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The Snowshoe
Yokley ATV Race Report
Round 8: June 23-24, Snowshoe, WV
Snowshoe, WV (6/25/2007)
- William Yokley finished 6th overall, 6th XC1 Pro
today in the mountains of beautiful Snowshoe, WV. There
were 219 total racers in this race including 23 XC1
Pro riders.
Summary:
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#5
William Yokley |
We were privileged to be able to race at the scenic
Snowshoe Mountain ski resort this weekend in West Virginia.
This amazing facility is near where the GNCC Series
began in 1975 with the running of the famous “Blackwater
100” in Elkins, WV. The views were spectacular
with the race starting almost a mile above sea level.
The course featured some of everything; high speed fire
roads, up and down ski slopes, tight woods trails with
deep muddy ruts, and plenty of slick rocks and roots.
I seem to do better on tracks that have more technical,
difficult sections.
The start is different than any other GNCC, we started
on the paved road right next to all the hotels in the
main village. We were lined up in rows of 5, and each
row started every 10 seconds; I was in the second row.
With a live engine start, the first turn was interesting
with all of us smoking our tires and backing them in
like a pack of sprint cars. I made it into the woods
in 7th position.
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#5
William Yokley
coming down from pro row. |
Some of the fast sections and down hill slopes had
my bike on the rev limiter, and left little room for
mistakes. The tight woods sections had some man made
bridges that were barely the width of the bike, and
if you slid off, you were buried in deep, black mud.
There were sections where there were no alternate trails
in case of backups, and I knew lappers were going to
figure in the outcome of the race. I finished the first
lap in 4th, and was right on pace with the leaders.
My Kawasaki was working great and I felt better on it
than I have all year.
The second lap, I got hung up behind some lappers in
a mud pit and lost a few positions by the time I got
out. This was frustrating but not unexpected. I charged
on the 3rd of 4 laps, and turned the fastest overall
lap time of all the riders on that lap. I was able to
finish 6th overall, which is better than my recent finishes.
I was really pleased how my bike is working; the motor
and clutch worked perfect, the brakes and suspension
was spot on. Best of all, I was right in the hunt for
a podium finish. I feel good about how my KFX450 is
developing, and can’t wait for the next race.
We now have a summer break from the GNCC Series until
September 1st in Somerset, PA. I will continue dialing
my bike in and training. I also have several appearances
for the National Guard at camps and State Fairs coming
up, as well as some other local and regional races.
See you down the road.
www.YokleyRacing.com
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