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COLE MARTINEZ
250 SX / 9TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / ROEWER DESIGN / WILSON
>> Sitting 9th in points Cole Martinez was ready to get back to racing for round 7 of the 250 west coast class. He has been a consistent face all season within the main events, but has had a difficult time breaking down the barriers into the top 5. For the heat race Martinez got a nice jump out of the gate he was running right around 8th place. Right inside qualifying position the Yamaha rider made a last minute pass on Chase Marquier, moving him into 7th place for a better gate pick and a sure spot into the main. Showing the #53 had been doing his homework during the break and was ready for the big show. Starting the race Cole Martinez was sit- ting in 8th right inside the top ten. Looking to move ahead and not back he was focused on not falling victim to the many ruts spread throughout the track. He maintained his position for several laps until right around lap 6 he got passed by the #64 Hayden Mellross and fell back to 9th.
The race was nearing its finish and Martinez was charging hard to stay in that comfortable 9th place position. The track conditions were brutal for the first-round back for the 250 riders. Trying to get back in the swing of things Martinez held it down in 9th place making it all the way to the finish within the top ten. Getting another good finish on the belt, he still has a few more rounds to break into that ever elusive top five.
74 GRITMOTO • APRIL 9, 2017