The first lap dust clouds were thick as a Puerto Rican
fog bank! As I would come out onto a field section where
a mushroom cloud was just forming, I would try to get
a look at the entrance point back into the woods on
the other side and just gas it and hope for the best.
At one point I came to a complete stop at the end of
an open section, not being able to see where the track
went back into the woods. A few other Pro riders pulled
up along side of me, and it was almost like another
start!
Bill Ballance was not experiencing any dust problems
as he led the first two laps with Chris Borich, Chris
Jenks, Taylor Kiser and Chris Bithell close behind.
William Yokley, who has become an expert at moving
up quickly after a bad start, was running well in
the top ten when his factory Kawasaki started to misfire,
eventually forcing him to retire from the race. Bryan
Baker’s rough season continued, with a steering
component issue taking him out early. Bryan Cook’s
string of top ten finishes was broken by a swingarm
failure while he was running well in the top ten.
OMA Nationals champion and Ohio native Rob Zimmerman
competed in his first GNCC of the year, but failed
to complete a lap. Loretta Lynn GNCC specialist Brent
Sturdivant also experienced problems early and pulled
off after lap two.
Chris Borich moved around Ballance on the third lap
and motored off to take his fourth consecutive overall
win as the clutch on Bill’s factory Yamaha started
to slip. This allowed Chris Jenks to take second overall,
his first podium of 2007. Jenks had a large fan turnout
at the race, and the podium celebration was huge.
Bill salvaged third overall to stay in the championship
race. Taylor Kiser finished fourth with Adam McGill
working all the way up to fifth from a poor start.
Matt Smiley put in another solid ride, ending up sixth
ahead of Chris Bithell and Duane Johnson. Brandon
Ballance and Mike Houston worked their way through
the pack to round out the top ten.
|
|
|
#4 Chris Jenks finally had something to smile
about with his best finish of the year with
a 2nd Overall in front of a hometown crowd to
celebarte with on the Podium |
#17
Taylor Kiser just missed the Podium with another
4th Overall and has yet to finish below 6th
Overall this season as he remained ranked 3rd
in Points |
As the series takes a four week break, it goes without
saying that the championship contenders are doing
whatever they can to be ready to win at the next round
in Sparta, Kentucky. The Spartan GNCC is always a
great race, located deep in Ballance and Yokley country.
Look for the racing to be as competitive as ever with
the fight for the title heating up. See you there!
| |
#2
Chris Borich moves closer to claiming the #1
Plate after his 4th Consecutive Win |
