The McClure Report: GNCC Round 3, Steele Creek - Pro ATV Racing

Jarrod McClure edges out XC2 rider Donald Ockerman

Morganton, NC (4/4/2008) - Hope everyone had a Happy Easter over the long three week break, but with the holiday over it was time to head to North Carolina for the FMF Steele Creek round of GNCC racing. We loaded up the trailer and headed out Thursday night. Arriving on Friday afternoon, the weather was awesome, with sunshine, and highs near 80! The track looked like it was going to be dry and fast. We got set up on pro row, and then caught up with some of my fellow racers I didn’t see since Georgia.

I got a good night sleep at the hotel, and woke up and realized that is was raining outside, and the temperature was a lot cooler than yesterday, near 50 degrees. We arrived at the track just in time to see the start of the morning race. It was raining pretty steady, and it seemed like the track would be muddy and slick in spots. I made sure to tape up my bumper, and put on my bigger handgaurds.

When 1:00 rolled around I headed over to the start, and was ready to go. I had seventh pick on the gate, and was hoping for a good start. The flag flew, and Adam Mcgill got the holeshot on his KTM, and as it turned out he would stay there all day. I was back in around thirteenth, not the start I was hoping for, but it was better then crashing.

The track was super fast, with steep up and downhills, and also so crazy off camber sections. Mud really wasn’t an issue, except for right near the bridge, and passing was extremely difficult. I checked in the first lap in 11th place right behind Brandon Sommers and Johnny Gallagher. Second lap I got by Gallagher for tenth, but got stuck in some of the ruts developing allowing Sommers to pull away from me. I then caught Jenks who was moving pretty good on his Can Am, but then he stalled it and had trouble starting it, which let me up into ninth. As the third lap came around the lappers were starting to bottle up, and I actually ended up catching a tree and going over the handlebars. With a quick recovery from my crash I was back on my way. I stopped for fuel and was prepared to charge hard on the last lap. I ended up catching Gallagher and Jenks again, who both must have got by me unnoticed in a bottleneck. Jenks started smoking and Johnny and I got past him, we rode the last few miles, but Johnny put up a good and I couldn’t find a way around him.

I took the checkered flag in ninth place. I was pretty happy with that after the bad start and crash I had. My quad performed great, my only problem was losing a front fender.

Three rounds down now, and for South Carolina I have a Rage Atv motor ready to try so hopefully I can get a better start and run with the top couple till the end. I will do some testing this week, and next week, and will see you there!

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