Page 58 - issue05mpg-Final

JOSHUA VARIZE
SUPERMINI 1 (12-15)
IMAGE / PARADISE WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / WILSON
>> The transition from the 85cc motorcycle, to a full-time, all out 125 or in
this day and age, 250f machine, can be a rather tough task to overcome. No longer can the rider dominate the smaller machine, standing flatfooted of the start gate, and whipping the bike around like an action figure. Sometimes the change is too tough initially, and there must be some sort of middle ground for the young man to compete on. And this is where the Supermini division comes in, where some of the race’s toughest competitors reside, and the best action of an event can be thrown down. That’s exactly what California’s Joshua Varize provided for the fans of the Guthrie, Oklahoma event this past weekend. His momentum for the class didn’t start off as planned, as he found himself buried extremely deep in the beginning of heat number two, registering in the 12th position to start the moto. But he plugged away, running low 35’s within a traffic jam of competitors, he was switching lanes and coming close to cross-rutting, all the while leaping, doubling and tripling throughout the parallel sections of moguls. His crew screaming from the sidelines, the young man was wearing his heart on his sleeve, charging with every ounce of being he had. It would pay off, as he would work his way up to seventh by race end. With a less than optimal gate position for the main event, somehow ripped a start, straight out of the textbook assigned to “Motocross 101.” Absolutely perfect technique
had him closing off the rest of the field, as he launched the far step-up, kiss- ing the front end, and coming around to take the opening flag. From there he could hear the number 10 of Jeremy Ryan, and deep into the back of his head, wondering where the number 79 of Jett Reynolds was. The thought would be quickly shunned, as he continued to throw down heater after heater. Wheel tapping his way through the rollers one last time, his KTM dancing every which way, he kept the throttle pinned, only to be rewarded with a well earned title as he crested the final line. Well done Josh!