The first six moto of the 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship in the 450 class was basically the Eli Tomac show. The Monster Energy / Kawasaki rider was untouchable to start the year but since round four at High Point, Red Bull / KTM’s Marvin Musquin has come alive—stopping Tomac’s moto win streak at round four and ending his overall win streak at round six over the weekend in Southwick.

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While Eli’s two crashes in moto two at Southwick basically gifted the Frenchman the overall win, Marvin was not far off of Eli all day long. The #25 led every lap but the last one in moto one and was close enough to take advantage of the gift in moto two. The win ended Eli’s overall win streak at five, but Marvin still has a thirty-two point mountain to climb in the final half of the season if he wants to get his first AMA National Championship.

After Marvin’s podium celebration was over, he joined the media in the press tent and answered some questions about his first outdoor win of 2018.

It wasn’t the way Marvin likes to win, but he still threw down his patented heel clicker celebration.

Marvin, this was your first national outdoor motocross win this year. It has to feel pretty good coming at Southwick.

Yeah, for sure. I mean from the beginning of the season we’ve been working hard and feeling pretty good but the last few races I’ve been feeling great. I’m pushing towards the lead and battling for the win, so that felt good. This weekend, obviously, it’s the only race in the sand and I felt pretty good all day. It does feel good. We know what happened in the second moto but a win is a win.

 

What was your take in moto two when you came around and saw that Eli was off his bike?

I was just trying to be consistent. The intensity wasn’t quite there. I was trying but I knew it was going to be a long moto, but definitely Eli was pulling away. Not much I could do at this point, but only to stay consistent and keep pushing. He made the first mistake and then the second one, and I was able to capitalize on that. My goal was to be consistent, stay on two wheels and it was definitely the hardest race of the year so far. It was hot and it was really rough on that track. I’m glad it’s over and we had a good day.

 

Is it ever tempting to settle a little bit when Eli has a big lead and then you realize, if I was three seconds closer to him after the first crash I would have taken the lead. Were you letting him go at any point or were you pushing the whole time? Or when you got to him were you like, “I wish I was one second closer?”

Yeah, for sure, that is kind of what I thought the first time. I was like, “Man, I could have maybe tried at least to push a little harder.” But anyway, that’s the way I was riding and like i just said before the intensity wasn’t quite there. I was riding okay, but I was a little slower and losing ground. Those mistakes he made, obviously, they helped me. Like they said, it was a tough track. Also, the base was hard here on the insides. Actually really slippery.They didn’t build big berms on the outside, so it was a lot of insides. It was a lot of high speed stuff—really choppy. We didn’t have like big rollers or like deep sand actually. You could hit some square edges and stuff. Definitely a tough track.

Tomac (green) stalked Musquin (orange) for 30 minutes plus one lap in moto 1 before getting the pass made on the final lap

How was recovery between motos? You were pushing so hard in the first moto all the way to the last lap and you had a crash. Were you feeling like you normally do going into moto two or were you a little more spent than usual?

Like I said, it was the hardest race of the year for sure so far, ’cause it was hot, sandy and rough. I definitely spent some energy in that first moto. I was definitely bummed to get passed with a lap or two to go. We gave everything we had, but then I went down on the very last lap. It was definitely not easy and then you go to the podium. It takes quite a time to get the energy. You’re cooking right in the sun, and you know you gotta do a second moto only a couple minutes later. (laughs) That’s the hard part of racing here in the US: we don’t have so much time. It’s the same for everyone so if we can be really strong that will help.

 

Since the off weekend before High Point, you’ve been much better. What do you think the difference is?

I don’t know. A little better setup with the bike. The training we’ve been putting on in Florida. Yeah, just doing the work, gaining confidence, building endurance and strength and I’ve been feeling pretty good. Obviously High Point was awesome. Muddy Creek could have been awesome too. And this weekend was good.

 

Frenchman win both classes today, that’s pretty cool. [Dylan Ferrandis won the 250 class]

And the soccer game too. (laughs)

Where there’s Marvin there’s always his #1 teammate, his wife Mathilde, right there.

So it was a pretty good day. Can you comment on that?

We couldn’t watch the second moto of the 250’s and then we got on the gate for the second moto. I could see him on the podium and he won the overall so I was like, “Wow, that’s awesome, so I gotta do the same thing.” I was telling Mathilde [Marvin’s wife] I don’t think I’ve ever got on the podium here. I gotta check, but it’s pretty awesome to get a podium and then a win. Congratulations to Dylan. It was a good day.

 

We’re heading to RedBud next weekend. This will be a chance to look at the track not only for the national, but a chance to look at it for possibly for the Motocross of Nations. What are your thoughts heading there?

It’s always special to go to RedBud. I’m excited. It’s fourth of July week, so it’s always very special to go to RedBud. We always have a lot of fun. If we can do good at the end of the day, that’s even better. The track’s awesome. Like Eli said, they got room, lines, awesome dirt so it’s great for racing.

Photos by: Simon Cudby

Author

Dan Lamb is a 12+ year journalist and the owner of MotoXAddicts.