Page 20 - Issue-46

DAVI MILLSAPS
450 SX / 4TH
IMAGE / LANG WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / WILSON
>> Supercross is relatively new to the Northeast; the sound of 450’s and the dialect of “no R’s” haven’t been paired together in quite sometime, but who’s to say the relationship can’t bloom to ridiculous heights. The bond must be apparent, because the series has been given the opportunity of holding in an event in Metlife for the past few years, and the fans are as enthusiastic as ever. Many fans seem to love the fact that Davi Millsaps
is in attendance and participating in the event this evening. Is it his notorious style that catches even the eye of the casual fan? The subtle flick and showing of the drain plug
he displays on every triple? Or the hospitality he presents when onlookers come to
the awning of the semi, all in hopes of getting an autograph or snapping a picture. He understands what fans gravitate towards, and it’s reciprocated with a large social media following and constant cheers from the seats. And even from the beginning of practice, this event seemed to follow suit; those in attendance nudging those around, and pointing onto the track, telling anyone who could hear to watch his timing through some of these absurd rhythm sections. If he could just replicate his efforts throughout the week into the culmination of a historic win, the crowd would break decibel records with their excitement. A fifth place gatepick had him sitting solid heading into the first corner, and his reaction time was culminated with a start inside the top 3. He would reside here for quite some- time, doing battle with the best in the business, creating a sea of orange, engulfing the upper echelon of the field with KTM plastic. His framework was excelling on the surface of this particular track, the balls of his feet always on the footpeg, toes slightly internally rotated, and knees gripping the frame with maximum pressure. He’s so good at the ba- sics of motorcycle riding, and it was paying off as the layers of the earth’s surface began to crumble. A once simplified Supercross track was now turning into that of a treacherous endure with the amount of ruts that were present. With a fall by Jason Anderson, and then an unfortunate pass by Marvin Musquin, Millsaps found a home in third position, trailing his two brand brothers, and looking to take notes from wherever he could. Seem- ing to have the podium in the bag, he couldn’t stop the number 21 from fighting around, and reluctantly would lose just one more position by the checkered flag. The number 18 would cross the stripe in fourth, satisfied, but knowing he has the speed to do better.
20 GRITMOTO • APRIL 30, 2017