Warnert Racing
Continues Utility Class Domination at Steele Creek
Pro Racer's Bithell & Sturdivant
Finish In The Top 10
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Rick
Cecco won his second race of the season
in the U2 Class with a time of 2:24:21 |
Morgantown, NC (4/2/2009) - Winning
was the name of the game this weekend as the Warnert
Racing’s / Can-am utility class racers once
again swept all four utility classes at round three
of the 2009 GNCC series, while XC1 pro racer Chris
Bithell gave a strong performance to finish well
within the top ten.
Rick Cecco went on to take his second win of the
season in the U2 class. Cecco got off to a second
place start but fell back to third. Cecco’s
persistence and smart riding style allowed him to
work through the tight trails to consistently gain
positions over the course of the five lap race.
By the final lap of the race, Cecco found himself
in a position to take over the lead and wasted no
time in making it happen. Cecco crossed the finish
line with a class winning time of 02:24:21, which
put him in 19th overall.
Michael Swift continued his pursuit of a perfect
season in the 4x4 Limited class. After a tough win
at round two, the multi-time class champ was relieved
that this win came much easier. “I got the
holeshot and led for the entire race. The bike was
running great and everything was going good. The
only thing that slowed me up a little was when I
got into some lappers,” said Swift, who finished
with a time of 02:22:45, taking 11th overall.
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Bryan
Buckhannon went home with his third straight
win in the 4X4 Open Class |
4x4 Lites champion Cliff Beasley, also with three
straight wins to kick off 2009, took a nasty spill
in the 4th lap when he hit a tree and took a handle
bar to the stomach. Luckily, Beasley was not injured
and had such a huge lead, that he didn’t even
loose a position. “Besides the crash I had
a really good race and I’m excited that the
team is doing so well,” said Beasley, whose
time of 02:27:16 was enough to earn him 25th overall.
Bryan Buckhannon, who has been doing a fantastic
job in the 4x4 Open class, and he is another Can-Am
Warnert racer that has the potential for a perfect
record for 2009. Buckhannon came off the line in
third place, but quickly caught up to fellow Can-am
racer Scott Kilby, who took the holeshot. The pair
swapped positions a couple of times before Buckhannon
was able to make his lead stick and ride home with
his third straight win. “It was a fun day.
There was good competition out there and everything
went really well for me,” said Buckhannon
who completed the five lap race with a time of 02:24:02.
In the XC1 Pro class, Chris Bithell had a strong
performance. Bithell came off the line in mid pack,
and lost some valuable time when he locked tires
with fellow pro racer, William Yokley. Immediately
after separating the pair, the number 13 Can-Am
rider put his head down and began to work his way
through the pack. Bithell soon found himself in
a battle for 5th with Chris Borich. Bithell went
for it and made the pass, but fell back to 6th in
the final lap. Bithell finished his day with a time
of 02:09:37.
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Brent
Sturdivant broke through to a top 10 finish |
Brent Sturdivant, who has been plagued with gremlins,
finally broke out of his streak to take a top ten
finish this past weekend. Sturdivant got off to
a slow start when he stalled his machine and was
almost last off the line, but the determined rider
made up for lost time and quickly began picking
off riders one by one. Sturdivant climbed to 10th
place by the end of the fourth lap, and held his
position all the way through lap five to take his
first top ten finish of the season. “I was
a little worried when I stalled on the line, but
things went a lot better for me from that point
on. It feels really good to get a decent finish,”
said Sturdivant who finished with a time of 02:13:06.
Round four of the 2009 GNCC series will be held
in Union, SC on April 4th, where the Can-am / Warnert
Racing team hopes to continue their domination in
the utility classes and see both Bithell and Sturdivant
on the Pro podium.
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www.warnertracing.com
1203 33rd Street South
St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301
(320) 251-9100 - Fax (320) 251-4764
info@warnertracing.com
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