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MARVIN MUSQUIN
450 SX / 1ST
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> The bright lights, and looming darkness of the previous rounds have come and gone. They’re merely an afterthought, with the stars of the night skies being wiped away, for this particular round on the tour. This particular round, that of Massachusetts and Gillette Stadium, are an outlier on
the tour. They let the open skies, and beaming rays of the sun, shine bright on the stadium oor, providing a spotlight for the world’s top athletes to perform. Marvin Musquin has awoken this morn- ing, with a newfound attitude for this stop on the tour. His perspective in practice was obvious to the crowd that had already lled the stadium seating; he wanted no part of being a mere after- thought, or a “ ller” in the points standings. He strove for gold, putting his full effort into each lap, leaving no stone unturned. Blasting through the sand section, his back tire was reaping an effect
of desert storm, blinding opponents with the forceful spraying of tread; and just like that, at the conclusion, he set with an optimal time, pleased with his efforts. He went back to the semi, discuss- ing all types of line choices and race tactics, preparing for his assault on the races to come. The heat race would then commence, a sounding of the drum, replicated by smashing metal launch pads; dashing into the rst turn, it was all he could do to contain this beast of a machine. After the rst lap would conclude, he would sit second. Throwing down constant heat, both he and engine were in constant unison of sparking ame. Anderson’s style, as Ricky Carmichael predicted in the pre-race show, seemed to ourish on this relatively slick topsoil. Musquin would continue to hunt, chipping away at the lead. It was almost enough, as the number twenty- ve would close in the
nal moments, but in the end, he would reside second. The main event was shortly thereafter, with shadow’s forming around the stadium walls; yet the spotlight stayed on the number twenty- ve,
as he got out to an early lead. Toying with his classic, hopping, light on the peg style, each rhythm lane seemed to be of smooth consequence. Tomac, would be knocking at his back door the entire moto. Strong and steady, the orange brigade member stood strong under the surging, dif cult test of the number three. He would hold him off, until just a few minutes would be left on the clock. Here, Tomac would close in, making an effort to pass in the whoop section. Blitzing up the inside, he would slam the door on Musquin, taking the lead! Marvin, as always, would stay composed, ready and willing for another immediate strike in the forthcoming sections. He would wait, preparing to pounce in the left-hander, immediately after the opening rhythm lane. A mere thirty seconds after he’d been passed, he leaped to the inside of the section, only to meet Tomac. The number three, had cut down a bit, and simply had nowhere to go. The two would collide, with Tomac being the un- fortunate recipient, who was left stuck on the ground. Musquin would remain upright, and realized he now had a bit of breathing room. He’d done enough at this point, and would cross the checkered ag, the victory for his taking.
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GRITMOTO • APRIL 22, 2018