For the second race in a row, Andrew DeLong (center) topped the XC2 class and finished on the overall podium at a GNCC. Photo: Krista Shaw
Corona, CA – May 29, 2012 - Fred Andrews Racing Husqvarna’s Andrew DeLong earned his second consecutive victory at the Mountaineer Run GNCC in Masontown, West Virginia. With temperatures higher than usual, Andrew showed his stamina and worked his way from a mid-pack start up to the front to claim third overall and first in the XC2 class.
Despite his incredible XC2-class win, DeLong commented that he had a "bad day" and only started to ride well toward the end of the race. Photo: Krista Shaw
It wasn’t an easy race for DeLong and his Husqvarna TC250 as he couldn’t seem to find his groove until after the fourth lap. “I had a bad day today,” DeLong confessed. “I was on the ground so many times, then the last lap I was finally riding like I know how again. I really can’t believe I won today; but I’ll take it!”
With second place hot on his heels, DeLong put on a charge late in the race and turned a two-second gap into more than 30 seconds by the checkered flag. “I’m really happy with how Andrew rode today,” Fred Andrews said. “After the first lap, we knew that it was going to be a race, but I was confident in having him on my team. I knew that he wasn’t going to let a little bit of racing action keep him out of the lead. That’s two overall podiums for him in two weeks!”
Andrew DeLong now moves up to fourth in the XC2 championship, just nine points away from third despite missing the first two rounds of the season due to injury.
DeLong’s teammate, Nick Davis, returned from a knee injury and would not have as much luck, although he would run as high as third in XC2 before suffering a DNF.
Working from the back of the pack, Davis finally got comfortable and made a push for the front of the pack. “I was a little rusty at the beginning, then I started to get moving,” Nick explained. “I passed all the way up to third place, then a stick took out my front brake. I am happy with how I was riding; I just had some bad luck this weekend.”
FAR Husqvarna's newest rider, Nick Davis, made his return to racing at the Mountaineer Run GNCC, aboard a 2012 Husqvarna TC250. Photo: Krista Shaw
The FAR Husqvarna team returns to racing June 16th at the Wyoming National Enduro, where DeLong will try for another overall podium.
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.
