Page 20 - Grit_Issue_69

MARVIN MUSQUIN
450 SX / 5TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> If you take a look at the history of motocross, and Supercross through North America, you nd many of the roots relaying back to the west coast, and California in particular. The days of sur ng, followed by free-riding in the hills, seemed to embody all types of folklore and stories that would be passed on for generations. It was the hotbed, and still is, to an extent, with many of our sports vital factories and companies, taking shop in the region. However, sometime amongst the mid-2000’s era, a shift changed the entire outlook of racer’s in our industry. Tracks were becoming over-populated, the weather was too mild, and layouts weren’t getting near rough, in order to mimic conditions on the professional level. The remedy for all of the problems you ask? Relocate to Florida, where you can train year-round, and prepare for tracks like Daytona. Marvin Musquin has spent his fair share of time here, even so much as to living and preparing for months and years at a time; all to add a different variable to his array of tactic’s, leaving nothing to be surprised by chance. It showed during the prac- tice session, where his style seemed to be in perfect harmonization with the motorcycle. The weight was shifted just a tad further back than usual, as he wasn’t crowding the tank with the lower body. Every chance he could wheel-tap, he was doing it, trying to be as light on the front wheel as possible. This notion would be reiterated in the heat-race, as a solid start would have him feel as though he was riding in the dunes, absolutely destroying these back to back berms, never being fazed by those behind him. Weston Peick was knocking at the door, banging with all of his might to be let in; and to nullify that sound, you guessed it, he would reply with a simple twist and spray, letting his opponent be peppered with Florida sand. He was scrubbing each anthill with all of his might, the body English of his technique becoming apparent. The hard work would be generated into a second place nish, as he approached the main. Everything went silent in the hours there after, the gate would fall, and he remained composed under the bright lights, as the eld roared around. He would be in third early on, but quickly make his way around Christian Craig, for second. It was now just he and Brayton, and after a few laps of examining, he would make the move. But he would only lead for a mere lap, when a loop-out mistake would cause him to y off course, before the mechanic’s area. Remounting, it
was now two and three wide down the nish line straight, he tripled-tripled past riders as though they were standing still; all to nish with a subtle look over and ick once hitting the nish line. But crashes would continue; with tip over’s and tearoffs stuck to his hands. With all of that now to the wayside, these straightaways were that of a war-zone, where he could be found hopping like a kangaroo, his calves acting as springs. Chasing down the number fteen he would relish in the fact that he seemed to be fading a bit. As they approached lap sixteen, it was time to pounce; quickly, he would oor the throttle, out-braking his opponent and pivoting past. He knew if he could sustain this pace, he would be all set for fth at the stripe. And that’s how it would wrap up, a top- ve on the evening, and a huge sigh of relaxation once crossing the line.
20 GRITMOTO • MARCH 11, 2018