Snowshoe, W.Va. -- With the $10,000 prize on the horizon, the GEICO/JG Off Road/ Monster Energy Kawasaki team was ready to take on one of the toughest tracks of the 2010 GNCC season, the Motorcycle-USA.com Snowshoe GNCC, round nine of the series. When the day was done, team co-manager JT Bennett came away with a strong second place overall finish in the morning race, and XC2 Pro Lites rider Scott Watkins clinched third.
"Snowshoe provided all the expectations we were looking forward to," Bennett said. "It was fast, muddy and technical. I really enjoyed the morning race and it was great being back on the podium. I'd like to thank everyone who put effort into the race and also for the team."
The sun was shining over the picturesque Snowshoe Resort in West Virginia when the morning race lined up. The Snowshoe GNCC has a unique start, with riders lining up on the paved road right outside of Snowshoe Village. The track was one of the most intense of the 13-stop tour, with a 27-mile track that riders would have to navigate with great skill to finish.
In the two-hour morning race, Womens rider Ashley Crouch was able to pull that long anticipated holeshot and make it around the first turns of the course in first place until KTM's Maria Forsberg was able to maneuver around her. When Defending Champion Mandi Mastin passed her, Crouch settled into third place, riding with Leann Bange until Crouch fell down a hill, flooding her bike. It took Crouch a little bit of time to get going again, but she was able to catch back to fourth place to finish for the day.
"When I went up that last big hill, I caught up with Mark Weiland and stayed with him," Crouch said. "I knew he'd help me along. I ended up with fourth and I'm happy with my race. It was rough and slick and really technical."
When the flag waved for the start of the Pro Race, Jimmy Jarrett rocketed off the start, and came in as the overall leader by the end of the first lap on time adjustments. Unfortunately, Jarrett took a few shots to his still-recovering arm, and he slowly fell back to mid-pack in the XC1 class, before deciding to step out after the fourth lap to prevent re-injuring his arm.
Meanwhile, teammate Scott Watkins battled with Monster Energy/FAR's Jason Thomas, Jesse Robinson and Justin Williamson in the XC2 class. Watkins battled back and forth between 3rd and 4th. Watkins was able to move into third for good by the 5th lap to finish 3rd in XC2 and 10th overall.
"This race has a really different start with us lining up on the blacktop and mixed in with the XC1 riders and I knew it would be a fast start," Watkins said. "I didn't want to use all my energy to start out because I didn't want to get tired at the end. I rode at a steady pace and tried to go as fast as I could without making silly mistakes. I made good points for the end of the year and maybe some extra money too!"
"The race started out just like we thought it would with Jimmy and Scott in front," Bennett said. "Unfortunately, Jimmy took a few shots to his arm. Scott was able to pull through and get us another podium for us and we're proud of him. We're looking forward to the two months off to recoup, but we'll be ready to get back to GNCC racing in September."
JG Off Road would like to especially thank "Momma" Lisa Shaffer from GEICO for traveling out to watch the team this weekend.
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 additional sponsors Shoei, Smith Optics, 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, Ohlins, PMP Sprockets, Tucker Rocky, One Industries and OGIO.
The team will have a two month break from the GNCC season as the series starts it's summer break. It will resume September 10-11 in New Berlin, NY for the Can-Am Unadilla GNCC. The team travels next to the DP Brakes Wolverine OMA in Mesick, Michigan on July 10-11.
For more information, log on to www.jgoffroad.com.
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