Page 14 - MPG3

theGRIT
He absorbed some pressure from Julio Cesar Zambrano in the final laps, putting in consistent times and showing the Supercross savvy of a veteran. Markolf’s riding style on the 450 seemed to better represent his energetic personality. He was able to pull off another stellar start, but made a couple mistakes in the early laps - the most crucial of those being in the whoops before the finish line which sent him off the track. The race was red flagged which prompted a complete restart and Markolf was pushed wide in the first corner. He carved from 5th to 2nd on the first lap and kept the pressure on the leader Wilson Fleming, but a close call through one of the switch- back sections with Jake Masterpool ruined his chances of making a last lap pass for the win. Markolf had to ride completely different than in his dominant 250 B win and he showed acute awareness and racecraft to put his KTM on the podium. His final race of the day in the 250 B Limited class was his worst result of the weekend where he eventually finished 5th after being involved in a back and forth battle with Nolan Heppner. The incessant consistency that he has shown this year will reinforce the confidence he has in himself and those around him. It’s the same kind of consistency that has won fellow KTM rider Ryan Dungey multiple championships and it will have Max leaving the Daytona RCSX brimming with confidence.
14 MPG • MARCH 2016
words/LAKEKILLPATRICK