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MARTIN DAVALOS
250 SX / 5TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / PINTOR DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> The sun was shining and it was 70 degrees down in Daytona, Florida a perfect day to host a supercross race. To kick off the 77th anual bike week Monster Energy Supercross came to town. This years racce was the 45th supercross race to held at the Daytona International Speedway and the 34th annual 250 class race. The veteran 250 class rider Martin Davalos is back on the Monster Enegry Pro Circuit Kawasaki team for the 2018 season and is ready to make his 91st career main event in the 250 class. Davalos is a master in the 250 class always nishing in the top ten and nothing was going to change that at Daytona. The track was in pristine condition for the second 250 heat race of the night. The 30 second board drops and the gate slams into the orida clay. The riders y out of the gates like rockets and Davalos is mid pack for the holeshot. Pulling himself together and making a couple passes Martin charges his way to the front of the pack. Six minutes and 2 laps go by like a breeze and Davalos nds himself in second place ending the second heat race for the 250 class. Earning a transfer spot into his 91st career main event Davalos sets himself up perfectly on the gate. The riders make their way to the starting line. Davalos loads himself onto his bike throws on his goggles and watches as the thirty second board turns sideways and drops. The gate falls heavy to the ground and the 250 main event begins. All the riders come together as they try to ght for the holeshot. The rst turn comes and Davalos is mid pack. Not where he wants to be and determined to be in the front Martin slices and dices as he tries to get to the front of the pack. A couple laps in and the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider nds himself
in the fth position. Martin has Troy Lee Designs rookie Sean Cantrell within his grip. Not wasting any time Davalos chases down Sean Cantrell. Within seconds Davalos whips by Cantrell and steals the 3rd spot. Holding steady Martin continues to chase down Jeremy Martin, but Austin Forkner is right behind Davalos. Forkner hungry for the red number plate grabs Martin and pulls him into the 4th position. Martin goes on to nish in 4th posi- tion at Daytona.
38 GRITMOTO • MARCH 11, 2018