2012 Mammoth GNCC Report

Chilly | Apr 30, 2012 | Comments 2

Rory Mead Wins GNCC

So let’s mix things up a little bit this week. It seems appropriate based upon the Mammoth GNCC race results.

I may be sitting at my desk some 2500 miles away, but even I could sense things rocking in the off road world yesterday. A week or so ago we started a conversation about the underdog beating the big boys. Some of that was the discussion of how improbable the direction of the National Enduro series had turned. Was that just the crack in the dam? If so, then yesterday it burst open when Rory Mead and his KTM 300xc crossed the finish line. Today we find ourselves with a whole bunch of firsts; first time winner, first win by a two stroke in XC1 in years and first win for team WMR Off Road Racing.

Close in tow behind Mead were Charlie Mullins and Paul Whibley. Both crossed the line just a couple of seconds back to round out the XC1 podium positions. Then came Kaiblub Russell. The Yamaha of Jordan Ashburn was 5th. In his debut on the Obermeyer YZ450, Chris Bach made it to 6th, a promising new start. Nate Kanney on the JG Off Road Honda finished 7th. (Look for a vintage pic of Nate that I am going to run tomorrow).

In the XC2 class Steward Baylor continued his perfect record. Two strokes carried the day, winning both classes. Behind him, the FAR Husky’s were looking good as Andrew Delong continues to get stronger each race. He may have something for Stu before season end. New rider Nick Davis also had a good day in fourth position. Husaberg rider Jesse Robinson put his FE250 on the podium in third place.

Today is one of those when I wish to be a fly on the wall at KTM. Charlie Mullins recovered from a poor start to climb up to second place. But Mead and Baylor beat both Russell and Buttrick in the overall. Another weekend where KTM wins everything, but it is done by the support riders, not the factory boys. You know that somewhere, be it right or wrong, a phone rang and someone was ranting ”how come we are spending so much money to get beat by privateers on our own bikes”.

If you follow GNCC racing at all, you can not help but notice the Fly Racing gear everywhere. They have made a huge thrust into racing this year. So let’s mix things up a little this week and post the press release from Fly about their winning riders. They sure made some smart choices in riders and deserve a little love.

FLY Riders Sweep Mammoth GNCC!

GNCC Racing headed to a new venue this past weekend for the inaugural Mammoth GNCC in Park City, Kentucky. With a brand-new technical course and a level playing field—particularly in the XC1 Pro class—New Zealander and FLY Racing team rider Rory Mead rose to the occasion. Known for his technical riding skills, Mead quickly put himself up front to control the majority of the three hour race and take his first ever XC1 victory! Chris Bach had a great debut ride on his new Obermeyer Yamaha back YZ450F with a solid 6th place finish.

In XC2 action, Steward Baylor kept his perfect season intact with another win, making it 5 for 5 wins. Keeping Baylor honest all day and taking his second podium in a row was F.A.R. Husqvarna team rider Andrew Delong. Also impressive in his first outing for the F.A.R. Husqvarna team was Nick Davis who came home in fourth. Rounding out the top five was Jedediah Haines in fifth to make it four out of five riders in the top five in XC2 competition.

Other notable FLY Racing GNCC finishes included top overall amateur and 250A winner Grant Baylor in 18th place overall, Open A winner Adam Bonneur, 4 Stroke A Lites winner Derrick Allen, and 2nd place Women’s class finisher Leeann Bange.