Page 82 - DECEMBERMPG2018

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Many in attendance knew the speed he possessed, and had him penciled in as a favorite. But you know what they say, “you don’t win races on paper”, and Samuel wanted to prove that his speed was
as apparent as ever for the round of racing this week would provide. Starting off strong in only the motocross portion of the event, he would get off to a remarkable jump out of the hole, hitting his shifting points with ease and tranquility. Diving into the first corner, only fel- low Floridian Mark Thomas was ahead, and he knew he would have to get around the fellow Kawasaki pilot quick, if he wanted to impose his will on the field. Lurking for a matter of two laps, by the time the third circuit had rolled around, he had worked his way into the lead, hoping to set sail on the field. Pushing the Kawasaki to the absolute limit, he would hold on for the win, taking the checkered flag in fly- ing colors. Looking to repeat his performance for the second moto, Samuel’s start was little less than picturesque. Eighth place across timing and scoring for lap number one, he was some forty seconds off the leader. But that wouldn’t stop him from pursuing the pack, go- ing on to set the fastest lap time of the moto on lap two. Clawing his way into fourth by lap three, he was rapidly gaining on the leaders
of the class. He would make one final pass right before the stripe on the final lap, making his way into third. And despite his mishap on the first lap, he was encouraged at the way he presented himself to the fans and field alike. His scores would then be averaged together, placing him in a remarkable second place overall. Allen wanted the win ever so badly, but he always new that next year would offer a chance at redemption.
MARK THOMAS
A usual suspect at this event, Mark Thomas has dabbled in the Winter National Olympics before, taking a remarkable third overall in 2016. Now knowing what to prepare for, he came back better than ever for the 2018 season, shooting for a strong finish in both Masters 60+, and Masters 55+. Choosing to ride the motocross sec- tion alone, he wanted to allow the Kawasaki machine he was riding a place to truly open up and rip. He enjoyed the wide motocross layout, a place where you could pass and fly around the corners,
82 MPG • DECEMBER • 2018
rather than having to worry about the steep, technical layout of the SX track. With the racing beginning later in the week, he took time to assess the course before his departure for practice, wanting to know every nook and cranny of this historic piece of land. Once practice had concluded, he felt confident that he could maneuver the bike to the best of his ability, and walk away with strong finishes, despite the surprisingly deep field. A third in the first moto Masters 60+ had him feeling confident, now moving on to a bit of a younger field, in the Masters 55+ class. He would thrive against the younger men, holding his own and then some, as he soared out of the finish line gulley. Setting his lines up in methodical fashion, his pace would place him near the third position with just a lap to go. He would end up here, excited about his run, but craving more as the week would go on. And while some unfortunate trouble would loom over him for the Masters 60+ class, he would eye the second moto of Mas-
ters 55+, as a place to leave a lasting impression of his improved skill set. With Genereux out front, and Samuel Allen encountering some unpleasant trouble on the first lap, it would place Thomas in second, seemingly in no man’s land. He couldn’t get into too much of a lull though, as Allen was closing fast from behind. Picking the rear fender of Genereux as something to gauge his speed off of, he would lurk in second place comfortably as the white and checkered flag would come about. Crossing the finish line on lap five, he felt
he had definitely done enough for a podium finish. And he would conclude right, as a his scores would land him in third overall for the ending of the week. We have a feeling he’ll be back next year, trying to best his effort yet again.
JEREMY PARSONS
A New York native through and through, Jeremy Parsons made the long trek down to the 2018 Winter Olympics, here in Gainesville, Florida, eyeing success to the fullest extent. With a no-nonsense, “here to stay” riding style, Parson didn’t just drive all of this way for the fun of it. Sure, he wanted to enjoy quality time with
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