Page 38 - GRIT-83

ALEX MARTIN
250 MX / 2ND
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> As a competitor on the professional tour, the idea of mental warfare and antics is of top priority to many. A little pre-race trash talk, aggressive body language, or social media banter, can go a long way in getting in the head of an opponent. However, there are those who choose to remain as stoic as possible; looking to the track as a blank canvas, and wanting to create a masterpiece of a nish with pure results, and not ashes of attitude. Alex Martin was one of the latter; a man who’s solemn glare stayed true under his helmet, and he would wait until the podium to show a hint of excitement. It worked throughout his career, and there was no need to change for the historic Red Bud National. Coming through practice, he catapulted himself into the upper echelon of quali ers, looking to reciprocate the efforts of circuit times, with a signi cant overall nish. And his start to moto one would reiterate that, coming across the line fth and looking to move ahead early. A vulture, looking to pick off anyone in sight,
he quickly nabbed his way into fourth place, but not after a slight setback; with a vibrant pack just behind. He couldn’t let the thought of a spectacular nish rattle his brain however, and staying the course was an absolute must. He would be charging so hard into the turn before the leap, that at times, his feet seemed to slip off the pegs; but there as absolutely no way, he was letting go of the motorcycle. The battle with Marchbanks would be intense, so much so that they would both go to the ground; however he would remount quickly. He continued to punch through gears, letting everyone behind eat the roost from his rear wheel; even team- mate, Shane McElrath. And as the white ag came about, it was enough to keep the afore- mentioned at bay, knowing that this fourth place nish was his. The second round was upon them before they knew it, and the battalion of combatants had weapons and armor ready to go. Pellets of humongous clods ricocheted off everyone in attendance, yet he would remain relatively unscathed. In hot pursuit off immaculate lap times, his mechanic continued to reiter- ate to push the pace. The launching became signi cant, to the point that the crowd surround- ing the initial downhill could actually feel the ground beneath them tremor. He wanted it, and with Austin Forkner behind, he knew he must remain in this type of zone, in order to secure the position he wanted. He felt the knocking at the door, a mere tire tap in the sweeper follow- ing the nish line; but upon the noise, a mere slamming and veering to his right would cease the decibels for the immediate future. He could then see the checkered ag, gleaming off the sun’s re ection in the distance; he’d done it, enough to carry the pace through and through, taking third place, and second overall.
38 GRITMOTO • JULY 1, 2018