Watkins lands on the Podium, Crouch gets 3rd at FMF Steele Creek GNCC

Contact: JG Off Road Racing
JT Bennett
1.412.389.3801

For Immediate Release


Morganton, N.C. (March 21, 2010) - The JG Off-Road/GEICO Powersports/ Monster Energy Kawasaki team had another solid weekend at the FMF Steele Creek GNCC in Morganton, N.C. Ashley Crouch took 3rd in the Women's class in the 10 a.m. race, while Scott Watkins finished 3rd in the XC2 class. XC1's Jimmy Jarrett started the XC1 race strongly, but the shoulder he injured at round 2 began to act up and Jarrett decided to pull out of the race after the second lap.
Team Manager JT Bennett was back to his racing ways and even decided to throw his hat into the ring at the 10 a.m. race, finishing 13th in the Sportsman A class and 13th Overall, despite having not been on a bike since before Thanksgiving. Also making his first GNCC appearance was Gretchen and JT's newborn son, Connor Thomas, who even got his first ever GNCC roost while helping Gretchen pit for JT. Connor even helped cheer on Jarrett and Watkins through the Pro race from the window of the JG Off Road/ GEICO rig.
The day started off bright and slightly cooler than Saturday's ATV race, and Crouch started in second off the line behind KTM's Maria Forsberg, as the Women's class ran into the woods. Crouch was able to stick close to Forsberg until lappers interrupted their battle and Forsberg could check out. From there, Crouch began to battle back and forth with Defending Champion Mandi Mastin until Mastin was able to pass on the 3rd lap. Crouch played it safe until the end of the race to finish 3rd.
"It was really rough out there, and I was having some problems with arm pump but I'm really happy about my finish," Crouch said. "I'm looking forward to Big Buck in three weeks."
Unfortunately for JT, a vocal supporter of rainy races, the rain held off until the finish of the 10 a.m. race., but the conditions suited Watkins as he roared around the 11.2 mile track. And during the midpoint of the races, he was knocking on the door for second behind Monster Energy/ FAR/Andrews Cycles' Jason Thomas. The rain continued to steadily fall on the track, and due to deteriorating conditions, the race was called after the 5th lap, with Watkins in third place.
"I had a decent start and the bike and I ran really well throughout the race," Watkins said. "My goal when I started the race was to get on the podium, and I accomplished that. It took me a couple of races to get in the groove but I really pushed myself today and the atmosphere was really good under the tent. I think that JT wish he had gotten some mud out there today too."
"We definitely worked hard in the two weeks after the General GNCC," Bennett said. "Jimmy wants to finish with the checkers, and his shoulder held out for two laps but it started to deteriorate. We have three weeks until the next race so that'll be a good break to get it healed. I had a ball out on the bike today, and hopefully by midseason I'll be back on the podium. It was a great day for the team, and we were thrilled to see Scott back on the podium and Ashley with a third in the Womens class."
Jarrett said his arm wasn't sore when he started the race, but felt more like it was a little "dead." But Jarrett was able to finish the first lap in 5th overall after a mid-pack start. By the second lap he had fallen slightly to 9th place, and then decided to pull into the pits.
"The first lap was fine, but then I just felt like I was sitting on my bike, riding around," Jarrett said. "But we're looking at three weeks until the next race for the shoulder to heal."
Jarrett and Watkins would like to thank their sponsors GEICO, JG Off Road, Pirelli, Silkolene, EBC, Tsubaki, Ride PG, Moose, Pro Moto Billet, CV4, Monster Energy Kawasaki, Smith G2, IMS, FMF, Sidi, Renthal and No-Toil.
Watkins would like to thank his sponsors, GEICO, JG Off Road, Moose, Shoei, Smith Optics,  Pirelli tires, PG Graphics, G2, Enduro Engineering, BRP and Sidi Boots.
Jarrett would also like to thank individual sponsors Arai, Cytosport and OGIO.
Crouch would like to thank sponsors JG OFF Road, GEICO, Silkolene, Fasstway, Rekluse, Spruill Honda Kawasaki, Scott Goggles, Vee Rubber, House Forcepower, PMP Sprockets, Tucker Rocky, One Industries and OGIO.
The Steele Creek bike race premieres on VERSUS on June 13th at 2:30 p.m.
The JG Off Road/GEICO Powersports team has 3 weeks until the next race, the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC in Union, S.C., on April 11th.
For more information, log on to www.jgoffroad.com.

About JG Off Road
JG Off-Road Racing is owned by JT and Gretchen Bennett. JT started out as a privateer rider, working hard to build his racing career and is a former multi-time AWRCS Champion, GNCC Amateur Class Champion and ISDE competitor. After 17 years of racing, the Bennett's decided to start their own team as a chance to stay involved in racing and give back to the sport.  JG Off Road started in 2009 and strives to provide strong results in all aspects of racing. Bennett has built a solid partnership with GEICO Powersports to give the team a winning outlook and a hard to beat attitude.