KTM GNCC Race Report: Round 5
April 26, 2010, 5:32pm
Hurricane Mills, TN – FMF/KTM rider Nate Kanney earned his first XC1 podium of the season at the fifth round of the GNCC Series after a decent start and smooth ride to sail across the finish in 3rd place. His teammate, Kailub Russell, put his mark on the Tennessee soil earning his fourth straight win in the XC2 class in a come from behind charge through the pack.
The pouring rain Friday and Saturday before the event made for a muddy, challenging course. Kanney was able to assemble a respectable start down the mud start straight coming around the first turn in 8th position. His teammate, Cory Buttrick, shot out of the hole in a better position out front in 2nd place.
By the end of the first lap Kanney was able to move past a pack of riders and put his KTM in 4th. Meanwhile, Buttrick made a few mistakes and had dropped back to 7th place. On lap three, Kanney temporarily moved into 2nd place and battled in that position for the next lap before dropping to 3rd where he remained through the end of the race. RPM/KTM rider Chris Bach put in a great ride for 4th position while Buttrick was able to charge back up through the pack to take home 5th.
“Nate (Kanney) rode a strong race today. We definitely saw improvement in him from the beginning of the season. The goal now is to stay on the podium through the remainder of the series,” commented FMF/KTM Team Manager Antti Kallonen.
In the XC2 class Kailub Russell struggled to start his bike off the line resulting in a last place start. His teammate, Steward Baylor, faired better coming around the first turn around 5th place.
Within the first two laps Russell had moved himself into the top three and was closing in on the 1st and 2nd place riders. Once Russell caught leader, Scott Watkins, he found a battle on his hands for the next two laps. The riders kept the crowd on their feet as they swapped the lead during the middle portion of the race. Meanwhile, Baylor had an unfortunate crash into a tree on the third lap which resulted in damage to his bike that caused him to DNF.
Russell eventually made the pass for the lead stick with two laps remaining. He began to pull on Watkins and finished the race with a comfortable lead to keep his win streak alive. “I had my work cut out for me today, getting a poor start and then battling with Watkins for a while. Overall, I felt strong and am glad to take home this win,” remarked Russell. The strong finish for Russell placed him in 6th overall for the combined race results giving KTM riders 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th position overall for the day.
Adding to the day’s success was another win for RPM/KTM Women’s Pro rider Maria Forsberg. This win was the most impressive yet as she won the race with a 7 minute lead. “I am from Washington so I typically ride pretty well in the trees and mud since that is what I am used to. I felt at home here today,” stated Forsberg.
Next Event: Round 6 – May 8-9, 2010 – Yadkinville, NC
Overall Results XC1 Class –
1) Charles Mullins
2) Joshua Strang
3) Nate Kanney – KTM
4) Chris Bach – KTM
5) Cory Buttrick – KTM
6) Glenn Kearney
7) Jim Jarrett
8) Paul Whibley
9) Eric Bailey
10) Jedediah Haines
Overall Results XC2 Class –
1) Kailub Russell – KTM
2) Scott Watkins
3) Jesse Robinson – KTM
4) Dustin Gibson – KTM
5) Jason Thomas
6) David Synder
7) Nicholas Hunter – KTM
8) Brian Lawson
9) Mark Fortner
10) Steward Baylor – KTM
Overall Results (All Classes) –
1) Charles Mullins
2) Joshua Strang
3) Nate Kanney – KTM
4) Chris Bach – KTM
5) Cory Buttrick – KTM
6) Kailub Russell – KTM
7) Glenn Kearney
8) Jim Jarrett
9) Scott Watkins
10) Jesse Robinson – KTM
Overall Results Women’s Class –
1) Maria Forsberg – KTM
2) Mandi Mastin
3) Leeann Bange
4) Ashley Crouch
5) Samantha Steiner – KTM
6) Shelby Rolen – KTM
7) Kelly Hall – KTM
8) Nina Cobb
9) Britni Santee – KTM
10) Veronica Martin – KTM
The pouring rain Friday and Saturday before the event made for a muddy, challenging course. Kanney was able to assemble a respectable start down the mud start straight coming around the first turn in 8th position. His teammate, Cory Buttrick, shot out of the hole in a better position out front in 2nd place.
By the end of the first lap Kanney was able to move past a pack of riders and put his KTM in 4th. Meanwhile, Buttrick made a few mistakes and had dropped back to 7th place. On lap three, Kanney temporarily moved into 2nd place and battled in that position for the next lap before dropping to 3rd where he remained through the end of the race. RPM/KTM rider Chris Bach put in a great ride for 4th position while Buttrick was able to charge back up through the pack to take home 5th.
“Nate (Kanney) rode a strong race today. We definitely saw improvement in him from the beginning of the season. The goal now is to stay on the podium through the remainder of the series,” commented FMF/KTM Team Manager Antti Kallonen.
In the XC2 class Kailub Russell struggled to start his bike off the line resulting in a last place start. His teammate, Steward Baylor, faired better coming around the first turn around 5th place.
Within the first two laps Russell had moved himself into the top three and was closing in on the 1st and 2nd place riders. Once Russell caught leader, Scott Watkins, he found a battle on his hands for the next two laps. The riders kept the crowd on their feet as they swapped the lead during the middle portion of the race. Meanwhile, Baylor had an unfortunate crash into a tree on the third lap which resulted in damage to his bike that caused him to DNF.
Russell eventually made the pass for the lead stick with two laps remaining. He began to pull on Watkins and finished the race with a comfortable lead to keep his win streak alive. “I had my work cut out for me today, getting a poor start and then battling with Watkins for a while. Overall, I felt strong and am glad to take home this win,” remarked Russell. The strong finish for Russell placed him in 6th overall for the combined race results giving KTM riders 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th position overall for the day.
Adding to the day’s success was another win for RPM/KTM Women’s Pro rider Maria Forsberg. This win was the most impressive yet as she won the race with a 7 minute lead. “I am from Washington so I typically ride pretty well in the trees and mud since that is what I am used to. I felt at home here today,” stated Forsberg.
Next Event: Round 6 – May 8-9, 2010 – Yadkinville, NC
Overall Results XC1 Class –
1) Charles Mullins
2) Joshua Strang
3) Nate Kanney – KTM
4) Chris Bach – KTM
5) Cory Buttrick – KTM
6) Glenn Kearney
7) Jim Jarrett
8) Paul Whibley
9) Eric Bailey
10) Jedediah Haines
Overall Results XC2 Class –
1) Kailub Russell – KTM
2) Scott Watkins
3) Jesse Robinson – KTM
4) Dustin Gibson – KTM
5) Jason Thomas
6) David Synder
7) Nicholas Hunter – KTM
8) Brian Lawson
9) Mark Fortner
10) Steward Baylor – KTM
Overall Results (All Classes) –
1) Charles Mullins
2) Joshua Strang
3) Nate Kanney – KTM
4) Chris Bach – KTM
5) Cory Buttrick – KTM
6) Kailub Russell – KTM
7) Glenn Kearney
8) Jim Jarrett
9) Scott Watkins
10) Jesse Robinson – KTM
Overall Results Women’s Class –
1) Maria Forsberg – KTM
2) Mandi Mastin
3) Leeann Bange
4) Ashley Crouch
5) Samantha Steiner – KTM
6) Shelby Rolen – KTM
7) Kelly Hall – KTM
8) Nina Cobb
9) Britni Santee – KTM
10) Veronica Martin – KTM
