Knight Wins Weekend Warrior Spartan GNCC
Sparta, KY – Red Bull KTM’s David Knight returned to his winning ways in the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, taking the Weekend Warrior Spartan GNCC over the Am-Pro Yamaha duo of Charlie Mullins and Barry Hawk. Mullins, winner of the previous GNCC event, battled Knight hard for most of the race but came up short at the end, which puts Knight back into the series points lead.
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Mullins looked game for the Knight challenge but admitted he struggled a bit in the rocky, technical sections of the course. “After he (Knight) passed me I stayed in my own pace,” said Mullins. “I didn’t feel really comfortable today, the rocks messed with me. And it was really dry in the fields, and I seemed to struggle a little bit in the dry, rocky stuff.”
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Jarrett’s teammate Glenn Kearney rounded out the top five.
In the XC Lites division, FMF Suzuki veteran Rodney Smith did it again, coming from behind to top Josh Weisenfels and Justin Williamson for the win. “That’s kind of what it’s been like all year, as whether or not I still want it that bad,” said Smith. “But I’m having a lot of fun out here riding with these guys, and I’m still pushing. But my hat is off to Josh. He’s been riding real well all year and I’ve been keeping my eye on him.”
Weisenfels, the full privateer, rode alone out front for most of the race before Smith and Williamson battled him near the end. “I was just riding smooth and I was just trying to save my energy,” said Weisenfels. “I was just riding, and about the third lap I hit a tree and bent my shifter. I missed some shifts after that, but I think I thought about winning too much, and it kind of got to me. I didn’t think I was going to get caught. Rodney caught me before that dusty field. I heard someone rev their bike real loud, and I turned around and saw it was Rodney was like “here we go.” I just did everything I could, but he rode awesome.”
Williamson picked up his pace late in the game to become a contender. “I thought I had it, but then I jumped a little ditch in the woods and cased it, got off balance and ran into a tree, and Rodney just cruised around like the veteran he is,” said Williamson.
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The XC2 riders were eighth, ninth and eleventh overall. Sixth overall went to the ever-consistent Kawasaki privateer Garrett Edmisten, seventh to AMA Enduro Champion Russ Bobbitt, and tenth to veteran Yamaha rider Brian Garrahan, his first top-ten overall after struggling with injuries for the last few seasons.
The 2007 Can-Am GNCC series continues in two weeks with the all-new Moose Racing Snowshoe GNCC in Snowshoe, WV on June 23 and 24.
Photos by David Scearce: daveelec1@charter.net
Results: Weekend Warrior GNCC
Sparta, KY
June 10, 2007
Overall
1. David Knight KTM XC1
2. Charles Mullins YAM XC1
3. Barry Hawk, Jr YAM XC1
4. Jimmy Jarrett SUZ XC1
5. Glenn Kearney SUZ XC1
6. Garrett Edmisten KAW XC1
7. Russell Bobbitt KTM XC1
8. Rodney Smith SUZ XC2
9. Josh Weisenfels YAM XC2
10. Brian Garrahan YAM XC1
11. Justin Williamson KTM XC2
12. Jesse Robinson KAW XC1
13. Joshua Strang SUZ XC1
14. Dustin Gibson KTM XC2
15. Robbie Jenks KTM XC1
16. Thaddeus Duvall YAM XC2
17. Travis Green KAW XC2
18. Jason Gilleland KTM XC1
19. Scott Watkins KAW XC2
20. Jake Fiddler KTM 250 A
2007 Can-Am GNCC Overall Series Standings (After 7 of 13 rounds)
1. David Knight 149/3 wins
2. Charles Mullins 148/1 win
3. Garrett Edmisten 123/
4. Barry Hawk, Jr 119/1 win
5. Glenn Kearney 104
6. Shane Watts 92/1 win
7. Paul Whibley 84/1 win
8. Jimmy Jarrett 83
9. Jesse Robinson 77
10. Rodney Smith 72
11. Joshua Strang 69
12. Robbie Jenks 64
13. Justin Williamson 49
14. Thaddeus Duvall 48
15. Dustin Gibson 39
16. Scott Watkins 36
17. Kurt Caselli 34
18. Josh Weisenfels 33
19. Bryan Henson 22
20. Russell Bobbitt 19
About GNCC Racing:
The AMA/ATVA-sanctioned Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series is America’s premier off-road racing series. The 13-round series is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The nearly three-hour long GNCC races lead as many as 1,800 riders through tracks ranging from eight to twelve miles in length. GNCC Racing airs weekly television shows on Versus (formerly Outdoor Life Network) every Saturday at 3 p.m. and Thursday at 4 p.m. beginning on April 14. With varied terrain including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. GNCC featured sponsors include BRP Can-Am, Parts Unlimited, Moose, Maxxis, Pirelli, Wiseco, Acerbis, Elka, Geico, Klotz, FMF, ITP and Weekend Warrior, and riders compete for over $3 million in series prizes and contingency money. Associate sponsors include Alpinestars, Cometic, EK Chain, HiPer Technology, Laegers, Moose Utility Division, The National Guard, Powersport Grafx, Race Tools, REM, Scott, Thor, Tire Balls, Twin Air, and MotoTee’s. Media Sponsors include Racer X Illustrated, ATV Rider, ATV Sport, ATVRiders.com, Quadzone.com, Dirt Rider and ATV Insider. For more information log on to www.gnccracing.com.