VOL. 53 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 20, 2016 P43
prised because I didn't expect
to be in Superfinal, but finally
the result in Superprestigio was
okay with the second position,"
Elias said. "When I arrive to the
pit I see the tire was completely
slick. I said, 'oh my God, I can't
do Superfinal with this.' Michelin
closed the truck, but I pushed
a lot: 'Open the truck! Please
change the tire!' They opened
the truck, changed the tire, and
I make the organization wait five
minutes more. It worked be-
cause the tire grip and the bike
was perfect."
While a fresh tire saved the
day for Elias, Baker wished he
had gone with his strategy last
year—a tire that was partially
used. He is still kicking himself
for making that wrong decision.
"Basically I got outsmarted
this year," Baker said. "I believe
I outsmarted them with my tire
choice last year. Marc went with
a brand new tire and I actually
bought a tire from my next door
neighbor in the paddock, one
that was a quarter to half of the
way worn out and it worked per-
fect. Then this year I decided to
go with a new one with the (16)
laps, and it was a bad decision.
It was great for the show and it's
good for the story. It's game-on
for next year."
The pressure was on this
year for the Baker. Dubbed "the
Bullet," a target was on Baker's
back as he was the only one
representing America and AMA
American Flat Track. He's been
the guy to set the mark, and he's
been the teacher. There's been
no keeping secrets, because
after his first Superprestigio ex-
perience, Baker has been com-
mitted to seeing the sport grow
overseas, and by extension, in
America. But now that they are
getting up to speed overseas,
he's a racer in the end. Rac-
ers hate losing. So that doesn't
mean that there's no goodwill,
but Baker's not going to give
everything away anymore.
"If I come back next year the
goal is obviously going to be a
win again, but it's going to be
more important to counteract
Marc's win this year," Baker said.
"I think next year I'll definitely
take a different approach. Now
that these guys are as fast and
they have such a good under-
standing of dirt track, it's time for
me to let them figure it out and
me to go back to the drawing
board myself and try to increase
the pace and increase the level
and let them catch up again."
The focus is on 2017. For Bak-
er it's redemption. For Marquez
and Baker, as well, it's about a
tiebreaker. No one likes to be
even. It's about winning.
Andrea Wilson
(Left to right) Toni Elias, Marquez and
Baker made up this year's podium.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
ANDREA
WILSON
Marquez went
on to win for
the first time in
Superprestigio.
