Defending XC2 Lites Champ, Steward Baylor, Takes the First Win of the Year
River Ranch, Fla. (March 13, 2012) -
Three hours of rough, sandy whooped out trails could not separate
Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Title contenders Paul Whibley and
Charlie Mullins. They battled down to the finish-and into sheer
exhaustion-at the opening round of the 2012 season, the Moose Racing
Westgate River Ranch GNCC in Florida.
Three hours of rough, sandy whooped out trails could not separate
Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Title contenders Paul Whibley and
Charlie Mullins. They battled down to the finish-and into sheer
exhaustion-at the opening round of the 2012 season, the Moose Racing
Westgate River Ranch GNCC in Florida.
Photo By: Ken Hill
Whibley and Mullins had an all out battle to the finish
Am-Pro Yamaha Racing's Whibley, who finished a close second to Mullins
in the 2011 title chase, grabbed the win by just six tenths of a second.
Mullins, completely spent, collapsed off of his FMF KTM as he crossed
the finish line in second. Fast behind them came XC2 Pro Lites winner
Steward Baylor on his KTM 250 two-stroke. Much pre-season buzz centered
around the 17-year-old Baylor's attempt to win a race overall on his
250, and his Florida performance did not disappoint.
Last year,
Mullins scored the first GNCC Title for an American-born rider since
2004. This year he appears to be up against stiff overseason competition
again, with New Zealand's Whibley joined by another Kiwi, WMR/KTM's
Rory Mead, who finished a strong third in the XC1 class and fourth in
overall time behind Baylor.
Mullins scored the first GNCC Title for an American-born rider since
2004. This year he appears to be up against stiff overseason competition
again, with New Zealand's Whibley joined by another Kiwi, WMR/KTM's
Rory Mead, who finished a strong third in the XC1 class and fourth in
overall time behind Baylor.
Whibley grabbed
the $250 Motosport.com Holeshot Award with Mullins close in tow.
Whibley established himself early on and set the pace against a varied
field of competitors. Riders such as Mullins, Mead, FMF/KTM's Kailub
Russell and Florida favorite Garrett Edmisten fought for the lead, but
Whibley responded to each challenge.
the $250 Motosport.com Holeshot Award with Mullins close in tow.
Whibley established himself early on and set the pace against a varied
field of competitors. Riders such as Mullins, Mead, FMF/KTM's Kailub
Russell and Florida favorite Garrett Edmisten fought for the lead, but
Whibley responded to each challenge.
"I made a
little mistake and Charlie got around me but I caught back up to him and
went by him pretty easy," Whibley said. "Charlie gave me a fight all
the way to the finish, but that's what I was expecting. Everyone is
doing the work and riding really well, so to get a win is good. You
can't really expect to be out front all the time like that, it's going
to make it an exciting season!"
little mistake and Charlie got around me but I caught back up to him and
went by him pretty easy," Whibley said. "Charlie gave me a fight all
the way to the finish, but that's what I was expecting. Everyone is
doing the work and riding really well, so to get a win is good. You
can't really expect to be out front all the time like that, it's going
to make it an exciting season!"
Photo By: Ken Hill
Rory Mead, Paul Whibley and Charlie Mullins made up the Moose Racing Westgate River Ranch Podium
would definitely say this was one of the toughest ones I've done. I
gave it everything I had and just came up a little it short," Mullins
said. "I was riding good, it was 100 percent from the word go and we're
just looking to recover for Georgia now."
New Zealand's
Mead came to the GNCC Series last season as a fill-in rider for the JG
Offroad Honda team. The WMR/KTM team provided the opportunity to return
to GNCC aboard a KTM450. He started in nearly last place, but slowly
made his time up against a stacked field of XC1 riders.
Mead came to the GNCC Series last season as a fill-in rider for the JG
Offroad Honda team. The WMR/KTM team provided the opportunity to return
to GNCC aboard a KTM450. He started in nearly last place, but slowly
made his time up against a stacked field of XC1 riders.
"It was a
pretty tough track out there today, back home it's all sand but I didn't
do a whole lot of preparation for it, but it was a good day," Mead
said. "The start didn't go too well for me, I bumped the throttle and
got off last place. I followed Chris Bach there for a while and we made
our way through the pack and guys were dropping back toward the end, so I
just rode steady."
pretty tough track out there today, back home it's all sand but I didn't
do a whole lot of preparation for it, but it was a good day," Mead
said. "The start didn't go too well for me, I bumped the throttle and
got off last place. I followed Chris Bach there for a while and we made
our way through the pack and guys were dropping back toward the end, so I
just rode steady."
Mead eventually
caught Mullins near the halfway mark, and passed him when Mullins made a
gas stop. Then Mullins rallied back. "Whibley stalled it before the
finish and I got into the lead, but I kind of tightened up and he ended
up passing me and then Rory actually got by me when I was getting fuel,"
said Mullins. "Rory had a pretty good pace going so I latched onto him
and I was able to catch Paul on the last two laps."
caught Mullins near the halfway mark, and passed him when Mullins made a
gas stop. Then Mullins rallied back. "Whibley stalled it before the
finish and I got into the lead, but I kind of tightened up and he ended
up passing me and then Rory actually got by me when I was getting fuel,"
said Mullins. "Rory had a pretty good pace going so I latched onto him
and I was able to catch Paul on the last two laps."
Photo By: Ken Hill
Australia's Glenn Kearney took 3rd in XC2 Pro Lites
began to back off the pace near the three hour mark, while Mullins put
in one last run in the final hour of racing, leading up to an almost
photo finish with 2009 champion, Whibley.
Shenandoah
Honda/Offroad Champion's Thad DuVall put in a solid ride on his CRF450,
just missing the podium in fourth place. American Beta/WMR's Chris Bach
battled with DuVall all afternoon and took fifth, ahead of XC1 rookie
Jordan Ashburn, riding a YZ250 for the Am-Pro Yamaha Racing team this
year. Seventh went to FMF/KTM's Cory Buttrick.
Honda/Offroad Champion's Thad DuVall put in a solid ride on his CRF450,
just missing the podium in fourth place. American Beta/WMR's Chris Bach
battled with DuVall all afternoon and took fifth, ahead of XC1 rookie
Jordan Ashburn, riding a YZ250 for the Am-Pro Yamaha Racing team this
year. Seventh went to FMF/KTM's Cory Buttrick.
Japan National
Cross Country Series (JNCC) rider Takeshi Koikeda took eighth. Koikeda
hails from Japan and plans to contest all 13 rounds of the GNCC Series
for the first time ever, and with a little help from KTM Japan and North
America, he could be a serious contender in weeks to come. New Jersey's
Jesse Groemm took ninth. Edmisten had the Florida fans going when he
took the lead early, but he tired out toward the end of the race,
finishing a respectable tenth.
Cross Country Series (JNCC) rider Takeshi Koikeda took eighth. Koikeda
hails from Japan and plans to contest all 13 rounds of the GNCC Series
for the first time ever, and with a little help from KTM Japan and North
America, he could be a serious contender in weeks to come. New Jersey's
Jesse Groemm took ninth. Edmisten had the Florida fans going when he
took the lead early, but he tired out toward the end of the race,
finishing a respectable tenth.
FMF/KTM's
Kailub Russell is expected to fight for this year's championship, and he
looked good early by passing Mullins and challenging Whibley for the
lead. But a crash ended his hopes, causing him to drop from the race
with a shoulder injury. Russell still hopes to give next weekend's race
in Georgia a shot.
Kailub Russell is expected to fight for this year's championship, and he
looked good early by passing Mullins and challenging Whibley for the
lead. But a crash ended his hopes, causing him to drop from the race
with a shoulder injury. Russell still hopes to give next weekend's race
in Georgia a shot.
Photo By: Ken Hill
Steward
Baylor Jr. secured the first XC2 Pro Lites Win of the Season. Kearney
(left) and Robinson (right) rounded out the podium
ride for third overall and first in the XC2 division didn't materialize
until late. In a first corner pileup, the young racer immediately began
the race behind the rest of the field, but before the first lap, Baylor
had already put himself into the fifth place XC2 position. FAR
Racing/Husqvarna's Glenn Kearney and Jason Thomas led for a bit, until
Baylor's late push.
"I feel like
it's my time. I know I've got the speed now and I think it's just
pulling a couple more things together," Baylor said. "I ride with
emotion and when I get upset is when I go the fastest. Fifth place, I
was not happy with that, I think it was about lap three when I put
myself together, started charging and caught Jason [Thomas] and Glen
[Kearney] and just pulled out from there."
it's my time. I know I've got the speed now and I think it's just
pulling a couple more things together," Baylor said. "I ride with
emotion and when I get upset is when I go the fastest. Fifth place, I
was not happy with that, I think it was about lap three when I put
myself together, started charging and caught Jason [Thomas] and Glen
[Kearney] and just pulled out from there."
Kearney, who is
filling in for the injured Andrew DeLong aboard the F.A.R Husqvarna for
the first two rounds of racing, got off to a rough start as well but
put himself into podium contention right away, battling with GNCC
regulars such as Jesse Robinson. Husaberg-backed Robinson also closed
strong and finished second, with Kearney on the XC2 podium in his first
GNCC since 2010.
filling in for the injured Andrew DeLong aboard the F.A.R Husqvarna for
the first two rounds of racing, got off to a rough start as well but
put himself into podium contention right away, battling with GNCC
regulars such as Jesse Robinson. Husaberg-backed Robinson also closed
strong and finished second, with Kearney on the XC2 podium in his first
GNCC since 2010.
Photo By: Ken Hill
Factory FMF/KTM's Maria Forsberg Won the Women's Class
Kevin Foley took the AM Overall and Super Senior A (45+) class win over
fellow KTM Mark Hyde, who won the Masters A (50+). Factory FMF/KTM's
Maria Forsberg won the Women's class and finished sixth overall over pro
women's motocross racer Sarah Whitmore of Michigan.
In the Youth
racing action, it was Ohio's Triston Landrum who took the Overall win,
followed by West Virginia's Cody Pingley and Tennsessee's Sam Thurman.
racing action, it was Ohio's Triston Landrum who took the Overall win,
followed by West Virginia's Cody Pingley and Tennsessee's Sam Thurman.
Round two of
the 2012 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series heads to Washington,
Ga., March 17 and 18 for The Maxxis General GNCC. For more information,
go to www.gnccracing.com.
the 2012 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series heads to Washington,
Ga., March 17 and 18 for The Maxxis General GNCC. For more information,
go to www.gnccracing.com.
XC1 Pro Results:
1. Paul Whibley (YAM)
2. Charlie Mullins (KTM)
3. Rory Mead (KTM)
4. Thad DuVall (HON)
5. Chris Bach (BET)
6. Jordan Ashburn (YAM)
7. Cory Buttrick (KTM)
8. Takeshi Koikeda (KTM)
9. Jesse Groemm (KTM)
10. Garrett Edmisten (KAW)
XC2 Pro Lites Results:
1. Steward Baylor Jr. (KTM)
2. Jesse Robinson (HSB)
3. Glenn Kearney (HSQ)
4. Jason Thomas (HSQ)
5. Jake Korn (KTM)
6. Jedediah Haines (YAM)
7. Shane Hufford Jr. (KTM)
8. Cole Kirkpatrick (KTM)
9. Dustin Gibson (KTM)
10. Brad Bakken (YAM)
XC1 Pro Standings:
1. Paul Whibley (30)
2. Charlie Mullins (25)
3. Rory Mead (21)
4. Thad DuVall (18)
5. Chris Bach (16)
6. Jordan Ashburn (15)
7. Cory Buttrick (14)
8. Takeshi Koikeda (13)
9. Jesse Groemm (12)
10. Garrett Edmisten (11)
XC2 Pro Lites Results:
1. Steward Baylor Jr. (KTM)
2. Jesse Robinson (HSB)
3. Glenn Kearney (HSQ)
4. Jason Thomas (HSQ)
5. Jake Korn (KTM)
6. Jed Haines (YAM)
7. Shane Hufford Jr. (KTM)
8. Cole Kirkpatrick (KTM)
9. Dustin Gibson (KTM)
10. Brad Bakken (YAM)
XC2 Pro Lites Standings:
1. Steward Baylor Jr. (30)
2. Jesse Robinson (25)
3. Glenn Kearney (21)
4. Jason Thomas (18)
5. Jake Korn (16)
6. Jed Haines (15)
7. Shane Hufford Jr. (14)
8. Cole Kirkpatrick (13)
9. Dustin Gibson (12)
10. Brad Bakken (11)
$250 Motosport.com Holeshot: Paul Whibley (YAM)
$100 Motosport.com Holeshot: Jase Lewis (KTM)
About GNCC Racing:
The Can-Am
Grand National Cross Country series is America's premier off-road racing
series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced
exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the
most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour
GNCC races lead as many as 1,500 riders through tracks ranging in length
from ten to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud,
dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both
survival and speed and draw talent from all over the U.S., Europe,
Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised and airs every week
on NBC Sports Network. For more information, please visit
www.gnccracing.com.
Grand National Cross Country series is America's premier off-road racing
series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced
exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the
most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour
GNCC races lead as many as 1,500 riders through tracks ranging in length
from ten to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud,
dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both
survival and speed and draw talent from all over the U.S., Europe,
Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised and airs every week
on NBC Sports Network. For more information, please visit
www.gnccracing.com.
3/13/2012 9:21pm
0 comments
To post, please join, log in or connect to Vital using your Facebook profile Login with Facebook.