GNCC RACE REPORT - SHANE WATTS
Team Fun Mart Cycles/Maxxis/ktmhutt.com off-road racer Shane Watts scored another impressive result in the 2007 GNCC Championship with a well earned 3rd place finish at Round 3 of the series in Steel Creek, North Carolina.
Watts again got off to a decent start and entered the trees in 5th position and then started working his way past his competitors, finally passing David Knight for the lead halfway through the first lap. From there, Watts was able to easily distance himself from the chasing pack until a wrong turn near the end of lap 1 reduced all of the lead that he had built. The heat and demanding course took their toll, and for the remainder of the race Watts cruised around the track focusing on riding smooth lines and exerting as little amount of energy as possible. Amazingly this resulted in another podium finish and great representation for the companies that support him.
"I definitely went out too hard early in the race and paid for it later. Again I was surprised at how slow I was able to ride yet still be able to stay in contention with the race leaders until the end. To only be 100 meters behind the first two guys at the finish has me in hindsight kicking myself a little for not summoning just that little bit more energy to make the charge for the victory, but then I remember the blurred vision and other effects of exhaustion I was experiencing during that last lap. Just that thought is enough to make me content with not only finishing the race but also making the podium. Now I have some time to improve on my fitness level and to concentrate on a slightly different race plan for Round 4."
The next GNCC race for Shane Watts is on April 15th, and he is strongly supported by the following companies; Fun Mart Cycles, Maxxis tires, ktmhutt.com, Progrip goggles and grips, Spectro oils, Shift apparel, GPR stabilizers, DeCal Works graphics, Dirt Tricks sprockets, Race Tech suspension, Bullet Proof Designs radiator protection, Flexx handlebars, Synergy seals, Cycra plastic, Clarke fuel tanks, Alpinestars, FMF, and E-line guards.