Page 48 - Issue_68

MARTIN DAVALOS
250 SX / 8TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK
WORDS / SCHUBERT DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Martin Davalos started off the day looking solid in Atlanta qualifying sixth for the night laying down a lap time of 55.3. The Monster Energy/ Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider came
out of the gate in moto one showing everyone he meant business getting the hole shot and leading the moto till he made a mistake and crashed setting him back to tenth place. Davalos quickly got back on the bike and charged forward passing Jimmy Decotis and eventually Anthony Rodriguez salvaging an eighth place in main event number one. Coming into main event number two Davalos again got his Monster Energy/ Pro Circuit Kawasaki off to a good start in third place around turn number one. With the battle up front between Austin Forkner and second place holder Zach Osborne heated up Martin Davalos made him self known as well showing Osborne the front tire on numerous oc- casions and was able to make a pass when Osborne got into the rear fender of Austin Forkner and went down. With Davalos in second place and rst place in his sights he charged forwards gaining on his teammate till he found the inside line on Forkner and made that pass for rst place and took the win in main event number two. The start of the third 250 main event went just as good as the last two for Martin Davalos carrying in the momentum from his main event two win he got off to a second place start and was look- ing smooth on the bike until he made a mistake and went over the bars in the whoops. Davalos remounted in nineteenth place and charged forward trying to salvage positions passing Williams and Harrison putting himself into seventeenth place but quickly getting passed by Luke Renzland setting him back into eighteenth place. Davalos keeping his eyes forward and his wheels underneath him, he was able to pass a downed Cameron McAdoo and get in range of Josh Osby. Davalos eventually made the pass on Osby
but Osby took back his position before the checkers where Martin would take 17th place giving him 8th overall for the night and the con dence knowing he has the speed to run upfront and most importantly win.
48 GRITMOTO • MARCH 4, 2018