A battle to the finish after a three hour race through the mountains of Steel Creek in North Carolina is nothing new. The unpredictable finish of a GNCC in the mountains of Steel Creek in North Carolina has somewhat become a tradition actually. But I don't think anyone saw coming what happened in 2011. Charlie Mullins speaks about the last 20 feet.
Photo By: Shan Moore
Mullins rode a virtually flawless race.
I am just changing the oil in my bike to go riding this afternoon after my dentist appointment. It's that time of year and I guess I gotta go. (Laughs)
Well Charlie I am going to cut to the chase on this one; It was a great race this past weekend at the FMF Steel Creek GNCC but I am sure it was a real heartbreaker for you to have it all literally slip away in the last turn?
Yeah you know it's one of those things and it really stinks but it was just one race and I am over it. Yesterday was pretty tough but today is a new day and I can't dwell on something like that. I have a lot more races to go and I have a National Enduro this weekend and I have to switch focus and accept what happened. It's one of those things that won't happen again. It happened and you move on and put your focus on the future. It's over.
You seemed to ride a fairly mistake free race so one has to wonder with the crazy things that happen there if you were not just meant to be part of the folklore of the Steel Creek GNCCs like even Chris Borich on Saturday?
I don't know. I mean I made some little mistakes with a little bobble or something during the race but as far as falling over I didn't have anything like that happen during the race. You know in the last turn I still thought Strang was behind me so I knew it wasn't over till I crossed that finish line. You know I really don't know what happened. I don't think I grabbed too much front brake, I was trying to protect the inside and I think it was a little greasier there on the inside than other places and I just lost the front end. You know when all that happened my heart dropped and I did what I could to pick the bike up and cross the finish line as fast I could. It was unfortunate but it is what it is.
Photo By: Digital Off-Road
Charlie Mullins missed the win by about 20 feet.
I came across the finish line and congratulated Josh and told him good race and stuff. Then I just had to go vent. I went back to the semi and no-one was around, they were all at the finish line, and I just sat. I just needed a few minutes to myself to realize what had just happened. I just kind of vented in my own way and tried to deal with it while they washed my bike. Then when I went to the podium and all the fans there that cheered me on really helped me out a lot. They seemed like they were happy and made me feel like I had done a good job and it was a good feeling to have them cheer like that when you interviewed me. I still feel like I have the speed and conditioning and all that so it's just kind of one of those things that happens I guess and I know at the next race I will be ready.
Exactly! It was crazy the way it ended but there has to be way more positives that came out of the race than that one negative?
Oh for sure! There was way more positives than negatives. I gained a lot of confidence in the bike and the team and I really feel like I got the KTM dialed in where I like it. This week I am just kind of working on some little stuff like fork height and just really fine tune the bike. I pretty happy with it now and these changes should be the icing on the cake.
Photo By: Shan Moore
Hot Rod has a lot of support with FMF KTM Team.
I really don't know. I really didn't know too much about the team. I knew Anti but not really that personally. I have always been friends with Corey (Buttrick) and Kailub (Russell) but as far as how the team functioned as a whole I really didn't know. I never even went under the KTM tent in all the years the semi has been there so I had no idea how things worked. Now after being there for a few races now I realize just much they got their stuff together. They want to win and it is really cool to see everyone working together under there to make that happen.
Is there much difference in the KTM team than Suzuki or Am-Pro Yamaha the teams you have been on before?
No not really. It's definitely a factory effort and of course they want to win and I want to win. I have all the support I need and anything I feel I want to change or try on the bike they support it 100% and it's awesome to have that kind of support.
How are things going protecting the #1 Plate in the National Enduro series?
Things are actually going good. It's starting to turn around a little for me. I struggled in the first round quite a bit and I ended up sixth. It was not the finish I was expecting. I rebounded the next weekend at the Florida GNCC and won that and started building my confidence. The second round of was in Louisiana and it actually went really well. I won the first three tests but Russell (Bobbitt) is riding well this year and he wants to regain that championship so I have my work cut out for me there in the enduros. We head to Texas this weekend and I really like that track so I am looking for a good finish and to get back on top there as well.
I know you probably feel like you are catching a lot of grief over what happened this weekend but in reality you put on a great ride and show for the fans.
It's just one race and I think if it would have been my first race win ever it probably would have a little different story but I feel I know how to win races and more wins will come this season. I am just going to keep plugging away and keep doing what I have been doing. It works for me and I am sticking with it.
Thank you Charlie for taking the time to talk with us today! I know it was a rough way to end the day but it sounds like your spirits are up and you are headed in the right direction.
Not a problem. I would like to say thanks to FMF-KTM and the whole team for supporting me this year and everybody at the races helping out. I want to thank the fans. I cannot thank them all enough for all the support they show. It's great.
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