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Points paying positions were the baseline of his goal setting memo coming into this round, and in the opening moments, Martinez was holding his end of the deal by the fringes, sitting just inside the top
twenty throughout the early portions of the moto. As each lap passed, the ruts began to transform on each respective portion of the racing surface, with the faces of the jumps appearing as though a comb had been drug up each particular takeoff. Cole weathered the chop, bouncing off each grotesque bump and shin deep divot, frantically searching for any possible way to save both time and energy. Battling the likes of former amateur hotshoe’s, such as Zack Williams and Tony Archer, he would even- tually bring home a 20th place effort, providing motivation for a stronger performance in moto two. A better start can yield dividends for any rider on the circuit, especially when the battle is intensely close, and you have to have something to separate yourself. Knowing a well-timed gatedrop could make his life much easier, Martinez executed his forecast to perfection, and came out of the whole strong, digging the rear tread into the Minnesota soil, floating the front wheel just above the surface along the start stretch, divebombing into turn one. Rounding the first lap in 17th, he began to anchor himself into each specific turn, and force any competi- tor into a tough avenue, if they chose to battle. 17th became 16th, and eventually 15th, where he would reside for the end of his moto’s effort, taking a 16th overall to the next round of the series.
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