Page 40 - ISSUE-81

MARVIN MUSQUIN
450 MX / 3RD
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Coming from the GP series, there are many variables that can toy with a mentality of a competitor on the professional tour. Culture changes, weather variables, and in the life of a racer, the tracks are on opposite ends of the spectrum as well. Marvin Musquin for example, is used to riding the pure soil of his native France. Track prep is often times a little less than stellar, and the amount of true rutted, combed out courses he encountered as an amateur were few and far between. However, as he’s come to America, he’s adopted this new style of racing and continued to succeed; and he would continue this manner at Muddy Creek. As the eld screamed throughout the rst corner and down into the initial valley, Marvin began to be engulfed by some of the top 450cc riders on the planet. Passing the start, they quickly ducked into the following left-hander; Musquin would tip over, leaving him in almost dead last, behind the entire eld. It was here that he began to dig, with his creative juices owing, he absolutely ripped corners to shreds. Dragging footpegs with his elbows sky high, the technique was as awless as ever. Working his way into the top ten around the halfway point, riders like Benny Bloss would be a foregone afterthought, while he focused on Eli Tomac, the leader, across the track. Putting his nose to the grindstone, he would nd himself creeping up on Phil Nicoletti
in the latter stages. Pressuring with his machine of orange rage, Nicoletti would subsequently crumble, falling to the ground, and giving Marvin sixth. Making his way into fth by the check- ered ag, he would be eager to get another shot at a win, come time for the second moto. Both Ken Roczen and Justin Barcia would be out front to begin moto number two, with Musquin as- serting himself into the equation early. Third would be an afterthought in the early stages, with Roczen being forced back. He would then eye Justin Barcia, deciding to make his move on the start straight, and rst turn area. He would hold the 450 on for an impressive amount of time, waiting to veer in on the Yamaha at the last possible second. He would cut the apex, squaring off the loamy berm, and head out into the lead, pushing the Yamaha back to second. It would then be a matter of slick calculation, and textbook movement patterns, where he would hit every particular mark with style and grace. Leaving no stone unturned, he would put a stamp on the record books with continuous surging laptimes. And as his mechanic yelled from the paddock, he nodded his head in agreement on the nal lap. He’d done it, taking the moto win, and tallying up an overall score of third overall on the day.
40 GRITMOTO • JUNE 24, 2018