Photo By: Matt Ware
Brandon Sommers had some buddies down in the mud holes.
St. Clairsville, Ohio's ITP Power Line Park GNCC has really carved out a nitch for itself. The event has grown and grown since its debut back in 2001, and now it's one of the biggest races on the tour-although not as big as the Klotz Ironman GNCC, which is absolutely massive.
Still, it was a good weekend. It started with nice weather. The place was muddy when everyone rolled in on Friday, but that rain meant we didn't have all the dust that plagued the event last year. The temperatures stayed in the low 60s, too, so that probably made life easier on the racers. And the track featured some bad mud holes, which kept the Ohio fans pumped throughout the weekend. At the end of our ATV race day, I saw people streaming out of the woods just totally and completely covered with mud. They needed a pressure wash. We even interviewed two mud fleas who said they were there just to help Brandon Sommers. Good times.
The ATV race swung on that mud hole. In lap one, Chris Borich got stuck down there, and some fans threw out a rope to help pull him out. The rope was attached to his a-arm at first but somehow it ended up stuck on his rear axle, and then he took off. For the next hour and 45 minutes, that tow rope was just whipping around back there, but apparently, it didn't slow him down.
Later in the race, Bill Ballance had the lead, and he got it stuck in that hole. He lost the lead and wasn't able to recover-amazingly, Borich got back into the lead thanks to the same mud
Photo By: Matt Ware
Batman Ben Bouwens almost grabbed the holeshot again!
Sunday's bike race featured plenty of mud hole hijinks, too. Nathan Kanney stuck his KTM bad on lap one and lost tons of time. Mike Brown thought better of it and decided to just take the long way around on one lap. And Paul Whibley crashed awkwardly there, handing second place over to Charlie Mullins. Through it all the fans were pumped, and this has become a trademark part of this event.
So let's get to the news. First, many were wondering if Bill Ballance is going to race next year. I asked him on Saturday and it seems like he's leaning toward only doing a partial season, maybe Florida, Loretta's and the Ironman, for example. He said he's looking forward to helping some of Yamaha's next-generation guys become champions, so he'll be working closely with Taylor Kiser and Walker Fowler, for example. He didn't say he won't race all year, but if I were a betting man, that's the way I would put my money.
As for other teams, Chris Borich told me he still doesn't have anything set with Suzuki yet, as everyone's budget is stretched and Suzuki doesn't even have their motocross bike team situation settled yet. But he's pretty sure it will all work out in the end, and he will run his #1 plate on a Suzuki. Adam McGill made it clear that he would really, really like to stay on KTMs, but he doesn't know what direction the FRE team is going to go. McGill told me that he likes the KTM machine so much, he'd still race an orange machine even if he was a full-on privateer. But he obviously hopes that's not the case.
The FRE/KTM team had some good news this weekend when Josh Kirkland scored the XC2 ATV win, which gives him a major points lead heading into the finale. Brian Wolf ran into mechanical troubles and didn't finish, and that might ultimately cost him the championship. Here's an explanation from Wolfe's race report:
With no warning my ATV sputtered and began to break up and run horrible. It was not long before I realized my great run was going to end; this would be the end of my race. At this point in time the mechanical issue is believed to be caused by the stator. With one round left in the season I currently hold down second place in the point standings and eighth overall. Although this race did not go as planned I am remaining positive and am looking forward to The Ironman!!
Photo By: Courtesy Lojaks.
Jimmy Artzberger, who did a lot of TV work with us in the Blackwater days, got a visit from the NHL Stanley Cup. Check out the shirt, he remembers his roots!
Good rides, also, by Parker "Holeshot" Jones who took second in the class, and Big Nutz Racing's Kevin Yoho, who was third. Walker Fowler had a big crash early in the race, and there were fears of a broken arm, but I talked to his dad on Sunday and it seems like the kid's just beat up, but not broken.
In the ATV morning race we had some battles, too. Glen Pritchard scored the GT Thunder Morning race overall. Angel Atwell had him beat on adjusted time for most of the race, but Super Senior Glen never backed off and pulled back ahead on the last lap. Score another one for the old guys! Man, if Glen had decided to start racing at a younger age, past GNCC Champs like Tom Tokay might have had a battle on their hands way back when.
Traci Cecco suffered a huge crash early in the race and even got run over by a Utility machine. Brian Gunther and his dad actually saw her and helped her, even picking her up and putting her back on her machine! Good Samaritans. But Traci was so disoriented that later in the race, she rode off of the track and rode right into a swamp, which wasn't even part of the track! Jessica Shadron saw her and helped turn her around-Traci didn't really know where she was at.
At that point most riders would have pulled off, but Traci, all loopy, went out and ran the fastest last lap of anyone and rallied back to third in the class! These girls are tough.
Here's a cool story on a local ATV racer we found from Yadkinville. Click here.
Photo By: Matt Ware
Scott Kilby is in a torrid battle for the Open 4x4 class title.
The U2 class was fighting hot and heavy early, until Robert Smith basically decided, "I'm done with this close racing stuff" and took off on lap two. He won by five minutes! Rick Cecco appears to have the class championship locked up, but he broke a ball joint and didn't finish this time, and Mike Benson got stuck in a mud hole on the first lap and lost a ton of time, but rallied for second.
And Doug Howarth, virtually unknown in GNCC circles just a year ago, is your new Youth ATV Overall Champion. Rachel "They are writing a story about me covering GNCCs in the WVU alumni magazine" Fluharty chatted with Doug in Tuesday Toolbox.
http://www.gnccracing.com/articles/1709_tuesday-toolbox-doug-howarth
I know there are a lot of other championship battles to watch this year, with plenty up for grabs heading into the Ironman. So, if you are in one of those battles, or know someone who is, send me an email with the details. Explain your season. Explain who has to do what to win. Let me know, I'd like to share some of these stories on the website and at the race itself.
Email me jasonw@gnccracing.com
By the way, congrats out to Bryan Cook for taking third at the race. Bryan's a hard working guy and a hero to everyone.
Photo By: D
This is becoming Strang's trademark victory move.
Let's move to the bikes, but first, a public service announcement: To ride in the Open Classes, your bike must be 251cc or over. Open is a 251-Open class, not a 0cc-Open class. We had some confused riders this weekend so this is a reminder.
First of all, Power Line Park was a big moment of sorts, as the Million-Dollar off-road question was finally answered: Can that Taddy Blasuziak guy race in regular off-road events?
He can.
Taddy first burst onto the scene a few years ago. He was a great trials rider who tried racing a full-sized bike at the Erzburg Enduro and beat David Knight in the qualification race. KTM signed him on the spot, sent him to the EnduroCross in Vegas, and he beat Knight again. Knight was racing to protect his points lead and win the championship, but he wasn't happy about his teammate coming in and stealing the win. But by then, everyone was already waiting for the next Juha/Knight style off-road dominator from Europe. Would Taddy fit the bill?
Photo By: David Scearce
Taddy can ride GNCC.
Well, he's still been an extreme enduro and EnduroCross guy. He hasn't even really ridden or raced on a GNCC-style track before. But Saturday night after finishing second at the EnduroCross in Columbus, he said he was going to go GNCC racing on Sunday. The fans were pumped and curious (he signed a lot of autographs on Sunday morning), and he put in a great showing, running 5th and 6th throughout the day. He was in the hunt, and he can definitely ride on this type of track.
"It was really fun," said Taddy after the race. I spoke with him for a while inside the KTM rig, and he told me his bike was stock 250 two-stroke that he uses to practice EnduroCross. The suspension was not set up right for GNCC, as it is very, very soft initially, so his bike was all over the place in the fast stuff. He had blisters on the inside of his knees from holding on so tight in the fast stuff! He also said he had no idea how to pace himself. He was all alone in fourth early and figured it would be better to follow someone, so he slowed down a bit and let the pack get to him. He wishes he hadn't done that. He also said that he doesn't train or practice for three-hour events. Basically, he wasn't well prepared. Considering that, he rode awesome. If he really did decide to focus on this...look out.
Photo By: David Scearce
Jason Thomas killed 'em in XC2.
His teammate Kanney got stuck on lap one in the mud hole and was on a mission trying to come back. At one point he caught up to Brown and they dove into the KTM pits together. Looked like a running back trying to punch it in at the goal line-orange uniforms everywhere, a cloud of dust and Kanney just trying to plow through it all. Kanney got past Brown and then hit a tree a few minutes later. He hurt his hand in the crash and had to drop from the race. He's still hoping to be okay for the ISDE, which begins this weekend.
Another ISDE favorite, Kurt Caselli, had his tire come off the rim on the first lap, putting him way back.
Glenn Kearney is also racing the ISDE for team Australia. He rode a 2010 Husky 250F at this race, that bike has an all-new frame and engine and he thinks it handles better than the two-stroke he was riding. And GK says he's a little small for a 450, so the 250 works well-except this time he lost his front brake.
Photo By: David Scearce
This is pretty much how the year has gone for Am-Pro FMF Yamaha.
"A lot of people might think this bad luck is on my dad, because he's my mechanic," said Thad. "But honestly it's just racing stuff. It's not my dad's fault, it's not anyone's fault, it just happens in racing sometimes."
Thad has only one race left to even make the podium in what has been a horrible rookie year. But would anyone be surprised if he just comes out on fire in 2010 and wins a bunch of races? I don't think so.
Meanwhile another former GNCC Youth Champ, Steward Baylor, actually had to upgrade in bike size. He had some mechanical troubles with the 250F he rode in XC2 at Yadkinville, so he borrowed a 300XC from Thom Smith at Coppersmith suspension and rode XC1 at 15-years-old! I know Steward was thinking $250 and holeshot, but he didn't get the jump. He did finish 13th in the class on his borrowed rid
Photo By: Matt Ware
Chris Bach is on fire.
Some changes in the ranks. Josh Weisenfels has moved on from the Monster Energy/FAR Yamaha team and now rides a Kawasaki. Josh has been living and training with Jimmy Jarrett so Jimmy got him a Kawi. Weisenfels, who has been on the mend from rotator cuff surgery all year, took fourth in XC2.
Meanwhile, Fred Andrews' FAR team picked up Morgan Moss, who you may remember was just a C class rider last year! These kids grow up fast!
Also, Open A rider Corey Arbogast picked up an Aprillia ride and raced XC1 for the first time. He finished 11th.
Speaking of Open A, can anyone stop this Chris Bach guy? Ever since he won his first Open A race at the John Penton GNCC, he's been on fire. At Power Line he made it all the way up to fifth overall at one point before he lost his front brake and dropped to seventh. He also had some crazy graphics on his bike promoting Halloween '09. I've never seen a rider sponsored by a holiday before.
Finally, Chris Meadows pulled off his seventh win of the year at Power Line, and since we count only eight races, that should be enough to make Chris the Bike Youth Champion. Rachel chatted with Chris in Tuesday Toolbox a few months ago. Click below.
http://www.gnccracing.com/articles/1181_tuesday-toolbox-chris-meadows
Photo By: Matt Ware
Chris Meadows (right) is the man (kid?) to beat in GNCC Youth bike racing.
On Sunday, KTM's Russ Bobbitt claimed the AMA National Enduro Title, edging Mike Lafferty. On Monday, Lafferty signed with Husaberg. Mike becomes the first ever factory Husaberg rider in the U.S., this is not a support ride, this is a full factory deal. KTM owns Husaberg now, so essentially Mike is still part of the family, just running different colors. Anyway, he decided to get testing early, so he's coming to the Ironman to race his new blue bike. He'll be running #112. Welcome back, Junior!
Photo By: Courtesy Husaberg
Lafferty's got a new ride, and he's bringing it to the Ironman!
Again, for our bike riders, I know there are a lot of other championship battles to watch this year, with plenty up for grabs heading into the Ironman. So, if you are in one of those battles, or know someone who is, send me an email with the details. Explain your season. Explain who has to do what to win. Let me know, I'd like to share some of these stories on the website and at the race itself.
Email me jasonw@gnccracing.com
Theresa Ortolani's Endurance Website launched recently. You can check it out here.
Also, check out a letter from Moose Racing about their 2010 Contingency here.
That's 2800 words. That's enough. I'm off to the U.S. Open in Vegas. See you here next week.
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