Husqvarna Press Release
Corona, CA – April 2, 2012 – Despite starting from virtually last place at the green flag, the Fred Andrews Racing (FAR) Husqvarna team put two riders in the top ten at the North Carolina round of the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series.
After one lap, Jason Thomas fought his way up to third in XC2 where he would remain until the white flag was thrown. “I actually injured my back practicing on Friday,” Jason explained. “I really hoped it wouldn’t become an issue, but three hours of racing can take its toll. The track was tough on the body today, and right now my back is just one big knot.”
Thomas endured the pain in his back through the final lap of the race, and held on to take sixth in class. Thomas now sits third in points in the XC2 division.
Returning for the first time since a crash in February that resulted in a broken collarbone and punctured lung, Andrew DeLong was back on a bike and ready to race. “I was only cleared to ride on Monday,” Andrew said. “So I have really only had four days on the new 2012 TC250. But it didn’t matter, I just wanted to get out there and start racing again!”
Andrew pushed hard on the opening lap, and physically came into the pits one spot behind Thomas, but a crash at the entrance of the pits put him back to seventh. Midway through lap three he went down again and was forced to stop in the pits for some quick bike maintenance.
With the checkered flag out, Andrew made a last lap pass to secure eighth place in the XC2 class. “I was just trying a little bit too hard today,” he said. “I got tired and just had to hold on. Thankfully we have two weeks to get ready for the next round; I should be back to normal by then!”
The FAR Husqvarna team will return to racing in two weeks at the Big Buck GNCC in Union, SC for round four of the series.
Andrew DeLong returned to racing at the Steele Creek GNCC, and despite two crashes held on to take eighth at the checkered flag. Photo by Shan Moore
Jason Thomas ran as high as third at Steele Creek, but would settle for sixth after being slowed on the last lap by a nagging back injury. Photo by Shan Moore
For more information on the entire 2012 Husqvarna line-up, please go to www.husqvarna-motorcyclesna.com. Head to your nearest dealership to pick up a copy of the 2012 RiDE MORE Catalog, available now!
Be sure to follow Team Husqvarna on Facebook or via Twitter @HusqvarnaNA.
