2013 AMSOIL GNCC Mammoth Results

Thad DuVall Wins Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Mammoth GNCC

[caption id="attachment_25912" align="alignright" width="300"] Thad DuVall captured his first win of the 2013 season - Photo: Ken Hill[/caption]

After three consecutive days of rainfall in South Central Kentucky, The Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Mammoth GNCC was nothing short of a tough mudder. For the first time in recent history, Racer Productions made the decision to combine the morning amateur race with the afternoon pro race in order to salvage as much of the racecourse as possible. With nearly 400 racers-ranging from Pros all the way to Women's and C class divisions-taking part in the 1 p.m. race, it was survival of the fittest in Sunday's condensed two-hour competition.

This time it was Shenandoah Honda/USWE-Sports.com's Thad DuVall who sealed the deal after putting in a consistent and smooth race aboard his CR250-F machine. DuVall put a late pass on Rocky Mountain ATV/MC's Josh Strang to claim the overall victory in Park City, Ky. After getting stuck on the last lap, Strang finished less than one minute behind DuVall to secure his first podium finish since Round 1 in Florida.

Less than 15 riders were able to complete all five laps of the race, a true testament to the rough track conditions. Heavy rainfall made for sloppy conditions but perhaps it was the added element of lappers that aided in making Round 5 of the 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series one of the toughest races in recent history.

The victory was aligned from the start for DuVall, who powered his 250F through the muddy straight to claim the $250 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award. However, Strang got out to the early lead with DuVall close behind and then it was points leader Charlie Mullins, Kailub Russell and Paul Whibley inside the top five early on.

[caption id="attachment_25919" align="alignleft" width="300"] Thad DuVall broke Paul Whibley's holeshot streak, grabbing the $250 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award - Photo: Ken Hill[/caption]

It didn't take long for defending XC2 Pro Lites champ Jason Thomas and F.A.R Husky's Andrew DeLong to physically catch the leaders, claiming the overall lead on adjusted time. Running with the XC1 front-runners early in the race allowed Thomas to set a pace that couldn't be matched by his XC2 competition, especially when his closest challengers dropped off around Lap 2. Both DeLong and Grant Baylor experienced mechanical issues due to the muddy conditions and were forced to rely on their mobile pit crews to locate and repair their machines.

Factory FMF/KTM's Kailub Russell made his way into the second place spot on Lap 2, engaging himself in a lead battle with Strang. However, Russell soon experienced a mechanical issue of his own, eventually riding back to his pit for assistance. Russell was sidelined long enough to lose several positions before heading back on the course, only to be towed in on Lap 3.

Amidst all the chaos and commotion, Strang and DuVall remained steady and consistent as the duo began putting a gap on the rest of the field. Strang led a majority of the race until Lap 4 when DuVall took over the lead after both riders stopped in the VP Racing Fuels Pro Row. From there, Strang followed DuVall on the final lap of racing but DuVall was able to break away when Strang got stuck in a deep mud section near the end.

The three-way battle for third became even more intense about halfway through the two-hour race as FMF/KTM's Charlie Mullins, AmPro Yamaha's Jordan Ashburn and Carolina KTM/RidePG.com backed Chris Bach battled back and forth. Mullins eventually made the pass on Ashburn to briefly claim the third place position, but his day quickly ended due to mechanical issues soon after. Ashburn and Bach battled down to the wire on the last lap but it was Bach who claimed the final podium position, while Ashburn took fourth overall.

[caption id="attachment_25914" align="alignright" width="300"] 2013 GNCC Mammoth XC2 Pro Lites Winner's Podium - Photo: Ken Hill[/caption]

Despite two of the top points leaders falling out of contention early on, the XC2 Pro Lites class brought several battles throughout the day, bringing a few fresh faces to the front of the pack. Factory Beta rider Justin Sode grabbed the $100 DigitalOffroad.com XC2 Holeshot Award and despite a few troubles early on, Sode made his way into the top five.

West Virginia native Zach Nolan capitalized on the muddy race conditions, immediately putting himself into podium contention behind DirtWise Schools/KTM-Parts.com/Maxxis rider Jason Thomas. Nolan slowly closed the gap on the leader Thomas and by the final lap, Nolan stuck the pass on Thomas, going on to claim his first ever XC2 Pro Lites victory and fifth overall for the day. Thomas finished a close second in the class and sixth overall, while Sode claimed his first podium finish of the season, also grabbing tenth overall.

AmPro Yamaha's Paul Whibley put in a consistent ride to claim fifth in the XC1 class and seventh place overall, gaining valuable points in the championship standings. XC1 rookie Adam Bonneur finished a season best sixth place in the class and eleventh overall for the day. Mullins finished fourteenth overall, salvaging championship points despite not being able to complete all five laps of the race. However, Russell wasn't quite as fortunate, leaving Round 5 without scoring any points toward the overall National Championship.

Indiana's Zach Love grabbed the Top Amateur honors with an impressive eighth place overall, taking the 250 A class win over Ohio's Levi Keller. 4-Stroke A Lites class winner Trevor Bollinger was the next placing amateur, finishing five minutes back in ninth overall.

[caption id="attachment_25916" align="alignleft" width="300"] 2013 GNCC Mammoth Women's Class Winner's Podium - Photo: Ken Hill[/caption]

As part of the condensed format for Sunday's race, the Women's class also took off at 1 p.m., along with the pros and top amateurs. RPM/KTM Team Maxxis rider Kacy Martinez secured her first win of the season in the Women's class, taking over the points lead from Factory FMF/KTM's Maria Forsberg. AmPro Yamaha's Becca Sheets put in a consistent ride to take second place behind Martinez and Obermeyer Yamaha/Raines Riding University/Offroadviking.com's Rachel Gutish rounded out the Women's Class podium. Forsberg ran into a mechanical issue that kept her from completing more than one lap of the race, ultimately finishing fifth in the class.

If you missed Sunday's racing action, you can catch the entire Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Mammoth GNCC LIVE show on RacerTV.com now.

The 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series continues May 18 and 19 with the Dunlop Limestone 100 GNCC. For more information on the series, visit www.gnccracing.com.

About GNCC Racing
The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 1,500 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. The series draws talent from all over the U.S., Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised weekly on NBC Sports and RacerTVonline.com. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.

Source: GNCC Racing

Charlie Mullins Maintains Points Lead After Mammoth GNCC

[caption id="attachment_25917" align="alignright" width="300"] Charlie Mullins still holds the GNCC XC1 Pro class points lead - Photo: Harlen Foley[/caption]

Factory FMF/KTM rider Charlie Mullins still holds the GNCC XC1 Pro class points lead despite suffering a mechanical issue on the fourth lap of the event. His teammate, Kailub Russell, also suffered a technical issue on the muddy race course resulting in a DNF. It was Russell who got off to a great start at the beginning of the race as he sat in the top five around the first corner. Mullins was last off the line but quickly came up through the pack and was in the top ten by the fourth corner.

At the end of the first lap both teammates were within striking distance of the lead. Russell continued to pressure Josh Strang for the lead position throughout the first three laps before he suffered a mechanical that took him from the race. Mullins made it to the fourth lap before the muddy conditions struck him with a spell of bad luck that also led to him not completing the race. Mullins suffered his mechanical issue with one lap remaining in the race which helped him hold on to a 14th place position despite not finishing. The points earned from the race today along with his previous season wins allow him to keep the points lead heading to the next event.

Women's GNCC point leader and Factory FMF/KTM rider Maria Forsberg finished 5th overall at the Mammoth GNCC. She had a second place start and remained in that position through the first lap but encountered a technical issue shortly into the second lap that caused her to not finish the race. RPM/KTM rider Kacy Martinez had an error free race and was able to take the holeshot in the Women's class and go on to win her first GNCC event of the season.

Next Event: Springville, IN - May 18-19, 2013

Source: KTM North America

Mammoth GNCC Overview And Point Standings

Overall Results

1. Charlie Mullins - 129
   
2. Kailub Russell - 115
   
3. Thad DuVall - 93
   
4. Chris Bach - 91
   
5. Josh Strang - 88
   
6. Paul Whibley - 75
   
7. Jordan Ashburn - 69
   
8. Ricky Russell - 62
   
9. Takeshi Koikeda - 61
   
10. Adam Bonneur - 59
    

1. Andrew DeLong - 108
   
2. Jason Thomas - 106
   
3. Grant Baylor - 94
   
4. Shane Hufford Jr - 67
   
5. AJ Stewart - 62
   
6. Zach Nolan - 58
   
7. Jed Haines - 55
   
8. Travis Coy - 52
   
9. Aaron Plessinger - 51
   
10. Mark Heresco Jr - 42
    

1. Kacy Martinez - 96
   
2. Maria Forsberg - 94
   
3. Mandi Mastin - 76
   
4. Jessica Patterson - 74
   
5. Rachel Gutish - 70
   
6. Becca Sheets - 69
   
7. Hannah Otto - 66
   
8. Ashley Copeland - 57
   
9. Karlynn Beam - 54
   
10. Allie Spurgeon - 43
    

1. Charlie Mullins - 122
   
2. Kailub Russell - 105
   
3. Chris Bach - 88
   
4. Thad DuVall - 87
   
5. Josh Strang - 76
   
6. Paul Whibley - 63
   
7. Jason Thomas - 59
   
8. Andrew DeLong - 58
   
9. Grant Baylor - 50
   
10. Jordan Ashburn - 50