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TOSHIKI TOMITA
450 MX / 10TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Coming into Unadilla, Toshiki Tomita was hoping for a performance that embodied the work he’d been putting in throughout the week. With consecutive days to ponder
his previous performances, as the series has been on a bit of hiatus, he’s had a chance to go back and reassess what the year of 2018 has brought him so far. He looked at Unadilla as a new platform, and spotlight for a performance to solidify this portion of the season. Scoping everything out in practice, he surveyed these gigantic ravines that were already beginning to form from the commencement of the session. Black, moist, cake- like soil was beginning to be plastered all over his front number plate and fender, with dirt seeping through the slimmest of cracks on the muzzle of his mouthpiece. Every lap, he tried to improve, nally being able to piece this riddle of raceway together, looking to etch his name into solidi cation throughout the leaderboard. The nal ag would y, and he would then head back to the trailer to get ready for moto number one. Shortly after, the gate was boarded; his bags were packed, all systems were a-go for the machine siting beneath him. He rocketed off the line, the eld darting into the rst turn. Dropping down throughout these series of valleys, he launched near a position of twelfth, eyeing the leaders who sat ahead. Trying his best to replicate his rst laps of practice, the track was becoming so grotesque, that he had to make a conscious note of staying smooth; every foot that was dabbled, would not only result in a loss of time, but possible serious injury as well. Climbing up the steep uphill turn near the end of the track, his peripheral vision had Jeremy Hand on the binders, descending down the hill behind him. But he fo- cused forward, letting his 450 eat as rear tire sprayed violently. The two-lap board would come about, and he would hover near the tenth position. It was his, and the recouping process for moto number two would begin immediately. Both bike and body would be hydrated and refueled, as he would walk to the line for the second moto. Surveying far and wide, he settled into his slot, and looked to blister the eld in the early going. Rocks were being pelted, his knuckles beginning to be cut and splintered open; he would ght, well into the later rounds of this caged brawl, looking to leave it all on the line. Jousting with Benny Bloss, the two would nearly touch before the y away table-top, where a glance over his left shoulder signi ed a slight sign of edge to the opponent. It was all he needed, as upon landing, he would shift up and charge towards the checkered. Finishing ninth, tenth overall would be his claim to fame for the weekend.
56 GRITMOTO • AUGUST 12, 2018