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ALEX MARTIN
250 MX / 3RD
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / KUHLHOFF DESIGN / TILLS
>> Millville, Minnesota’s Alex Martin is no stranger to rough, sand covered tracks, and after a moto win and second place overall finish at Redbud last weekend,
he had to have been arriving at Southwick with some confidence. The Troy Lee Designs Red Bull KTM rider lined up for the first 250 moto of the day hungry for a win at round seven. The start was key and, as the gates dropped, Alex Martin held on tight and successfully captured an excellent holeshot. A heated battle between Alex Martin, Aaron Plessinger, and Dylan Ferrandis began developing but A. Mart. Stayed strong and in control. Ferrandis was a man on a mission though, and
soon made the pass on Alex. The heated intensity of this race was not over yet
as Ferrandis fell back to second after a front end wash out, send Alex Martin back in to the lead. As the moto started to come to a close, a determined Ferrandis, followed by adamant Zach Osborne passed Alex Martin, sending him to the third place spot: where he finished the first moto. On the podium, A. Martin was happy with a podium, but he was disappointed in himself for losing his lead as he fought with his bike setup though the deep sandy conditions. Looking forward to moto two, Alex Martin lined up prepared to battle for a top spot. The gates dropped and the number 26 machine was off to another good start as he found himself in third place off the starting line. The first ten minutes of the moto passed, and the top ten riders were still all very close on this roughening track. As if the terrain obstacles weren’t already a challenge, it then started to a rain. It was not a light sprinkle either... a torrential downpour began to rain down on the riders, drenching jerseys and making tear offs quickly disappear from their goggles. It was officially a fight to survive to the finish as Alex Martin removed his goggles after the vision impair- ment became too overwhelming. His eyes had to have been stinging and burning, but with only two laps remaining, Alex Martin stayed strong and pushed through the unfortunate elements. He was able to finish the second moto in the third place position and leave Southwick with a third place overall finish. A solid ride by Alex Martin, hopefully we all get to see him truly shine at his literal home track for round eight at Spring Creek.
36 GRITMOTO • JULY 9, 2017