Nate Kanney Claims 4th Place Finish at Kentucky GNCC

Top-finishing American rider, top-finishing KTM rider, top-finishing two stroke, and fourth place overall are the rather odd highlights of Nate Kanney's race at the 2008 Weekend Warrior Spartan GNCC. After a third place start, Kanney and his Red Bull/KTM teammate David Knight set their sights on Team FMF Suzuki's Charlie Mullins. "David and I both made our way around Charlie and I was feeling pretty good riding in second place. My arms started to pump up though, so I just tried to settle into a good pace and find my rhythm. I knew that with the heat and dry, dusty conditions it was going to be a long, hard day at the office."

Over the next three laps of the 11 mile course, Kanney was involved in a fierce battle with Team FMF Suzuki's Josh Strang and eventual race winner Paul Whibley, teammate Knight, and 2nd place finisher Glenn Kearney. With the top 5 riders within 30 seconds of each other, positions were swapped constantly with Kanney running as far back as 5th and as far forward as 3rd.

Heading into the final lap, Nate was 34 seconds behind then 3rd place rider Kearney. "On the last lap I needed to make some time up on third to get up on the podium. I pushed quite hard but the harder I pushed the more mistakes it seemed I'd make. All I could really do was hope that 3rd place would make a mistake for me to catch him." The top 3 riders all rode solid last laps, and Nate had to settle with a 4th place overall finish, his 4th top-five finish of the season.

Nate Kanney photo: Jason Hooper - www.digitaloffroad.com

With 7 of the 13 2008 GNCC rounds now in the books, Kanney sits in 6th place in the overall points. The GNCC series takes a 3 week break before round 8 in Yadkinville, NC.

Results:
1. Paul Whibley
2. Glenn Kearney
3. Josh Strang
4. Nate Kanney
5. David Knight

Next Up:
KTM Perry Mountain 24 Hour Challenge
June 7-8, 2008
Maplesville, AL

For inquiries, please contact Jason Hooper at pr@digitaloffroad.com