Page 44 - DECEMBERMPG2018

RESULTS DONOTLIE
and landing at the notorious Gatorback Cycle Park. Equipped with numerous tools to get the job done, Reyes had to rely on
his quick-wittedness and ability to navigate through traffic, in order to succeed in the Supercross format. With amateur riders not too often finding themselves in this type of scenario, especially with this crop of talent around them, riders like Reyes were forced to adapt to a much different circumstance than the usual amateur national. Yet, Reyes and his team had strategized and he would actually improve as the class began to ac- climate to the surface area of the course.
A fifth in the first moto of the Supermini 2 class, had him with a manageable gate pick for the run-off portion of the week. Third off the gate for moto number two, he would en- counter a bit of trouble on lap number three, being pushed back to fifth. But he would em- body that true, Texan spirit, and continue to fight and scrap until he was forced off of the track by the referee. The fifth would quickly transcend into fourth, and that fourth into
an optimum podium spot. Third place would be his for the taking, claiming a bronze medal for this particular event. He would also continue to reiterate his outright speed on the motocross portion of track, finishing with both an eighth and sixth overall. Larry Reyes’ attitude and talent are only going to continue to rise, and many can’t wait to see what this next season has in store for the number 552.
LOGAN LEITZEL
“Double L”, short for Logan Leitzel, was only searching for “W’s” as he and team flocked into Gatorback Cycle Park, for the 2018
Winter Olympics. A young man sporting a number 12 backed Yamaha, would travel from the rural grounds of Pennsylvania, all down the east coast
to his final destination of Gainesville, Florida. A big change in temperature and vast amount of sunlight, would brighten the mood of the 450 pilot, and you could see it reflecting in his riding style. Flipping the chassis into the wind whenever possible, he would be out front in his respective races, tossing a bit flare to the crowd and competition. It wasn’t just for show, as it was a little bit of confident flare to the guys behind him, letting them know he
had the pace to stay up front, all the while being super comfortable. He did however, take a bit of an unconventional route in the quest for his strong finishes in the class. On the verge of staying in the intermediate class last year, he decided to venture into deep waters and take a courageous leap of faith, as he entered the A class. However, with the rule change in recent memory, the College Boy (16-24) class, is now open to any “skill level” or classification, meaning that he too could ride this specific age bracket. His
time in the professional division had reaped dividends, and you could tell it. As he was used to riding the longer moto’s, and duking it out with competitors with outright aggres- sion and intensity. That’s why,
even after a fifth place in the heat race, that he came to
the line for the SX main event of the class, with enormous amounts of swagger. And it would translate into a pivotal start, allowing him to work his way up quickly. A third on lap one, would quickly transition into second, and first shortly thereafter. Setting the fastest lap on lap number three, he looked to leave the pack be- hind, and sprint out to a lead. Having a little bit of company in the likes of Dirco Van Der Westhui, he would manage to hold strong, and take the win! He wasn’t done yet however, as he wanted to reiterate his presence in the outdoor format
of the event. And he would do so, taking third place in both motos, accumulating for third overall. Leitzel was pleased with his efforts, and looked to keep the momentum going as he would roll into 2019.
DIRCO VAN DER WESTHUI
Moving overseas to chase his dreams,
Dirco Van Der Westhui is a transplant to the Cairo, Georgia area, residing at the Millsaps Traning Facility. He’s willing to sacrifice it all in order to pursue his goals, and his hard work and dedication showed at the 2018 Winter Olympics. A taller rider in comparison to many in his age division, he’s chosen to move up to the 450 predominantly, feeling as though the power ratio and handling of the machine fits his style much more than the smaller, 250f machines. Contesting multiple intermediate classes, along with the College Boy group, he would put his name in the hat for both motocross and Super- cross contention, vying for titles every time he sat foot behind the gate. His Yamaha setup was on point for the entire duration of the week, and it was apparent notice that
he was gelling with the machine. Although adapted to Supercross, he knew that motocross would be his forte so to speak, but would give the technical, tight course
his best shot, regardless of the outcome.
He would excel in the College Boy division, although running into trouble early. Planting his Yamaha in the apex of the corners, he was about to joust his way through a large portion of the field, despite a bad start. Working his way up from outside the top ten, he was seventh by lap three, and eyeing the leader. Seventh, would then turn into fifth,
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