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MARVIN MUSQUIN
450 MX / 3RD
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Looking into the eyes of the competitors of the 450 class, you see riders at all stages
of their career. There are those who are just emerging into this division, looking to make
a name for themselves. Others, are on their way out; at the absolute tail end of their con- tractual obligations, and contemplating retirement. And then within the middle, you have those trying to cement a legacy, wanting to be known for the sport’s entirety, and admired for years to come. Marvin Musquin is the latter, and he understands that the work put in now, can pay off in a number ways in the immediate future. He wanted to use Washou-
gal as a platform to display his efforts, both on and off the bike. Reiterating the common notion throughout the industry, that not only is he able to ght through adversity, but he places his efforts on the forefront, and looks to blaze a trail that’s unchartered. He did his best to take the eld by storm in moto one, but had to ght a bit more than he’d liked to. With Justin Bogle out front, you had the usual gang of assassin’s gunning for the top spot, once the number nineteen began to slip. Launching his machine into the “Sands of the Sahara”, he would actually shorten up his distance soared, in order to put the power to the ground in a faster manner. Never looking back, he wanted to present a pace that couldn’t be matched by the rest of the eld. However, Tomac and Musquin had a few other plans, as they quickly made their way into the one, and two spots respectively. With Eli’s raw speed, coupled with Marvin’s pure technicality, it was hard for him hang onto the tails of their jersey. Yet, he would try his best to match the pace they had set, keeping the throttle on as long as he could, in every spot possible. He would nish second. The carbon copy of moto one would be imprinted for the second rendition, looking to take the industry by storm with this masterpiece of motorcycle riding. Effortlessly whipping and scrubbing these rather “poppy” singles, the chassis was actually on a bit of cruise control. Every miniscule kick, could be turned into a solid slot of corner grooving, as he drug the rear brake just
a tad. That dragging of the brake, saw the swingarm, shock, and subframe, begin to sit down a bit, never once bucking out of control. Although all over Roczen, he had pressure immediately past the halfway point from Tomac. And it was an honest showing of who had more true speed, with Tomac making the move and never looking back. His comfortable pace would be endured for the rest of the moto, taking third place, and combining for an overall podium nish.
40 GRITMOTO • JULY 29, 2018