Team Am-Pro Yamaha Ohio GNCC Race Report

From the February, 2009 issue of Dirt Rider

Am Pro Yamaha Ohio Gncc Report After Race

Round six at the John Penton GNCC in Millfield, OH was a race that most will not forget and are probobly still cleaning up after. When the rain showed up on Friday night Team Am-Pro Yamaha crossed their fingers it would just go away, but it didn't. The rain stopped for most of Saturday's events but was right back for the days race on Sunday. Just watching the morning show was enough to make the team realize today was not going to be a normal 'Day at the Office'.

The 15 XC1 Pro riders lined up on the start thinking they were prepared for the muddy race. When the flag waved it was Suzuki's Jimmy Jarrett with the holeshot. Jason Raines had some work to do with his bike not wanting to fire off the line and putting him dead last coming through the first turn. When the riders came through pit row shortly after the start they were unreconizable and many realized they needed to pit and refresh googles and gloves. Jason chased down the pack by pit row and was in 8th coming into the finish barrels on the first lap. Jason passed Brian Guenther on the second lap and also gained when both Team Suzuki's Charlie Mullins and KTM's Nathan Kanney presented with mechanical problems . The race quickly turned into mayham with several spots on the track having to be re-routed and riders getting stuck in the holes and destorying their bikes. Jason played it smart and watched for the good lines, he also had a little help from the injured Barry Hawk. Barry stood out in the rain and mud all day to help support his fellow teammates by directing them through the bad spots on the track. Jason lost a position to Brian Guenther in the field section on the fourth lap but didn't lose his drive and determination and regained fifth place to the finish making this race his best finish of the year.

Am Pro Yamaha Ohio Gncc Report Prep Before Race

In the XC2 Pro Lites it was Am-Pro Yamaha's Thaddeus Duvall almost from the start. Thad started the race in the top two coming around the first turn. Sometime on the first lap Monster Energy's Josh Weisenfels and Kenvin Hoge got ahead of him but with KTM's Kailub Russell who had gotten the holeshot off the start went down near pit row that placed Thad in third on lap one. Thad's WR 250 worked well in the muddy conditions and it was no problem for him to take the lead on lap two and keeping that lead all the way to the end. The youngest on the Am-Pro Yamaha team also managed to be one of only six riders to complete six laps for the day as well placing him first in XC2 Pro Lites and a amazing fourth overall for the day.

For Ryan Belue and Joe Scherer the luck was just 'rained' out. Ryan getting a meager start with a misfire off the line, completed two laps in 6th place passing a remarkable 15 riders in his 4 Stroke B Lites class before opting to discontinue his race due to his bike over heating. Ryan still recieved seventh place for the day. Joe Scherer started off the race with good results and on lap two was leading the open A class. However on the fifth and final lap of the day is where his day ran short with mechanical issues. Joe ended his day with a respectable fourth place and definetly living up to his trade name 'Joe Dirt'. Missing rider Walker Fowler was at home this weekend letting his foot heal from the injury he sustained at round two of the series.