FAR Husqvarna Race Report Round 2

[FAR Husqvarna]

Share on Facebook/Twitter - http://resmarket.com/husqvarna/11/11husq_ePR-farGNCCrd2_pcv3.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE.

Contact: Corey Eastman / 951-207-2947 / Corey.Eastman@husqvarna-motorcyclesna.com

TEAM HUSQVARNA GOES DOWN TO GEORGIA GNCC
Thomas On The Podium Again, Moss Gets Stuck In The Mud And Women Racers On The Box

March 14, 2011 - Corona, CA - Another GNCC weekend, another podium finish for Fred Andrews Racing/Team Husqvarna's Jason Thomas as Round #2 of the 2011 Grand National Cross Country chase rolled into the Georgia woods. After having a devil of a time with the power-robbing sand of Florida at Round #1, the team was looking forward to tacky dirt and sunny 80-degree weather.

A solid second place start enabled XC2 Pro Class racer Jason Thomas to put his Husqvarna TXC250 into first place in class by the end of first lap. However a big second lap get off dropped him back to 4th place. "I crashed really hard," says Thomas. "I'm so sore right now!" However he was able to push through the pain and work his way up to another GNCC podium finish for the second race in a row. "I know I need to be on the podium at each race in order to win the championship." After his 3rd place in class and 10th overall on the day, Thomas is now third in the GNCC championship points standings.

Thomas' Husqvarna/FAR teammate Morgan Moss also had a top 10 start for the XC2 Pro race. He'd charged up to 5th place early on his Husqvarna TXC250 when disaster struck! "I was going good and had passed a few guys before I got stuck in a killer mud hole," Moss explains. "Unfortunately it took me so long to dig out (of the mud) that I just couldn't make up the time." Moss continued to push hard and logged some fast lap times, and managed to climb back to 13th in the XC2 Pro class and 30th overall (all classes scored) on the day. Combined with his 5th place finish at the season opener in Georgia, Moss currently sits in 8th in points in the XC2 Pro class.




Flying Finn Simo Kirssi had another tough weekend in the tight Georgia woods. Simo suffered a bad start, but he managed to work his Husqvarna TE310 dual-sport up to 11th place in the XC1 Pro class, 18th overall for the day. "I was good in the open portions of the course, but I am not accustomed to the really tight woods sections," admits the 2010 European Cross Country champ. "I will train more in the tight stuff for the next GNCC in North Carolina." Kirssi now sits in 17th place overall in the XC1 Pro standings.



2011 TXC250

After winning the first two times out on her new Hall's Husqvarna TXC250, both in a national enduro and the first GNCC race of 2011, Marvelous Mandi Mastin ran into a devil of challenge down in Georgia. When the smoke cleared from their heated two and a half hour/5-lap battle, Maria Fosberg had won the Women's class by less than 3 minutes over Mastin. A veteran ISDE racer and multi-time Enduro and GNCC overall champ, Mandi admits she needs to be on her game. "I didn't have the best day today," she says. "I made many mistakes and just felt 'off' all day... its been a long week with lots of riding. Now its time to go home, rest up and regroup." Even with an "off" day, Mastin's impressive 1-2 finishes still have her in a virtual tie for the GNCC Women's championship.

Speaking of the women's classes, Mandi Mastin's fellow Hall's Cycles Husqvarna sponsored teammate Veronica Martin took her second podium of the young GNCC season. Martin's 2-3 finishes also puts her second overall in in the Women's Junior Class, just two points out of the top position.

"It is particularly gratifying to see Husqvarna doing so well in GNCC competition this season," says Husqvarna's National Marketing Manager Corey Eastman. "We are looking forward to rewarding our winning racers with some of the $12 million in contingency... solid proof that it really does pay to ‘Ride More' in 2011," says Eastman in reference to the company's Ride More message for this season.

Next GNCC Race: March 26-27, 2011 – The Steele Creek GNCC, Morganton, NC

High resolution image:
http://resmarket.com/husqvarna/images/11husky_FARgnccRD2.jpg



With convenient consumer financing and more than $12 million in contingency, it pays to Ride More on a Husqvarna.
( https://www.xtrm.com/husqvarna/index.asp )

See the entire Husqvarna Motorcycle lineup ( http://heroesridehuskys.com/pages/11motorcycles.html )

Be sure to follow Team Husqvarna on Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/pages/Husqvarna-Motorcycles/139879219408569 ) or via Twitter @HusqvarnaNA.

Husqvarna Motorcycles. Tradition on two wheels since 1903.
Husqvarna Motorcycles, a part of the BMW Group since October 2007, are widely known and respected in the off-road world for a heritage of competition and numerous motocross and enduro world championships. Originally founded in Sweden in 1903, Husqvarna motorcycles have been designed and manufactured in Varese, Italy since 1987.

Husqvarna Motorcycles NA, LLC
Husqvarna Motorcycles NA, LLC is part of BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America is located in Woodcliff Lake, NJ. Husqvarna has continued to expand its professional race team to compete in AMA Enduro, GNCC, Endurocross, National Hare & Hound, the AMA Hare Scrambles Series and WORCS competition. Husqvarna team riders are competing in the premier classes of each series aboard 2011 Husqvarna TXC449, TXC511, and TE310 off-road models.

###
Husqvarna Motorcycles NA, LLC
391 N. Main Street, Suite 201
Corona, CA 92880 USA
###
Submitted by: Resmarket, Inc., Box 231765, Encinitas, CA 92023-1765
Contact: Scott Cox scott@resmarket.com tel 760-436-9937 fax 760-753-6906

 

[mnb]

pics aren't displaying...

 

[FAR Husqvarna]

Hmmm Shows up on mine???? SORRY!!!

 

[MOTORHEAD]

I don't see them either. ???

 

[jim]

Cool thanks for posting! I could open the pic link...

If Simo wants some practice riding tight stuff he should hit a few of the southern ohio enduros.

 

[Joe Chod]

Maybe now the Euros will figure ou why we wear barkbusters and they don't. Simo...you can do it!
If you want to win....hire a Finn!

 

[mnb]

You're using links to your AOL email. Since we aren't all logged into your account, that won't work.

Drag the images to your desktop and then upload them and insert the appropriate ones in the appropriate places. That should resolve the problem.

 

[Bobby]

I know the perfect private 12mile loop of tight single track not too far from Atlanta and central to a few harescrambles the next few weeks. Fred, send him on over and we promise to take very good care of him Even have a couple of local A riders who know the loop very well who would love the opportunity to share some tree banging with a Fin, did I mention the property owner is Swedish and speaks a few languages? Great to meet y'all yesterday and look forward to seeing at the other rounds.

 

[Coffee]

Hmmm Shows up on mine???? SORRY!!!

I fixed it. You need to right click and 'save as' on your computer for each picture. Then upload onto the post. Instructions here (post #4)
http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/creating-posts-threads-read-this-one.16262/#post-142743

Perhaps I will try to convince resmarket to host them on their server so all of that would not be necessary.

 

[Coffee]

Yes, if resmarket could host the pics (almost zero bandwidth on their part), then it could be a simple copy/paste like this:

For Immediate Release

Whibley Wins Maxxis General GNCC​

Photo By: Shan Moore​

Paul Whibley took the win in Georgia.​

Washington, GA (March 13, 2011) - Paul Whibley returned to top of the podium after taking a solid win at the Maxxis General GNCC in Washington, Georgia, round two of the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Series.
After finishing out last season with two straight wins, the Am Pro/FMF/Yamaha rider came into the 2011 series with high hopes. However, a close encounter with a tree at the season opener in Florida left him with a disappointing ninth place finish - not what he was hoping for.
At the Maxxis General, however, a strong performance in the red Georgia clay, which saw Whibley lead the final two laps of the seven-lap race, put the 2009 series champ right back in the championship hunt with lots of racing still left on the schedule.
"This certainly puts me in the hunt," said Whibley. "This is a good way to come back out and at least I know I'm on pace with these guys. I feel good, the bike is good and everything went well."
Nate Kanney kicked things off by grabbing the holeshot in the XC1 class and picked up the $250Motosport.com Holeshot Award for doing so.

Photo By: Shan Moore​

Josh Strang was a solid second in Georgia.​

For the first few laps it was an exciting free-for-all up front, with Whibley, Kanney, Cory Buttrick, Whibley's Am Pro teammate Thad DuVall, defending series champ Josh Strang, and Florida winner Charlie Mullins, all mixing it up. When things started sorting themselves out at the halfway mark, it was Strang on his FMF/Makita Suzuki, and the two Yamaha riders, Whibley and DuVall, in a tight formation at the front. A few seconds back came Buttrick on his FMF-backed factory KTM, while Kanney ran in fifth on his WMR/Planet Fitness/KTM.
With two laps to go, Whibley made his move for the lead, taking the position from DuVall. A lap later, DuVall stalled his bike, letting Strang go by, and the top three positions were set.
Whibley took the win a good 20 seconds ahead of Strang, with DuVall getting the checkers another nine seconds back.
"We were passing back and forth for most of the race," said Whibley. "Strang upped the pace late in the race and I had to pick it up too. I was able to get the lead at the two-second board and I just rode a steady race after that."

Photo By: Shan Moore​

Thad DuVall rounded out the podium.​

Strang led early in the race, but missed a line in the mud, allowing Whibley and DuVall to go around. However, Australian off-road star moved back up into the lead position later in the race, but ultimately gave way to Whibley. His second place finish moves him into second overall in the points standings.
"I couldn't catch Whibs at the end, he was going good," said Strang. "We're just two races in and hopefully I'll work the bugs out. These boys were going quick and it was a fun race."
DuVall wasn't pleased with third, after running with the lead group for most of the race.
"I should have done a lot better, but I had some problems on the last lap," said DuVall. "I rode a good race, and when Paul caught me at the two-second board I tried to stay with him but I ended up stalling it and Josh got around me and that was it."
Fourth went to Buttrick, who now sits fourth overall in the standings.
"At the end of the day I have to be happy with fourth," said Buttrick. "I was running at the front and I was happy with that because there are some pretty fast guys in this class. We were kind of freight-training all day. If you went down you could go from first to fifth."

Photo By: Shan Moore​

Cory Buttrick just missed the podium.​

Kanney finished out the day in fifth, while Mullins was sixth.
Garret Edminsten put his Kawasaki into seventh, ahead of JG Off-road/GEICO Powersports/Honda's Jimmy Jarrett. Meanwhile, a pair of former national enduro champions, Russell Bobbitt on a KTM, and Mike Lafferty on a Husaberg, rounded out the top 10.
In the XC2 class, KTM-mounted Jesse Robinson rebounded from a bad start to claim his first win of the year, beating out round-one winner Steward Baylor Jr. and FAR Husqvarna's Jason Thomas.
"I got horrible start, so I just put my head down took some chances," said Robinson. "I hit some mud holes that I didn't know how deep they were, but I just floated across them. I got up to the front and caught Jason and went around him. After that I just kept my handle bars out of the first and here we are."
Second went to Baylor, who battled with arm pump early in the race.
"The second I hit the woods I got arm pump," said Baylor. "I was trying as hard as I could, and I got close but not close enough. I know I can do it, I just had a little bad luck today."

Photo By: Shan Moore​

Nate Kanney took the Motosport.com Holeshot Award in the XC1 class.​

Meanwhile, Thomas was third after suffering a brutal crash on the opening lap.
"I was going down a fast section and the thing just fired me over the bars," said Thomas. "I think my camelback saved me because it exploded on my back. I got up and got going, but I took a few laps to see what the bike was doing. I gradually picked my way back up to third."
Virginia hare scrambles champ Brad Bakken finished fourth on a KTM, beating out Am Pro Yamaha's Jordan Ashburn and KTM rider Andrew DeLong.
Yamaha rider Ted Mullins edged out JG Off-road/GEICO Powersports/Honda's Scotty Watkins for seventh, while KTM riders Shane Obanion and Zackery Smith finished out the top 10.
Obanion went home with a little extra cash after taking the $100 Motosport.com Holeshot Award by grabbing the holeshot to start the XC2 race.
In the A.M. race, over 440 riders took to the track with KTM rider Corey Arbogast making a last second pass on six-time National Hare Scrambles champion Jason Raines to take the overall win.
"I didn't get the best of starts and I just started picking people off," said Arbogast. "We had a great battle and I wasn't sure who was going to win. Jason had to gas on the last lap and that gave me enough to get the win."

Photo By: Shan Moore​

Jesse Robinson won the XC2 class.​

Yamaha rider Jeff Cregg finished third overall with McKinnon Wilborn finishing fourth overall. Arbogast, Raines, Cregg and Welborn also filled the top four positions in the Sportsman A division.
In the Women's class, KTM's Maria Forsberg topped Husqvarna rider Mandi Mastin for the win with Honda rider Ashley Crouch in third.
Aaron Curtis won the Sportsman B class over fellow KTM riders Bo Crowe and Nicholas Roughton.
In the Youth race, KTM rider Austin Lee remained undefeated for the 2011 season, taking the overall win after leading every lap of the one-hour race. Second place went to another KTM rider Levi Keller, while Honda Kevin Sutphin finished third overall.
Lee also claimed the win in the Super Mini (12-13) class.
"I knew I had to ride hard today in the mud and I just made the best of it and it paid off," said Lee.
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Series returns to action on March 26th and 27th for round three of the series at the FMF Steele Creek GNCC, held in Morganton, South Carolina.

XC1 Results:
1. Paul Whibley (Yam)
2. Josh Strang (Suz)
3. Thad DuVall (Yam)
4. Cory Buttrick (KTM)
5. Nate Kanney (KTM)
6. Charlie Mullins (KTM)
7. Garret Edminsten (Kaw)
8. Jimmy Jarrett (Hon)
9. Russell Bobbitt (KTM)
10. Mike Lafferty (Hsb)

XC1 Standings:
1. Charlie Mullins (45/1 win)
2. Josh Strang (43)
3. Paul Whibley (42/1 win)
4. Cory Buttrick (33)
5. Nate Kanney (32)
6. Garrett Edminsten (28)
7. Chris Bach (27)
8. Mike Brown (25)
9. Mike Lafferty (24)
10. Thad DuVall (22)

XC2 Results:
1. Jesse Robinson (KTM)
2. Steward Baylor Jr. (KTM)
3. Jason Thomas (Hsq)
4. Brad Bakken (KTM)
5. Jordan Ashburn (Yam)
6. Andrew DeLong (KTM)
7. Ted Mullins (Yam)
8. Scotty Watkins (Hon)
9. Shane Obanion (KTM)
10. Zackery Smith (KTM)

XC2 Standings:
1. Steward Baylor Jr. (55/1 win)
2. Jesse Robonson (51/1 win)
3. Jason Thomas (46)
4. Brad Bakken (33)
5. Andrew DeLong (33)
6. Jordan Ashburn (27)
7. Shane Obanion (26)
8. Morgan Moss (24)
9. Shane Hufford Jr. (23)
10. Scotty Watkins (22)

MotoSport.com $250 XC1 holeshot - Nate Kanney
MotoSport.com $100 XC2 holeshot - Shan Obanion

About GNCC Racing:
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1979, 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 1,800 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles, competing for more than $3 million in prizes. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.

 

[Coffee]

Yes. This picture:

Is hosted here:
http://www.racerpress.net/images/stories/thumbs/2732_dsc_0686-3.jpg

Resmarket could host them and the link could look like this (I am just making this up, the link won't work)
http://www.resmarket.com/images/stories/2732_dsc_0686-3.jpg