Atlanta, Georgia (February 23, 2014) – Martin Davalos’ win this weekend in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome was a popular one with the crowd. At the same time, it was an emotional one for Davalos.
Davalos, who was born and raised in Ecuador, has spent the last six years in the 250 class looking for that elusive first win, and after passing last week’s winner, Adam Cianciarulo, on the first lap of last night’s main event, the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider pulled away to claim that first victory.
“It’s been a long road for me,” said Davalos. “It’s been a lot of frustration, a lot of time. I don’t know what to say, I just want to thank the people who stuck behind me, the people who believed in me. People don’t really understand, I come from a country that has nothing and it’s taken me a long time to get to where I needed to be.”
Davalos excelled on the extremely tricky course, one that featured two distinctively difficult whoops sections, which gave all of the riders, including Davalos, fits.
“It was hard to get momentum through the whoops, the ruts before the whoops were really, really tough,” said Davalos. “I just told myself to make 15 perfect laps, be the best in the whoops and make it consistent.”
Davalos has been in the position of leading a race before, only to give it away by falling or some other malady. However, this time he managed to keep it together.
“A lot of stuff was going through my mind,” said Davalos. “I didn’t want to let anybody down. I’ve been in that position, led a lot of laps and never closed the deal. I think I got the monkey off my back, I know what it takes now, but this is a long season and I’m glad I came out of here safe and with a win. I’m just going to take it race by race and do my best.”
With two races in the books, Davalos sits just two points behind Cianciarulo for the lead in the series standings.
“I’m happy I made it happened early in the season and I’m looking forward to going to Indy and do the best I can,” said Davalos. “I want to put in 15 perfect laps and focus on what I need to focus on. It’s a long season and I want to be there in the end.”
