking for a magical recipe so to speak, in order for them to bathe in championship stardom. They relish, and look forward to reiterating what had got them there; they constantly practice the basics, knowing that a combination of both true hard work and dedication is what will generate championships,
in the forthcoming months and years. Marvin Musquin is no stranger to the daily grind, so to speak. Stamping his time card, year after year, his lust for that highly coveted gold, championship medallion, gets him out of bed every morning. The flame of his exhaust, sparked by the fire within, provides no shortage of yearning to become king. This deeply rooted mentality, carries each him to each specific round of this series; bringing us to present day San Diego. The echo of his silencer, ricocheting off the walls of the stadium, provided a cue to where he was at, all throughout practice. Running the tread off of his brand new tires, his knobbies were being chewed up and spit out with every passing. He and his mechanic were on the same page, the pitboard being dangled from behind the paddock, whisked away just prior to his passing. Knocking the smile off of all oppos- ing team manager’s expressions, everyone in attendance knew that come main event time, he would be more than a handful. Digging into mother earth following the gate drop of his heat race, his stoic expression remained under the bell of his helmet. Arcing the left, just prior to the dragon’s back, he kept this plus two-hundred pound beast, just beneath the arches of his feet, gripping
the shrouds of his tank for dear life. Jousting with Ken Roczen, his pace was unmatched by the majority of the field, with just a few competitors within the grasp. With this sprint of a moto gone
in the blink of an eye, his heart rate would hardly ascend by the time the checkered flag flew; he would place sixth. As the officials dropped the gate for the main event, he looked as though he was a raging bull, attacking the finish line flag as the matador would wave with each go around. Stepping-on, and off the plateau just before the first triple, he would glance at those just around, noticing numerous past champions and contenders at his bay. As the laps would tick on, his resilience wouldn’t fade. Back and forth with the likes of Cole Seely, the lead would seemingly be right there; yet so far away. Even his sleek line through the two-optioned turn, wouldn’t be enough to reel the lead in, as the white flag would come out. Anderson was seemingly out of reach; yet, with the final section of timing and scoring, it registered him in second. A solid performance, all the while maintaining his position amongst the best in the field.
10 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 11, 2018