Page 8 - ISSUE49

MARVIN MUSQUIN
450 MX / 1ST
IMAGE / CAVAZOS WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / WILSON
>> Throughout the Western seaboard we continue, trekking up and down the land- scape of the California terrain. Mountains overtop of valleys, sand whirling in the wind, with the sun beaming UV rays at a near maximum level, creating the scenario in which we have Glen Helen. One of the toughest tracks in the world, the riders look forward
to this round, due to the absurd amount of elevation changes. And Marvin Musquin was grinning from ear to ear upon arrival. After a stellar holeshot, his signature crafty style allowed him to avoid a huge pileup in moto number one, with riders such as Josh Grant and Cole Seely nipping at his heels. His inside-outside ratio was absurd, carving these hills as if they were a fresh batch of powder in Aspen. He was really feeling the California soil, although a long way from home, he looked comfortable as ever. With the mechanic displaying the sign of “settle” he seemed to be heavy assurance, that he could take this moto win, if he wouldn’t have unfortunate lapses of focus (and as we all know, a very unlikely scenario). The number 25 would do as many presumed, coming home with the victory, taking a highly touted race win over rival, Eli Tomac. Moto num- ber two saw Musquin being calculated, a stealth agent masked in an Orange-brigade battalion suit, willing to do whatever necessary to claim the win. And if that meant riding a tad bit conservative, in order to secure the highest overall point total? Then so be it. A sixth place start saw him trailing Justin Bogle early, but a quick move around both he and Justin Barcia, saw Christian Craig in the distance around lap five. And with a criti- cal mistake by the Honda rider, he would inherit the third place ride. A subtle look over his shoulder near lap nine, he knew if he could just cruise at this pace, the overall was his. Eyeing the checkered flag from laps out, his first win loomed him as a dangling carrot. However this time, it was his, he crossed the line in utter satisfaction, pumping to his mechanic, his entire team relishing in the fact that they may have found the 2017 outdoor champion.
8
GRITMOTO • MAY 28, 2017