Page 20 - Issue_sixtyfive

BROC TICKLE
450 SX / 5TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> As a true racer, and student of the game, you must be able to push all adversity
to the side, when lining up for a race at any level. The ante continues to rise, as the chips begin to stack, and wagers begin to increase. Once reaching the pinnacle of the sport, that of Monster Energy Supercross, the margin of error is so little, that a grim expression, and poker-face attitude must be kept at all times. Whether that be through injury or bike trouble. A twisted knee during qualifying? Broken finger during a practice crash? You better shove it to the wayside, letting none of the opposition find out, and sticking to the script as you would load the gate for the races to come. Broc Tickle has a pain tolerance that’s out of this world, and although a few hiccups in practice would have much of the opposition sniffing a hint of weakness, his aggression would quickly overshadow any doubt, and to the front he would go again. He rallied, as the final bell sounded for the conclusion of practice, his morale would boost, knowing that he was on a wave of momentum. With the heat race now within the present, it was time to shove all hesitation out the door. You could see him running it in on riders in the top half of the field, almost aiming for the subframe of the competitors 450; and then, in
a split second, his right food would drag the rear brake, and he would squirm out of harms way, never letting go of the throttle. With every lap that passed, his time would begin to increase, he wouldn’t ever settle for a final resting point until the bitter end; his effort would result in a seventh, looking forward to the main event. As the field would begin to sort themselves out for the fight under the lights, he was searching high and low for a place to pass along this slick, San Diego raceway. Blitzing the outside of the whoops, he would then rail the berm following, tripling into the sand, and looking to cross the start straight. He had Justin Brayton breathing down his neck, even yelling into his ear as he would decelerate into the corners. With the engine braking jarring the chassis, he would skip across these miniscule potholes and breaking bumps. The flat- track technique was in full effect, as he would ride the bike a gear tall, lugging the 450 into the ground. As the white flag came out, he knew if he could just hold on, and keep the roar behind him, he would be just fine. He would do so, as he would cross finish line timing and scoring, registering fifth.
20 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 11, 2018