Chris Bach Podiums at GNCC Opener
March 9, 2011, 4:25pm
PASO ROBLES, CA - The opening round of the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series took place at Florida's River Ranch, and factory Beta rider Chris Bach started his season off with a podium finish in the XC1 class! It's certainly not a first for Bach, but his third-place finish marked the first-ever GNCC podium for a Beta RR motorcycle!
"It was a good day; we're pumped on it," Bach said. "It was sweet to put a Beta on the podium with two KTMs!"
Bach had his work cut out for him after a tangle with another rider left him heading into the first lap in nearly last place. The factory Beta rider put in a strong charge in the first lap to make sure he was able to stay in the fight, while also pacing himself to stay strong for the full three-hour race.
"Off the start I had a pretty good jump but the second turn was all dusty," Bach explained. "Cory Buttrick decided he was going to mash the brakes and I ran into the back of him and tipped over. I got up last and there went my good start. I didn't want to lose the lead group because once they break away it's pretty much impossible to catch them. So I pretty much pulled out all the stops and make a lot of crazy passes to get up front."
Bach was into the top-five in no time and continued to make progress in the field. He worked his way into second place near the half-way point, and ultimately only yielded one position before finishing third behind Charlie Mullins and Mike Brown.
"I pushed way too hard too early," Bach said. "On the last lap and a half I had a blister pop on one hand so I was just hanging on. I had 35-40 seconds on Strang so I pretty much just cruised it on in."
Bach and the entire crew at Beta Motorcycles are thrilled to start off the GNCC season with a podium, and Bach plans to improve on his result at the next round - the General GNCC - which takes place only five days after the Florida round.
Chris Bach's sponsors include:
Factory Beta, FMF, Fly Racing, Scott, Maxxis, WMR1.com, Concept2, Fasst Co., DC Shoes, RidePG, Genuine Dirt Racer, Sidi Boots, Hammer Nutrition, Regina, Dirt Tricks and Kal-Gard.
"It was a good day; we're pumped on it," Bach said. "It was sweet to put a Beta on the podium with two KTMs!"
Bach had his work cut out for him after a tangle with another rider left him heading into the first lap in nearly last place. The factory Beta rider put in a strong charge in the first lap to make sure he was able to stay in the fight, while also pacing himself to stay strong for the full three-hour race.
"Off the start I had a pretty good jump but the second turn was all dusty," Bach explained. "Cory Buttrick decided he was going to mash the brakes and I ran into the back of him and tipped over. I got up last and there went my good start. I didn't want to lose the lead group because once they break away it's pretty much impossible to catch them. So I pretty much pulled out all the stops and make a lot of crazy passes to get up front."
Bach was into the top-five in no time and continued to make progress in the field. He worked his way into second place near the half-way point, and ultimately only yielded one position before finishing third behind Charlie Mullins and Mike Brown.
"I pushed way too hard too early," Bach said. "On the last lap and a half I had a blister pop on one hand so I was just hanging on. I had 35-40 seconds on Strang so I pretty much just cruised it on in."
Bach and the entire crew at Beta Motorcycles are thrilled to start off the GNCC season with a podium, and Bach plans to improve on his result at the next round - the General GNCC - which takes place only five days after the Florida round.
Chris Bach's sponsors include:
Factory Beta, FMF, Fly Racing, Scott, Maxxis, WMR1.com, Concept2, Fasst Co., DC Shoes, RidePG, Genuine Dirt Racer, Sidi Boots, Hammer Nutrition, Regina, Dirt Tricks and Kal-Gard.
