Page 10 - DECEMBERMPG2018

THE DIRTY
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NATE THRASHERWelcome to the show, a spectacle for the entire world to see. The 2018 amateur motocross season has come to a conclusion, with the nightcap being held in the town of Gainesville, Florida. A state where nu- merous “snowbirds” come to ditch and dive past the harsh winter months of the continent of North America, this week however,
it acts as a hub of amateur motocross royalty. A combination of events, many in their wildest dreams hope to walk away victori- ous from an event such as this, going home with multiple number one plates. And when lining up to begin the first heat of the week, that’s exactly what Nate Thrasher had in mind. A visualization of sorts, forecasting what many would say would be a mirage; yet he knew it was attainable, and with all of the right pieces in order, the gold could be draped around his neck once all was said and done. He would click into second gear, transferring the weight from the midpoint of the motorcycle, to the rear fender. With the holeshot device disengaging, it was a matter of time before his number plate would be read first. His name, ringing over the intercom system, would be something echoed throughout the crowd. Fans, leaning over and watching his line choice, noticed his particular rhythm throughout the mogul and roller section. Pushing the chas- sis to the absolute ground, he would “pogo” so to speak, and hop in perfect sequence, throughout the entirety of the lane. With riders like Branden Walther and Gage Linville at his doorstep, his confi- dence would be of heightened maturity, and he would come across the line in first place, for the opening moto of the 125 (12-17) B/C Division. He wanted to duplicate his performance, and then some, for his remaining motos and classes. The Supercross track, begin- ning to show its true roots of limestone quarry, was beginning to break off piece by piece. But he was finding traction, weighting
the outside footpeg and running the bike a gear tall. Smooth as
silk around the rims of these bowl-turns, his focus was on pushing forward and away from contender, the aforementioned Walther, where he would claim an SX Championship for the 125 class. For motocross, he would continue on this streak, putting both mind and body to the test. Running a series of Schoolboy classes, he would
10 MPG • DECEMBER • 2018
BRANDEN WALTHER
RESULTSDONOTLIE
flourish, as the track got rougher, really putting the KTM machin- ery of his to the test. He would go six for six, in regards to top ten moto finishes, with his worst (still an excellent showing) being a sixth in the Schoolboy 2 class, claiming sixth overall. The other two classes meanwhile, would be a place where he would display his reign. Four for four on moto wins, he would walk away as king, with another two championships in his arsenal.
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With the amateur motocross scene in a sense of evolution and progression,
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one must be willing to risk it all in order to continue to be at the front of the pack. If we rewind years ago, it was the James Stewart’ coined “scrub” technique which set the sport ablaze. Years later, every rider on the roster can seemingly flick the bike to some extent, and the move can be considered a habitual afterthought. And when looking at Branden Walther, you can tell he’s one who
is on the brink of innovation, each time he’s aboard the motor- cycle. It was apparent in the first moto of his class, as his starting technique saw him hit a staple of upshifts, and clutch-stabs, seen only in the professional ranks. Nailing the far-side rhythm section to begin, it was as though he was landing on the rear wheel, letting the throttle go in perfect harmony of his jumping sequence. Feath- ering the clutch whenever necessary, he knew riders like Linville and Thrasher would be ones to watch out for, and therefore set
his goals on pulling from him wherever possible. The milliseconds would continue to add, and on a tight, technical track like this, the inches were turned into miles with every passing lap. The rear end, dancing throughout the end of these ruts as he was skipping off the potholes, had the rev limiter echoing throughout the facility. It was a sign that he was truly on the pipe, and his laptimes were a reflection of that. In a constant search of progression, he crossed the line with a series of wins for the opening heat races of his respective classes (including a win in 250 B Limited),
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RIDERS TO WATCH IN 2014
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RIDERS TO WATCH IN 2014
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