This week’s featured race reports:
Ian Pannebakker | Hansen Off-Road Racing | STS Motorsports | David Bolding
Ian Pannebakker – Yadkin Valley Stomp GNCC
Class: 4 Stroke A-Lites
Finish: 6/9 Overall: 35/170
Ian Pannebakker put in an impressive ride at Yadkinville for a 35th-overall finish!
The weather for round 6 of the GNCC series in Yadkinville, NC could not have been any more perfect. Although the track was extremely dry, temperatures in the mid 60′s coupled with a comfortable breeze made it hard to complain. After eating some lunch and warming up, I was feeling confident about the day’s race.
At one o’clock when the green flag waved I found myself running mid pack. The dusty conditions made riding very difficult in the first couple of corners. As we entered the first section of woods I picked a line which I noticed while walking the course in the morning; this allowed me to move into third place. For much of the first lap I maintained third position until being passed and sliding back to fourth. I played it cautious on the first lap as I wanted to get familiar with the track before pushing too hard in the dusty conditions. Heading into the second lap I started getting into the “groove” and flowed through tightly wooded trails. Unfortunately, I had a case of whiskey throttle going through the watered pro pits and slid out, dropping to 6th place. The track was so dry in sections that I was basically riding blind; the best way to describe the dirt would be like baby powder. Throughout the third, fourth, and fifth lap I maintained a steady pace riding by myself. My suspension worked great in the choppy conditions which definitely helped save energy. When I came around for my final lap I gained 30 seconds on the fifth place rider. Knowing this, I had no problem pushing myself to ride faster. About halfway through the sixth lap I moved into the fifth place position. The two of us battled back and forth until the very last corner when we came together and I dropped my bike. To say the least, I was a little mad at myself. I had the position but made a silly mistake which ended up costing me.
Despite my final corner mishap I had a strong race and most of all, a ton of fun. My fitness level felt good which allowed me to ride my best towards the end of the race. My lap times were all within about 20 seconds of each other which is great after three hours of riding. If I pick up my pace by about 30 seconds a lap I could be in contention for a top three ride. On a 12 mile course that is a matter of a couple adjustments, something I know I am capable of. Although my class finish was 6/9 I had my second strongest overall finish of the year grabbing 35th overall. I look forward to a home race in two weeks as the series heads north to the rocks of Somerset, Pennsylvania.
Again, thanks to all of my sponsors for the help. I really appreciate your support this racing season: Mom and Dad, Toy Tech Cycles, DEF Performance, Dirt Tricks, Johnny Signs, Jason Raines, Gaerne, All Balls Racing, Scott USA, Pro Taper, FMF, IMS, and Fluidyne. » Back to top
Hansen Off-Road Racing
This past weekend Hansen Offrorad Racing participated in two different races; the Yadkinville GNCC and the District 6 Bloomsburg Hare Scramble.
Fred Hansen was in Bloomsburg, PA for the District 6 Hare Scramble. This was a brand new track that circles an old quarry with single track, hills, grass track, and lots of great racing action. The sky was gloomy and showed signs of something brewing. Fortunately the rain held off as the winds picked up but the 45 degree weather could scare off the racers as numerous people poured in the gate early in the morning. Off the start Fred quickly grabbed the third spot going into the first turn. After the first couple laps, Fred battled with the fourth place rider and would eventually catch up to over take the 3rd place rider as well. With the engine humming the sweet tune of high rpms and great speed, something felt amiss when he realized there was no shifter. The bolt holding the shifter level on backed itself out and the shifter was dangling below the foot peg. With the bike stuck in third gear, Fred was able to hold on to the fifth place spot as he completed the final two laps of the two hour race.
On to North Carolina where racer CJ Hansen attended round 6 of the Grand National Cross Country Series in Yadkinville, NC. As the green flag dropped for the Junior C (22+) class his KTM had a slight problem getting off the line. The first turn wasn’t nearly as bad as the rest of the track when the dust that had began to cloud his vision going into the woods. As CJ entered the woods, the dust had diminished and the dirt proved to be nearly perfect. On the first lap CJ saw 15th as he got situated to how the track was laid out. Lap two, CJ put his head down and dropped the throttle to catch the next spot ahead of him. With the third lap, CJ was able to move yet another position to secure him a 13th place finish for the day. The dry conditions of Yadkinville played a massive factor in the vision of everyone, amateur and pro alike.
We would like to thank the following for their continued support: Our family and friends, One Industries, Scott Goggles, SixSixOne, FMF, Cycra, Gaerne boots, Motorex, RK Chain, Excel, DeCal Works, and IMS. » Back to top
STS Motorsports rider Bob Santheson
STS Motorsports
STS Motorsports XC1 Rider Bob Santheson would ride to a 12th place finish on his KTM/STS/Motofit ride. After making a few key passes in the opening laps, Santheson was able to ride smooth and consistent for a 50th overall. Look for Bob to be more at home with the rockier conditions in Pennsylvania.
While Bob was battling in NC, the New England boys were battling in Eastford, CT at the 3rd round of the NETRA Hare Scramble Series. With several lead changes every lap, STS Motorsports Jim Senecal and KTM’s Jake Korn were fender to fender the duration of the race. Jake Korn would take the win in front of STS riders Jim Senecal and KTM/STS/Motofit’s John Day. This weekend the circuit visits CATRAland in Fishhouse, NY. » Back to top
David Bolding – Vendor Row Challenge – Yadkin Valley Stomp GNCC
Team: Ride PG/GDR/ KTM
Bike: KTM SX 250
Result: 10th
David Bolding gets chased down by digitaloffroad.com's Jason Hooper (me!)
As I rolled into the Wellborn Farm early on race day I thinking about my mom since it was Mothers Day. I located the PG trailer and was backing into my parking spot when I was cut off by a Black Ford F350 Super Duty. It was Bart Hayes, my team mate, taking a hot line to get my parking spot.
Time to race! Jason Hooper from Digital Off-road was on my right and my teammates, Matt Shumate and Bart Hayes, were on my left. 10 seconds. Green flag, kick, kick, kick and my bike finally fires up. My class is almost gone when I got to the first turn with only one bike behind me. The start was very dusty and I caught up quickly to the back of the pack. At about the 1 mile mark a rider goes down and I get around him quickly. 4 more corners and we come across Bart “BushHog” Hayes trying to get his bike out of the saplings. Kyle Dangler from FMF is having trouble and we get around him as well. The tight woods sections are good with no dust but little room to pass. At the 8 mile mark we catch a lot of the trial rider class that started before us. I look for opportunity and get past Doc McGee as he gets stuck behind a lapper. End of lap 1 and I am in 6th place.
Lap 2 its go time. Coming out of scoring I run into many slower riders having trouble. I pick my way through trying to make good line choices. About the 5 mile mark I hear Bart Hayes’ Husaberg hitting the rev limiter behind me. I am held up behind 3 slower riders. Bart sees his line and makes a pass on all of us. I get by the riders about 3 turns later and I am able to catch back up to Hayes. We make good time for the next couple of miles and then come upon some slower riders. This time Hayes gets stuck behind the lappers as I see a hot line and make my move past him. End of lap 2 and I am in 6th place.
Lap 3. I lost the mouth piece and all the water out of my camelback on lap 2. Man have I got a dirt clod the size of a golf ball stuck in my throat! I finally recover from that and get going good again. I hear Hooper’s CR125 screaming behind me. We make our way through the fast section by the creek and we pass quite a few lappers. We come to where the trail tightens up again and see lappers in front of us. Hooper makes his move and I am run wide right by the lapper. Jason gets by and has his 125 light up. I pick up my pace to catch up to Hoop but loose the front end and go down. Hooper is gone so I set into catch up mode. A rider falls on me and ends up on my gas tank and I stall my bike. I get moving again only to hear the Husaberg of Hayes behind me again. We are moving pretty good again with not too much traffic. I make a poor line choice and Hayes scrubs me off on a slower rider. I finally make a pass a few turns latter and try to catch Hayes again but go down in a dusty turn. I get moving again and try and pick up the pace only to hit something on the track and take a wild ride and go down in a briar patch. It takes me quite a while to get out of the briars and I watch at Kyle Dangler from FMF and Cal Northrop from FTI go by me. At this point I decide to just ride the rest of the race and not fall again. I finish the race in 10th. I had a great time racing with Bart and Hooper. Vendor row donated the entry fees to Dave Smith from Race Day Pix for his daughter Cheyenne. Cheyenne, you are in our prayers.
