Page 32 - ISSUE_77

GARRETT MARCHBANKS
250 MX / 10TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> The fteen-minute moto’s of Supercross have been pushed to the wayside, and replaced with grotesque thirty minute, plus two lap affairs in the most treacherous of elements. The outdoors provide a place for true gladiators, to show off their strength and stamina, as variables of heat and humidity couple with extended duration, to make a brew from hell. Hangtown was no different, and although not the hottest of races, the sun would bake the track into a premium hybrid of torture and fatigue; and Garrett March- banks loved every second of it, as this raceway was much similar to that of amateur competition than the Monster Cup. Glowing with an idea of warrior-like spirit in practice, as the track grew rougher and developed lines, his lap times would begin to ascend. Up the leaderboard he went, and as it would conclude, his morale would shoot sky high. Lin- ing up for the rst moto, his con dence was hotter than the transmission oil that churned deep within the powerful engine, oozing and ready to blister at any moment. Hot off the press, he would re off past competitors one by one, moving ahead of Alex Martin and Shane McElrath in the early going. Never one to follow, his line selection down the back straight away, before the ever so-steep step-up, saw him cutting from one side of the track to the other; landing with the left foot out, and down the drop off. It was here that the fans began to rally, as they knew how hard he was ghting to stay within the top
ten, yet this pressure, plus his early mistake, had him on the outside looking in. It was
no easy task to stay with these veteran’s, but by the end of the moto, his resting posi- tion would be twelfth. The footpegs would drag, and the number plate would be covered by the time he hit the nish line to conclude lap number one, for moto two of the 250’s. Always looking forward, in the distance he could see the shirttail of Chase Sexton, know- ing that he must get by if he wanted to stay inside the top ten for an overall spot. The two battled, and a move would almost be made; yet the door would be shut; however, his con dence would still carry on. And the law of visualization would work, as every lap, rather through the ravine, or through the start chicane, his throttle would be as twisted as far as it could go. He came, he saw, and he conquered, moving into the sixth place ride. Reading the pitboard on the white ag, he guaranteed himself that this would be his for the taking; and rightfully so, as he rounded the nal right-hander in sixth, averaging for tenth place overall.
32 GRITMOTO • MAY 21, 2018