Burson Wins, Thomas Podiums,
Graffunder Back In Action!
Husqvarna racers continue to push toward WORCS, GNCC and USDR Titles
September 26, 2011 - Corona, CA - It was a busy weekend for Husqvarna racers. Zip-Ty and FAR (Fred Andrews Racing) teams were in action at GNCC, WORCS and USDR races, each working steadily toward championships.
For Zip-Ty Husqvarna's Nick Burson, it was a slam-dunk in the USDR at round three of the series. Burson and his TXC511 grabbed the holeshot in the desert race and led from wire to wire, taking a commanding win at Red Mountain.
"It was a really fun course," Burson said. "It was a little slower and more technical than normal and they put in an expert section for our race. It was a mile and a half of rocks, up hill and downhill. My TXC511 works really good in the rocks so it was good for me. I have confidence there and I can put time on people."
Burson came into the weekend tied in points with Ryan Kudla but came away with the points lead after he left Kudla to collect a distant second for the day.
Larry Roeseler brought another win for Husqvarna - his in the WORCS 50+ A class at Glen Helen. Roeseler raced his TXC511 to victory in the morning race, and was proud to put Husky on the podium for the second weekend in a row.
For Zip-Ty Husqvarna's Cory Graffunder, the weekend was about staying in the championship rather than getting the win. Graffunder (aboard a TXC449) made his return to racing at the Glen Helen WORCS race, after receiving doctor clearance to ride the day before the race. A broken scaphoid (wrist) sidelined Graffunder just before the X Games, but fortunately he only missed one round of the WORCS Pro2 championship and is still in the hunt after hanging on for a top-ten finish at Glen Helen.
"It was my first race back, first time on a bike in a couple months so I wasn't really expecting to do anything special," Graffunder explained, "just get some points. That keeps me second in the Pro2 championship for now. That's really all today was about - staying in the championship chase."
Fortunately Graffunder's wrist felt strong all day - thanks to his Allsport Dynamics brace - but his hands proved to be the weak link during Sunday's race. "Every part of your body gets weak and soft when you don't ride," Graffunder said. "You don't really notice it until you start riding again and you're sore everywhere. From this point, we'll just be rehabbing and riding to get back to where I was so I can battle hard in the last two rounds for the championship."
On the East Coast, it was Jason Thomas on the podium again in the XC2 Lites class. The FAR Husqvarna racer got off to a third-place start on the Somerset, Pennsylvania course aboard his TXC250, and was in a three-way battle for the lead for the majority of the race. On the last lap, Thomas moved into the lead, but went on to hit a stump in the grass and crash. He got back up and rode to the checkers for a hard-fought third-place finish, and though it wasn't the outcome he was looking for, Thomas was still able to gain valuable points in the XC2 championship. He currently sits second - now 19 points down from the leader.
"I just wanted to be smooth all day," Thomas said. "The track was so rocky and slippery. I was just waiting for the last lap and passed for first with a few miles to go. But I hit a hidden stump in the grass. I gained some points, but I needed to gain more."
Nick Burson rocketed his way to a convincing win at round three of the USDR series in Red Mountain, CA. Photo: Steven Mullis
The Glen Helen WORCS race marked Cory Graffunder's return to racing, where he kept his Pro2 championship hopes alive with a top-ten finish. Photo: Resmarket.com
Jason Thomas was in a three-way dogfight for the lead, but had to settle for third after crashing on the last lap. Photo: Fred Andrews Racing
"We're stoked on Burson's win, but we're also really proud of Graffunder and Thomas for their hard work this weekend," commented Husqvarna National Marketing Manager Corey Eastman. "We're still alive in the WORCS and GNCC championships, and we'll be working hard to wrap up some national titles this year."
Next GNCC Race - October 9, 2011 - Powerline Park GNCC - St. Clairsville, OH
Next WORCS Race - October 15, 2011 Racetown 395 - Adelanto, CA
Next USDR Race - October 15, 2011 - TBA
Graffunder Back In Action!
Husqvarna racers continue to push toward WORCS, GNCC and USDR Titles
September 26, 2011 - Corona, CA - It was a busy weekend for Husqvarna racers. Zip-Ty and FAR (Fred Andrews Racing) teams were in action at GNCC, WORCS and USDR races, each working steadily toward championships.
For Zip-Ty Husqvarna's Nick Burson, it was a slam-dunk in the USDR at round three of the series. Burson and his TXC511 grabbed the holeshot in the desert race and led from wire to wire, taking a commanding win at Red Mountain.
"It was a really fun course," Burson said. "It was a little slower and more technical than normal and they put in an expert section for our race. It was a mile and a half of rocks, up hill and downhill. My TXC511 works really good in the rocks so it was good for me. I have confidence there and I can put time on people."
Burson came into the weekend tied in points with Ryan Kudla but came away with the points lead after he left Kudla to collect a distant second for the day.
Larry Roeseler brought another win for Husqvarna - his in the WORCS 50+ A class at Glen Helen. Roeseler raced his TXC511 to victory in the morning race, and was proud to put Husky on the podium for the second weekend in a row.
For Zip-Ty Husqvarna's Cory Graffunder, the weekend was about staying in the championship rather than getting the win. Graffunder (aboard a TXC449) made his return to racing at the Glen Helen WORCS race, after receiving doctor clearance to ride the day before the race. A broken scaphoid (wrist) sidelined Graffunder just before the X Games, but fortunately he only missed one round of the WORCS Pro2 championship and is still in the hunt after hanging on for a top-ten finish at Glen Helen.
"It was my first race back, first time on a bike in a couple months so I wasn't really expecting to do anything special," Graffunder explained, "just get some points. That keeps me second in the Pro2 championship for now. That's really all today was about - staying in the championship chase."
Fortunately Graffunder's wrist felt strong all day - thanks to his Allsport Dynamics brace - but his hands proved to be the weak link during Sunday's race. "Every part of your body gets weak and soft when you don't ride," Graffunder said. "You don't really notice it until you start riding again and you're sore everywhere. From this point, we'll just be rehabbing and riding to get back to where I was so I can battle hard in the last two rounds for the championship."
On the East Coast, it was Jason Thomas on the podium again in the XC2 Lites class. The FAR Husqvarna racer got off to a third-place start on the Somerset, Pennsylvania course aboard his TXC250, and was in a three-way battle for the lead for the majority of the race. On the last lap, Thomas moved into the lead, but went on to hit a stump in the grass and crash. He got back up and rode to the checkers for a hard-fought third-place finish, and though it wasn't the outcome he was looking for, Thomas was still able to gain valuable points in the XC2 championship. He currently sits second - now 19 points down from the leader.
"I just wanted to be smooth all day," Thomas said. "The track was so rocky and slippery. I was just waiting for the last lap and passed for first with a few miles to go. But I hit a hidden stump in the grass. I gained some points, but I needed to gain more."
Nick Burson rocketed his way to a convincing win at round three of the USDR series in Red Mountain, CA. Photo: Steven Mullis
The Glen Helen WORCS race marked Cory Graffunder's return to racing, where he kept his Pro2 championship hopes alive with a top-ten finish. Photo: Resmarket.com
Jason Thomas was in a three-way dogfight for the lead, but had to settle for third after crashing on the last lap. Photo: Fred Andrews Racing
"We're stoked on Burson's win, but we're also really proud of Graffunder and Thomas for their hard work this weekend," commented Husqvarna National Marketing Manager Corey Eastman. "We're still alive in the WORCS and GNCC championships, and we'll be working hard to wrap up some national titles this year."
Next GNCC Race - October 9, 2011 - Powerline Park GNCC - St. Clairsville, OH
Next WORCS Race - October 15, 2011 Racetown 395 - Adelanto, CA
Next USDR Race - October 15, 2011 - TBA
