Page 20 - ISSUE78

AUSTIN FORKNER
250 MX / 5TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> When you think of goals, and certain tiers within the sports world, you hear of phrases such as, “Top-tens, ves, podiums”, and so on. It’s as though every few places, offer another bracket of prestige and notoriety. Athletes, especially at the professional level, always seem to avoid the idea of complacency, by reaching for that ever so enticing “next level.” And at Budd’s Creek, that’s exactly what Austin Forkner was in the realm of. Look- ing to make an impact and move forward on the scale, his practice antics were that of a blitzkrieg. Slicing up these turns with his ever so crisp knobby of a rear tire, this soil com- position was shredded as if it were being slayed on a cutting board. Launching over some of these gigantic gaps, the moment he could land and get on the throttle, was of utmost priority. Both the team and competition noticed, giving a bit of reassurance as he headed to the semi to regroup. He was down on the starting line before he knew it, gazing down the start straight and eyeing the thirty-second board. It would go sideways, and the gate would slam to mother earth, he was rocketing around the course. Launching down the Lucas Oil Drop, he would seemingly end up doubling into the following left-hander, as the eld launched off the single and into the turn. Pushing a frantic pace early on, it was all he could do to hold off Mitchell Harrison. They would mimic each other, each one throwing out their best moves in their arsenal, doing their best to shut the door for good. The knock- ing would continue, and man was Harrison persistent. However, his resiliency would ash, doing wonders for his con dence. No matter what was thrown his way, when he crossed the nish line on the nal lap, he knew third place was his. He would soar off of Henry Hill to begin the second moto, never once questioning his desire to twist the throttle. Nearly landing on Chase Sexton at one point, there were a few riders who seem to be congested, yet he tried his best to persevere. He carried the ag for his crew, looking to claim stake into this hollowed grounds of Maryland, and his stinginess with the position of third was remarkable. All seemed to be well, until a slight mistake on lap fourteen had him pushed back a few positions. Despite all of the chaos that would seemingly go on just behind, he would hold strong to the nish, hitting the nish line and landing with a breeze. He would claim seventh and fth overall.
20 GRITMOTO • AUGUST 19, 2018