AM-PRO YAMAHA JASON RAINES
GNCC RACE REPORT
CAN-AM GNCC RACING
ROUND 3, MORGANTON, NC
The 3rd round of the GNCC series stopped in NC this past weekend and even though it is not my main series this year I
decided to ride it. All of the past years this race has had bad weahter. One year they cancelled it due to high winds, then
the re-scheduled race it was snowing and then the next year it was pouring rain! But this year the weather and dirt where
perfect. It rained earlier in the week and the weather on race day where a perfect 60 degrees and sunny. I couldn't help but
race it since the conditions where so good!
My WR 450 fired on the first kick and I rocketed off toward the first turm I had a good jump but n the second turn I was
invloved in a pile up which left me dead last headingi nto the woods. Not good.
I made up a few spots on a hill that a few riders where stuck on but then my arms pumped up like Popeye's! I couldn't ride at
all and riders where catching me and there was nothing I could do but let them by and watch them ride away. It was really
frustrating and I was just a sitting duck waiting for the arm pump to go away.
I rounded the first lap in 12th and would ride in this spot until the 4th lap! After my fuel stop on the 4th lap my arms finally
gave up tying to blow up and I was ready to finally start riding.
As the laps wore down I was making up time and moved up to 10th on the 5th lap and kept pushing for more. I rode in 10th
until the final lap when I finally caught the group that I had been behind the entire day.
On the 7th and final lap I was riding the best I had all day and caught and passed Watts, next was Robinson. I got around
Robinson only to have a big crash a few miles later. I crashed into a tree and when I got up my goggles had broke so I threw
them off and looked for my bike. I ran to the bike and to my amazement it was still running! I re-mounted the bike and by
this time Robinson had caught up to me but I got up before he was ble to pass me.
With Robinspn on my rear tire and being the last lap we pushed each other to the limit. About 2 miles form the finish of the
race we caught Barry Hawk who was stuck behind a long line of lappers. It was wild, Robinson was behind me trying to pass
and I was all over Barry trying to get around him. We were all over the trail trying to get around the lapped riders. I made out
the best when Barry made a slight mistake trying to get around the lapped traffic and I snuck by him just before the final
grass track section leading into the finish line. I rode hard when we hit the fied and was able to hold off the charges of my
competitors to salvage a 7th place finish despite my super slow start.
I had fun, the track was good and am happy about my finish, but need to work on my starting speed. I just couldn't get
un-pumped in the beginning which let the lead pack get to far away for me to get up there and battle with them.
I am going to ride the next GNCC round too which is here in SC, so I am looking to improve my strarting speed and carry my
strength to the finish and get up there and battle towards the front!
Results (XC 1):
1- Josh Strange
2- Charlie Mullins
3- Paul Whibley
4- Thad Duvall
5- Nathan Kanney
6- Kurt Caselli
7- JASON RAINES
8- Barry Hawk
9- Jesse Robinson
10- Shane Watts
GNCC RACE REPORT
CAN-AM GNCC RACING
ROUND 3, MORGANTON, NC
The 3rd round of the GNCC series stopped in NC this past weekend and even though it is not my main series this year I
decided to ride it. All of the past years this race has had bad weahter. One year they cancelled it due to high winds, then
the re-scheduled race it was snowing and then the next year it was pouring rain! But this year the weather and dirt where
perfect. It rained earlier in the week and the weather on race day where a perfect 60 degrees and sunny. I couldn't help but
race it since the conditions where so good!
My WR 450 fired on the first kick and I rocketed off toward the first turm I had a good jump but n the second turn I was
invloved in a pile up which left me dead last headingi nto the woods. Not good.
I made up a few spots on a hill that a few riders where stuck on but then my arms pumped up like Popeye's! I couldn't ride at
all and riders where catching me and there was nothing I could do but let them by and watch them ride away. It was really
frustrating and I was just a sitting duck waiting for the arm pump to go away.
I rounded the first lap in 12th and would ride in this spot until the 4th lap! After my fuel stop on the 4th lap my arms finally
gave up tying to blow up and I was ready to finally start riding.
As the laps wore down I was making up time and moved up to 10th on the 5th lap and kept pushing for more. I rode in 10th
until the final lap when I finally caught the group that I had been behind the entire day.
On the 7th and final lap I was riding the best I had all day and caught and passed Watts, next was Robinson. I got around
Robinson only to have a big crash a few miles later. I crashed into a tree and when I got up my goggles had broke so I threw
them off and looked for my bike. I ran to the bike and to my amazement it was still running! I re-mounted the bike and by
this time Robinson had caught up to me but I got up before he was ble to pass me.
With Robinspn on my rear tire and being the last lap we pushed each other to the limit. About 2 miles form the finish of the
race we caught Barry Hawk who was stuck behind a long line of lappers. It was wild, Robinson was behind me trying to pass
and I was all over Barry trying to get around him. We were all over the trail trying to get around the lapped riders. I made out
the best when Barry made a slight mistake trying to get around the lapped traffic and I snuck by him just before the final
grass track section leading into the finish line. I rode hard when we hit the fied and was able to hold off the charges of my
competitors to salvage a 7th place finish despite my super slow start.
I had fun, the track was good and am happy about my finish, but need to work on my starting speed. I just couldn't get
un-pumped in the beginning which let the lead pack get to far away for me to get up there and battle with them.
I am going to ride the next GNCC round too which is here in SC, so I am looking to improve my strarting speed and carry my
strength to the finish and get up there and battle towards the front!
Results (XC 1):
1- Josh Strange
2- Charlie Mullins
3- Paul Whibley
4- Thad Duvall
5- Nathan Kanney
6- Kurt Caselli
7- JASON RAINES
8- Barry Hawk
9- Jesse Robinson
10- Shane Watts
| 03/23/09 |
