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| Pro
Motocross Racer, Jason Dunkelberger, made
a surprise visit to the GNCC opening round
on his new East Coast ATV Honda TRX 450R |
With all the big changes absorbed, it was time
to turn our attention to the 12 mile course
that sprawled over this huge facility. Dark
, heavy sandy soil had received rain and should
hold up better then in years past. Palmetto
roots were so numerous that walking was even
difficult as what lay just below the smooth
sand would quickly reveal itself . The course
itself was rather open by most XC standards,
so much so that Pro MX racer Jason Dunkleberger
was in attendance and was signed up to race
the event on his MX set up! Also new for 2008
would be transponder scoring, which has proven
itself in events around the world. With everything
prepared, and the 1pm start time approaching,
it was time to kick off the 2008 season.
The front row was gleaming with shiny new plastic
and graphics kits that made each team and rider
stand out. The opening ceremonies were beginning
when Brent Sturdivant ran into a serious issue
as his quad would not fire. A return trip to
his pit for a battery replacement had him back
on the line just minutes before the green flag
waved. Finally, with all the fan fare and hoopla
wrapping up, the official starter made his way
in front of the 24 Pro riders entered in the
event. Training, testing, meetings, hours of
wrenching and worrying were all about to be
forgotten as the ten seconds call bellowed over
the loud speaker.
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Yamaha's Bill Ballance grabbed the Holeshot
by edging out #7 Taylor Kiser & #8
Bryan Cook |
The green flag flew and the 2008 season was
underway! Bill Balance was off the line with
Taylor Kisers KTM right beside him as they headed
for the first turn. Chris Borich had a slight
miscue with his kick start equipped Suzuki and
was now behind and playing catch up which is
not what one needs when you have that much talent
out in front of you. Bryan Cook pulled up on
the outside as Kiser became the middleman entering
turn one, with Ballance choking the inside line
hard on the throttle. Cook and Ballance were
now locked in a drag race heading for turn two
as the rest of the lead pack gave chase. Jarrod
McClure and Jeffrey Pickens greeted the new
season and turn one in one quad flipping wreck
that found both riders getting introduced to
the Florida soil. Both riders were back in action
and now faced the daunting task of running down
the fastest XC racers on the planet on one brutal
track.
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Jeffrey Pickens catapults over top of
Jarrod McClure and sends the pair tumbling
into the first turn of the race |
#1
Bill Ballance lead the first lap of the
race before #7 Taylor Kiser took over
the lead in lap two |
Following a XC race from anywhere other then
one spot is like trying to catch a cat with
it’s tail on fire. Add to the blistering
pace the pro’s set , the flat and heavily
forested nature of XC racing in Florida and
you have a days work ahead of you if you intend
to get to other areas back in the woods to catch
the action. You might stand a better chance
at catching that cat then actually getting handle
on whose where! Ballance was leading when he
passed by in a tight section, leaving a trail
of roost and flying palmetto leaves. Kiser and
Cook were hunting him down as the pro class
really started mixing it up on lap one. You
just can’t make a mistake at this level
as the slightest bobble will be all that’s
needed for the guy on your grab bar to blow
past you!
