Page 38 - GRRIT-11

38
GRITMOTO • MARCH.21.16
ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ
A rider on the Traders Kawasaki team, the #48 bike continues to be a wild card. A previous member of the Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha squad, Rodriguez clearly has the talent to be professional but remains a victim to the premier level of athletes that supercross contains. With the Webb’s, Martin’s, Hill’s and Stewart’s of the class lacking forgiveness, riders like Rodriguez are left to raise their confidence levels without the results to prove it.
Talk about a difficult job, Rodriguez is living the type of racing lifestyle that many racers desire to have but fear to commit to. Looking at it for what it is, Anthony and his Kawasaki face the endless uphill battle to greatness. The deep, rocky uphill ruts to results that earn you the next step; a battle we strive to attempt and fail to respect.
Finishing just inside the top 15 over the last two weeks, means the flashy gear lines, retro-colored boots, personal goggle frames and official media coverage are a mere five to ten spots ahead of the Venezuelan, whose best finishes thus far are a 13th and 14th.
Having some past success, finishing 6th in last year’s East Coast series, and more experience than a lot of the other 250 East riders, Rodriguez can only get better moving forward. I mean, it’s no doubt Rodriguez comes to every round and pushes every limit he has to continue fulfilling his dream. Yet, only time will tell if the #48 can up his effort and maximize the potential he’s created for himself. Yet to penetrate the top 10 through three rounds, the Traders Kawasaki team’s hope for their riders continue, as they push upwards this weekend at Detroit’s Ford Field.
>>