Quick Fill #17: This week in GNCC

Welcome to Quick Fill.  What's there left to say, let's go racing already!   Between Easter break and the recent cancellation of Loretta's, it's been a dry month for GNCC riders and enthusiasts alike.  Hopefully RacerTV's coverage of the first two rounds (well, two for ATV and one for bike) has fulfilled the void that may be lingering in your little off-road racing hearts.  Speaking of, how cool are the TV shows this year?  The RacerTV crew has been doing a killer job grabbing footage at the races and Hoop has put together some cool stuff for TV.  With the addition of Barry Hawk's GoPro helmet cam, we get to see even more exclusive racing action this year - which is actually impossible to capture from anywhere besides via BHawk's Shoei helmet.

I know you all are wondering when the reschedule date for Loretta's is going to be.  Well, the answer is that we don't have an answer yet.  It's actually much harder to reschedule a race than it is to schedule it in the first place, crazy huh?  There are many different factors that weigh in on the decision so hold tight and we will have something out as soon as we are able to make a decision.

Just a quick note to the Leatt contingency members, you have not been forgotten! If you earned money at the first four rounds, your check will be mailed to you soon.  They were planning on distributing the checks last weekend at Loretta's but that obviously didn't happen so look for those soon.

If you haven't already, check out this week's Tuesday Toolbox with 4 Stroke A Lites rider Layne Michael.  Layne and his family have been kind enough to let me hang around their house lately and ride their amazing track, which just happens to be super close to our office here in Morgantown (score!).  I don't think they realize it yet, but if they keep feeding me dinner I'm never going to leave!  If you've got someone in mind that you think would make an interesting Tuesday Toolbox, let us know on Facebook!

That does it for me.  I just landed in Chicago on my way to the fifth round of AMA Pro ATV Motocross at Sunset Ridge MX, which also happens to be one of my favorite MX tracks from back home.  We're hosting a Meet and Greet tonight with the Motoworks Can-Am team at the Moto Armory Museum near the track.  And hey, it's Cinco de Mayo, be safe out there.

Here's Shan Moore with news from the weekend.

Thanks, Jen.  XC2 competitor Brad Bakken got a big win over the weekend, topping AM-Pro Yamaha riders Thad DuVall and Paul Whibley at the Virginia Championship Hare Scrambles race in Martinsville, VA. Brad is a multi-time Virginia Hare Scrambles champ, so, for sure, the Am-Pro guys were venturing into Brad's territory due to the cancelation of Loretta Lynn's and they paid the price. DuVall and Bakken were wheel-to-wheel during the last part of the race, with Bakken just edging out DuVall for the win.

Bakken was recently selected as a member of the Junior Trophy Team, which will represent the United States at this year's ISDE in Finland and I think that has lit a fire under him.

Speaking of the ISDE, several other GNCC competitors were also selected to the U.S. squad. Cory Buttrick and Andrew DeLong will join Bakken on the Junior Trophy team, while Jimmy Jarrett, Nate Kanney, Russell Bobbitt, and Am-Pro stand-in rider at the Big Buck GNCC, Kyle Summers, will be part of the prestigious World Trophy Team representing the Red, White, and Blue. Congratulations, guys. 

On the Women's team the U.S. Squad will consist of Mandi Mastin, Nicole Bradford and Kerrie Swartz.

Of course, the Virginia race marked the return of Thad DuVall from the cracked wrist and bruised femur he suffered at the Steel Creek. Apparently, Thad was on it and back up to race-speed. I think all the time he's spending at Randy Hawkin's place is paying off and I really think we'll see a DuVall win before the year is over.

There was also a race this weekend in Wilkesboro, North Carolina - the NCHSA Mountain Challenge, which was won by Beta rider Chris Bach. GNCC regulars Steward Baylor, Kenneth Gilbert and Grant Baylor were third, fourth and fifth. Not sure if everyone saw it, but Chris finally has a "big" tank for his 350 Beta for the GNCC races. It's a custom-built aluminum job that I like to refer to as "FrankenTank". I don't think Chris found that amusing, but I think it will get the job done. At the first few rounds, Chris was having to stop twice as often as his competition, so the FrankenTank should save him quite a bit of time in a three-hour race. We'll see at Indy.

And here is Hot Rodney himself, who is struggling to make the trek to the Midwest as we speak.

Thanks Jen.  Hello sunshine! Not Jen...but to the actual sun! I began my drive last night to Sunset Ridge MX in Walnut, Illinois for the 5th round of AMA ATV Motocross under cloudy conditions and woke up this morning in Indiana to a clear blue beautiful day.  It kind of gets me revved up for the Indy 100 GNCC in Gosport next weekend.  

Considering it will be a whole month since the last GNCC there may be more new come out of this race than anyone expects.  I would not be surprised to see something big or at least out of the ordinary to take place here.  The reason I say this is because of it being a new location for GNCC and that it will draw not only the regulars of the GNCC Racing Nation but a number of mid-western off-road riders that normally don't travel to the GNCC ready to make their marks in world renowned championship.

The extended break with the Easter Holliday and the cancellation of Loretta Lynn's last week because of flooding has given a few folks an opportunity to heal up mentally and physically.  Chris Bach who made such a strong start in Florida leaving folks with questions after Georgia as to what happened may get an answer or two soon.   Bach rode well at the NCHSA this past weekend and took the win stating "Great day. Got the win, but more importantly rode good n felt great. Feeling good. Pre-Fl GNCC good. Uuhhh ooohhhhh. Somebody learned how to rriiiddeee" as his facebook status after the race.  Remember Bach went down hard at the General and has been not only recovering from some injury physically but also getting up to speed mentally and the ride this weekend sounds like it may have been what he was looking for to get that confidence back.

Thad Duvall who had the massive crash at the Steel Creek GNCC and was thought to have possible ended his season was back racing last week in Martinsville Virginia at the VCHSS round 4 race.  Duvall rode strong finishing 2nd behind GNCC XC-2 Pro Lites contender Brad Bakken.  Pretty impressive comeback and Duvall is showing a lot of desire to be out there racing and performing at that level.

Brad Bakken is a rider making a name of himself no doubt.  He has become regular top finisher landing a 3rd, a 4th and two 6th place finishes.  Take into account he beat not only Thad Duvall but also former GNCC and New Zealand National Champion Paul Whibley and now this kid is really starting to shine.  Bakken sits in 4th in the XC2 Pro-Lites Class standings only 9 points behind another surprise contender Andrew Delong who has more than opened a few eyes this season.

On the ATV side of things riders have also been collecting themselves and preparing for some big things in Indiana as well.  Borich will obviously be hard to beat but Kiser is say the least, "P'ed Off" and is looking to make a strike soon.  Borich has also the confidence of the Can Am boys to contend with and try to keep at bay.  McGill has a win and Bithell is only a turn or two away it seems and we still have not seen what the full capability of Brian Wolf is just yet.  Wolf has suffered from early mechanical problems that may have also taken its toll in the confidence department.  That or the desire is not there after the lack luster start.  I don't know which it is but I am certain we have not seen the last of the Big Bad Wolf.

A couple of notes:  The AMA announced the ISDE teams which included several GNCC regulars.  You can read about it here http://offroad-journal.com/?p=4305.

OffRoadViking.com has been busy during the break as well.  I got this note from them earlier this week:

Here is the video we shot in Martinsville over the weekend. The VCHSS had a great turnout and put on a good race for the GNCC regulars who had nowhere to go after the rain canceled Loretta's. Thought you might want to check it out: http://www.offroadviking.com/vchss.shtm.

Thanks!

Daniel  

That'll do it for now, till next time; God Bless Your Heart and All Your Vital Organs.