Martin Davalos showed impressive speed at last week’s season opener, but was unable to get the results he deserved due to a first turn pile-up. In Phoenix, he was ready to get back on top. In his heat race, Davalos got off to a great start on his KX™250F and latched on to the rear wheel of the leader. Searching for a place to pass, he made a move with two laps remaining, but a mistake in the rhythm section sent him flying through the air in spectacular fashion off the track. Although physically beat up from the crash, Davalos went out and won the last chance qualifier and lined up for the main event in the very outside gate. As the gate dropped he rocketed down the start straight and swept around the outside, nearly missing the holeshot but taking the lead shortly after. Davalos led for more than half the 15-lap race before dropping to third place and taking his first podium of the season in third.
“My day started really well,” said Davalos. “Everything was going great until I made a mistake and got kicked over the quad. I got a great start in the main and led for a while, but started to tighten up and finished third. Considering my night I’m really happy with third and we’ll rest up this week and be ready next weekend.”