Page 78 - MPG26

GABRIEL MAHONEY
Yet another top-level rider hailing from the moto-dreamland of California, Gabriel Mahoney is a force to be reckoned with. Being in one of the youngest groups to race competitively, Sir Mahoney is at the beginning of his racing career but his track record is still nothing to scoff at. Seriously, with numerous recorded wins and a boatload of top ten results, Gabriel has clearly established himself amongst the 50cc rankings. Now, just starting to mix it up in the 65cc class, Gabriel is heading into the summer of 2016, and Mammoth this week, in both classes to bridge the gap between today and tomorrow.
Having qualified in the 50cc Open and 65cc 7-9 divisions, Gabriel started day one early and on fire. In the first moto of the Open class, Mahoney jumped out to a quick 2nd place start behind Kade Johnson, where the two rode strong out front, gapping the field and putting themselves up on the board as the ones to beat. In moto two, the tides seem to switch with Gabriel getting the holeshot and leading
out front early, yet Kade, in setting the fastest time of the race, pushed by Gabriel on lap two and never looked back. Still in a league of their own, the two once again separated themselves from the rest of the field, Mahoney grabbing his second 2nd place finish of the first day. Looking to the 65cc class, on a bike he’s had less time, in a division he has less experience, Mahoney came out with a vengeance grabbing a top ten start in 8th. On lap two, Dylan Drake put a move on Gabriel, getting by and pushing Mahoney to 9th, where he would race the remaining four laps and secure a top ten finish in the illustrious confines of the Mammoth. Moto two didn’t start out quite as effortlessly, getting off the gate with hesitation and crossing lap one outside of the top twenty, Mahoney didn’t shy away from the potential defeat. Instead, with his right wrist tweaked and eyes point forward, Gabriel put on a charge to 18th by lap two, 14th on lap three, 13th on lap four and finally to 12th by the finish line, an advancement of eleven spots in five laps; that’s what we call “pinning it to win it”.
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78 MPG • JUNE 2016