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MARTIN DAVALOS
450 MX / 12TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / PINTOR DESIGN / MPG
>> Martin Davalos came to High Point after a solid top ten finish at Thunder Valley in Colorado. Still rookie to the 450 class Martin is getting used to the bigger bike and the new competition. With new changes to the once familiar High Point Raceway Martin had to zero in and focus on how to tackle the days’ muddy conditions. Qualifying didn’t seem to go Martin’s way as he had the 20th fastest lap time. Not what he intended, but Davalos kept his head up and got ready for the first 450 race. Jumping out of the gate Davalos would find 9th place. Setting the pace Martin would hold his line as the racers make their way around the massive first turn sweeper. Going back and forth with Fredrik Noren, Thomas Sipes and eventually being passed last minute by Eli Tomac the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider settled for 13th place.
Davalos knew he needed to put in the effort to get a solid finish in the second 450 race in the heat and humidity. The thirty second board drops the gate goes down and the second 450 race of the day takes off. Martin managed to pull a seventh place holeshot, two positions better than his holeshot earlier in the day. Knowing what needed to be done the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider pushed himself through the stampede of riders as he tried to mingle his way to the front. Not having the consistent speed throughout the race Martin falls back to 10th place. Checkered is out and Davalos’ day is ended with a tenth place finish in moto number two and an overall position in tenth.
60 GRITMOTO • JUNE 18, 2017