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Nic Granlund Wins Again at the Stateline
Super Moto |
Primm, Nevada (5/5/2009) - The
Southern Nevada 2009 Stateline Supermoto Challenge
attracted some of the fastest racers fromaround
the country. The event was held on April 3,
4 and 5th at the California Nevada Stateline
in Primm Nevada. ATV Supermoto pro, Nic Granlund
won the bookends of the event starting with
the team race on Friday night and ending with
a victory in the ATV 450 Pro Event on Sunday
afternoon.
The long weekend began on Thursday with the
Nic Granlund Racing School. Riders were treated
topersonal instruction by Nic and a chance
to ride the track and learn the lines from
the defending champion. Students learned tips
and tricks on how to get around the track
as smooth and fast aspossible. Riders attending
the school significantly improved lap times
and excelled in their perspectiveclasses.
The supermoto schools that precede the race
each year is a must for any serious racer.
Friday was the first race day and brought
one of the most fun events of the weekend
– team races. Riders piloted their own
ATV’s in a “tag team” style
event. Nic and his partner, Jason Anderson,
went wire to wire and dominated the team race
lapping the field and winning by over 30 seconds.
The Saturday racing schedule brought first
pro event – The Unlimited Quad Pro/Am.
In the first heat race, Nic did not hear the
announcement for the race and nearly missed
the heat. He was still bucklinghis helmet
when the green flag dropped. Nic started the
heat race dead last. In just 7 short laps,
he worked his way through the pack, took the
lead and won the heat. Winning the heat race
gave Nic thefirst spot in the starting grid
for the main event. Close to 20 pro riders
started the main event with Granlund getting
the holeshot and an early lead. By the fourth
lap Nic had a 15 second lead over thefield.
Coming out of the dirt and onto the pavement,
Nic clicked up to 4th gear and caught the
edge of a hay bale at high speed. The result
sent both quad and rider flipping through
the air. Amazingly, Nic escaped with minor
injuries, flipped his quad back onto its tires
and resumed from the back of the pack.Nic
used the remaining laps to work his way into
an eighth place finish.
Sunday brought the 450 Pro Quad event. The
Pro class starting spots are assigned pre
race when theriders draw numbers from a hat.
Nic drew the 16th starting spot which put
him towards the back of the pack. The heat
race was a short 8 laps and Nic’s strategy
was to try to work his way into the top four
to assure a front row starting spot in the
main event. The track was tight and technical
and Nic had to
patiently charge his way through a fast field
of pro racers. By the final lap, Nic finished
in fourth place achieving his goal of a front
row start in the main event.
The green flag dropped for the Pro 450 Main
Event and Nic made his way into second place
by the time the racers hit the dirt. Unfortunately,
Nic’s teammate, Jason Anderson, was
taken out in the first turnand unable to continue
the race due to a broken collarbone and damage
to his quad. Nic patiently stalked the first
place rider for the first three laps waiting
for the right time and place to overtake the
leader. Nic made his move in the tight 180
degree hairpin turn and never looked back.
After taking the lead, Granlund was fast and
smooth and increased the lead by several seconds
each lap. Winning theStateline Pro Quad Main
Event for 5 of the past 6 events is proof
positive of the dominant position Nic Granlund
has attained in ATV supermoto racing. Nic
is looking forward to the upcoming AMA Supermoto
Race at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas
Nevada on May 30 and 31st.
Nic would like to thank his
sponsors: NGR,
Lonestar, Fox Shox, SWICK, Skat Trak, TORCO,
DWT, CTRacing, Quad Tech, Fasst, Precision,
Hinson, Triumph, ITI, Maxxis, Velocity Filters,
Streamline, Dragon,ARP, SHIFT, and JSR.
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