GNCC, WORCS, Enduro, & Off-Road Racing News: Digitaloffroad.com » Interviews

Interview: Jed Haines

Ian Pannebakker — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:19:20 +0000

Jedediah Haines has been on the racing scene for almost twenty years now. His roots are in motocross, but in 2004 Jed was looking to change up his racing program. He began racing Harescramble events locally aboard a 125 and instantly became a front-runner in the A class. The transition from track to trail went over well and he’s been at it ever since. 2010 was Haines’ first full year on the national circuit, as he debuted in the XC1 class aboard a privateer entry. His desire to succeed and fearless racing attitude has caught the attention of many over the years and for 2012 he’s been chosen as the fill-in rider for the Obermeyer Yamaha/Raines Riding University/Offroadviking.com team. We gave Jed a call to get the inside scoop on his new ride and what’s in store for the fast approaching season!

Jed putting in some seat time on his new ride at the Hawkins' compound in South Carolina.

First off, congrats on landing the fill in ride with the Obermeyer Yamaha/Raines Riding University/Offroadviking.com team! I don’t think anyone can deny the hard work you have put in to reach this point and it must feel good to get some well-deserved support. You had a fairly long weekend, so what was on the agenda for today?
Thanks, I’m excited for the opportunity! Not much happening, just got home from South Carolina late last night and been unloading all day and getting some small stuff done around the house.

Tell me a little bit about your trip down to Randy’s place. You spent a few days down there getting situated with the new deal, how did things go?
It was pretty good! The weather was decent and a lot warmer than up here in Pennsylvania. LeeAnn and I went down there so I could get some seat-time on the new bike and get all situated to see what adjustments needed to be made. I ended up getting a lot more riding in than I expected, so at this point I’m further ahead than I thought I would be; I’m happy with how things are going.

How did things end up going your first day out on the bike? You not only went from a 450 to a 250, but also an entirely new manufacturer. What was your overall impression of the Yamaha?
Well, the first time out I just kind of took it easy and got the new bike broken in. I made sure I was comfortable before I went out and pushed too hard. I heard a lot of talk about how much more powerful the 2012 YZ250F was compared to the 2011 model, and after riding one, I couldn’t agree anymore. I’ve played around here and there on the 2011 model a bit last year just practicing so I was anxious to feel the difference…and it is very noticeable.

So you weren’t entirely stranger to the Yamaha set-up and at least had somewhat of an idea what to expect. Even though it’s the only carbureted 250 four-stroke model remaining, how was the power delivery in comparison to other 250’s you may have ridden?
Yeah, even though it’s carbureted, it still has a lot of power for a 250F. There’s a hard punch on the bottom, which definitely exceeded my expectations. It’s been a fairly long time since I’ve ridden a Lites bike, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much power it really did have.

Jed will be a definite podium threat in the XC2 class.

That seems to be the general consensus about the bike, at least based upon other reviews I’ve read. The Yamaha YZ250F is also the lightest in its class, did it feel strange going from one of the heaviest 450’s to the lightest 250F available?
I mean, it kind of did. At first just getting used to the weight difference was one of my biggest flaws this past weekend. I spent a lot of time over correcting. (Laughs) It doesn’t take nearly the amount of muscle it does to ride a 450, and what adjustments I would have to make to counteract something on the big bike is cut in half on the 250F. I’ve been training all winter to build mass since I struggled with arm pump last season, but jumping to the lighter bike now should be advantageous to me.

I guess there are definitely downfalls to each bike; a 450’s power can wear you out, but at the same time, a 250F needs to be over-revved and ridden harder. Moving on, how quickly did the whole opportunity with the Team Obermeyer Yamaha/Raines Riding University/Offroadviking.com come about?
Well, Jason (Raines) gave me the call two weeks ago on a Friday and told me they were looking at having a fill-in rider for Morgan. I didn’t really have any other offers on the table and it was going to be tight for me financially doing the whole privateer deal this season. I had nothing to lose, so of course when I was given the opportunity, I jumped on board. The next day Jason called me back to say things were looking pretty definite, but still nothing had been signed and made official. Jason had to work some things on his end and Keith (Obermeyer) with Yamaha. I got the final word last Thursday, so we hopped in the truck late afternoon and headed south!

Morgan Moss is expected to be back on the bike at some point during the summer. When he returns to racing will you have to give up your bike regardless of your results or is that a bridge you’ll cross with the team when the time comes?
It’s pretty much going to be performance based and determined by my results. I’m in until summer break, which is when they figure Morgan will be healthy and 100% again, then we will sit down and figure things out. If my results are there and I’m in it for the championship, they’ll keep me around. On the other hand, if my results aren’t there and I’m not what they’re looking for, I understand and we’ll part ways, from there on Morgan will take over.

Being that you’ve already competed in the XC1 class, you know what it takes to run with the fastest guys in America. Do you think having that experience will benefit you heading into XC2?
I think it will probably help and hurt me at the same time. The XC1 guys start out at a little slower pace to kind of feel things out and then progressively pick up the pace with each passing lap. I’ve grown accustomed to that and adjusted my racing style to work with that trend. However, if you look at the XC2 guys, usually at the beginning of the race they are up towards the front of the overall. They’re pushing from the get go, but at the same time, they lap times of the class tend to remain the same the entire race or fade towards the end. I know I have the speed, just from my experience with the XC1 guys; it’s just a matter of getting my sprint speed down. I think it will be easier running a lighter bike and the 250F’s can be a little more fun to ride; just having a bigger fun factor makes it that much easier to go fast and push yourself.

The XC1 riders are more mature in that aspect. Those guys let the race come to them while the XC2 riders are sprinting at the sight of the green flag. During the second half of the 2011 season you logged several top finishes, proving your capabilities on the bike. With that in mind, do you have any personal goals or expectations going into a new class? Has the team put any sort of expectations on you as far as results go?
I’ve never raced the XC2 class, so it’s kind of hard for me to put a number on it at this point. I’m just going to keep doing my homework and then after the opening two rounds I’ll have a good idea of where I sit. The team hasn’t really set a standard they are looking for, but I know they want results and that’s what I’m going out there to give them. I haven’t been told I need to make the podium or anything, but no matter what is expected of me, I always give it my best. They know just as well as I do the kind of results I am capable of putting in. I’m not going to go out there and run the chance of wadding up and giving them a DNF if I’m having a bad day. If there is a race or two where I just don’t have it, I’ve got to go out there and ride a smart race, even if it ends up being just a top five. On a bad day it would definitely make everyone happier to grab a top five then a DNF from a silly mistake.

I agree, and if you can still salvage a top five finish in such a competitive class, your season points will be good come round 13. Although you just came back from South Carolina this past weekend, do have any plans to return in the near future?
I’m going to try and go down to South Carolina as many times as I possibly can. Fortunately, but unfortunately, I’m laid off for the winter so I have the time to go down, just not the finances. We will actually be heading back this weekend for the first round of the National Harescramble East series. Since the deal came about on such short notice, I’ll be racing a bone stock bike. After this weekend we’re going to send the suspension out to Factory Connection and get all the odds and ends put on it, that way it’ll be ready to go for the GNCC season. Once we get all the parts in, I will definitely be down there at least once to make sure everything is working the way I want it to so there are no surprises come Florida.

At this point the first round of the National Enduro season is just over a week away. Most teams are contracting their riders to compete in both the GNCC and National Enduro series. Does your contract with the team require you to race in both?
The team knows my financial status and that I won’t be able to attend all of the National Enduro’s. There are probably more costs involved with fuel alone just to run ten rounds of the National Enduro series as there is the thirteen rounds of the GNCC series. On top of that, I work full time during the racing season so the lost wages only adds to my expenses. I will be at all of the GNCC’s in 2012 and that is where my focus will be, but I also plan on doing the National Harescramble series. Since there is an East and West circuit it’s easier to make it to those rounds and be competitive in points without driving cross-country. Jason won the AMA National Harescramble title six times and everyone’s hoping to bring the number one plate back to Yamaha for 2012.

Sounds like you’ll have no trouble staying busy aboard the Yamaha this season. I think that will wrap things up for us. Good luck in the 2012 season and congrats again on the new ride! Who would you like to thank?
I want to thank the Obermeyer Yamaha/Raines Riding University/Offroadviking.com team for giving me the opportunity to represent them at the national level and giving me the chance I’ve been working hard for. Their sponsors are also helping me out: Fly Racing, GE, Kenda, Sunstar, FMF, Unabiker Radiator Guards, Yamalube, GYT-R, EKS-Brand Goggles, Yamaha Generators, Factory Connection, GPR Stabilizers, EBC, IMS, Rekluse, Gaerne, Flat Tire Defenders, HBD Motografx, Accelerade, Wiseco, Zip-Ty Racing, Fastway, CV4, and Randy Hawkins at AmPro Yamaha for helping us out and giving us a place to ride. I would also like to thank my personal sponsors: Oury Grips, Asterisk, UFO Plastics, and All Balls Racing.

Interview: Andrew Delong

Ian Pannebakker — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:56:15 +0000

FAR Husqvarna’s XC2 rider, Andrew Delong, started out the 2011 GNCC season as a relative unknown. The self-made pro worked his way up from the youth ranks of local racing to become a Factory supported rider in one of America’s most prestigious off-road racing series. His ambition, dedication, and motivation to better himself every time he swings a leg over a bike is what allowed him to recently take his first XC2 Pro Lites win. For much of the 2011 season, Delong flew under the radar in the GNCC series, despite finishing in the top five every round except one. However, in the later portions of the year, the young rider out of Morgantown, Pennsylvania was turning heads and making a statement against well-established riders. We caught up with Andrew to see how the off-season has been and get the low-down on his sophomore GNCC racing season.

Hey Andrew, what have you been up to?
Nothing too much at all, just working every day at the scrap yard and with my brother at my Dad’s gas station; riding whenever I can get the chance!

Wow, sounds like you’ve got a busy schedule to contend with while trying to prepare in the off-season! First off, congrats on scoring your first GNCC Pro win at the final round in Loretta’s. How does it feel to get that first win out of the way? Are you relieved or do you feel more pressure knowing what you are now capable of?
Thanks, it feels great to get that first win under my belt. I felt a lot of pressure to win in the 2011 season to prove myself to people and that I could win. It is a big confidence boost for me. My family and I are relieved that Fred Andrews Racing picked me up for the 2012 season. There will still be the pressure of having to win; there is a lot of great competition out there. I’m hoping for the best!

Delong proves that hard work does pay off, and in his case it was in the form of a Factory FAR Husqvarna ride.

Well, regardless of the pressure, you made it clear to the rest of the field you’re a serious contender who is capable of putting together a championship. In total, you finished on the podium seven times this year in the GNCC series and finished in the top ten overall in all but one of the National Enduros. For a majority of the year you were a one-man show, putting in a full privateer effort out of your box van. How hard was it to race week in and week out all over the country while maintaining bikes to a level that allowed you to finish so consistently?
It was very challenging to live out of the van and compete every weekend, but you do what you have to do. I competed in GNCC, National Enduro, AMA National Harescramble and some ECEA Harescramble events as my schedule warranted. I have to thank my dad and Dee Harrell for helping me to get to the races; it took all three of us to drive nonstop to make it to the races on time. The van would be packed and ready to go and as soon as we were ready, we’d hit the road. After the race we’d get packed up and drive all night to get to work on Monday morning. After work I would wash everything up and start all over again getting my bike ready for the next race. It was a long race season this year.

You never had a dull moment in your season, that’s for sure! Everyone always knew your name was at the front, yet somehow you remained under the radar until the last four or five races of the season. Do you think people initially saw you as someone who wouldn’t be at the front for an entire season? Without having so much attention on yourself, did that allow you to focus easier on the task at hand?
When I first started racing in Florida I was a “nobody” and that’s how it stayed for most of the season until I started putting in some really good rides and putting my bike on the podium. I think that people didn’t look at me as a threat because I was not contesting for wins; I was running 3rd and 4th. When I started challenging for the lead and running with the top guys, that’s when people started taking notice. I actually wanted to have a little more attention so that people would see what I was doing on my own, hoping that I would get picked up by a team for the 2012 season. I like being the underdog and finishing on the podium gave me more confidence to be able to run with some of the factory guys that have been doing this for a while.

The departure of Morgan Moss of the FAR/Husky team opened up a door for Andrew and he took advantage of the opportunity.

Yeah, it’s pretty crazy to think that finishing fourth and fifth in such a competitive class won’t always get you the attention you deserve. With 2011 being your first full season racing the GNCC series, was there any point where you surprised yourself with good finishes or did you have high expectations for yourself going into the year?
I had high expectations going into the season all year, I just had to figure out the GNCCs and three hour races. I wasn’t too surprised; I knew I could run with those guys from seeing them at practice tracks and riding with them before some of the GNCC races. I knew I had the speed, I just needed the knowledge on how to run a three hour race.

There is definitely a lot of strategy involved in GNCC racing along with any other endurance event, but once you figured it out, you began making huge advances in your results. At the end of September you were given the opportunity to ride a WEC for Beta over in France. How did that deal come about? How did you end up finishing?
The deal came about when Erik from Off Road Champions sent me an email asking me if I would be willing to fill in for an injured Beta rider for the last WEC race of the year. I had nothing lined up for next year and I needed help from someone to continue on with what I was doing because I was running short on money. It was a great experience and I am happy I did it. I met a lot of people there and will always have great connections over there in case I ever need a favor. The first day I got 28th overall in the Junior class riding a Beta 400 and the second day was a better finish 18th overall. I felt much more comfortable on the Beta the second day.

The WEC was not your first time out the states this year. You also competed as a member of the Junior Team at the ISDE in Finland. Tell me a little bit about that.
The ISDE was great! I was on the USA junior team with Cory Buttrick, Ian Blythe, and Cody Schafer. We had a great team and we put in some really good results, it just seemed like we couldn’t catch a break on some of the days. We rode 200 miles every day, except on day 6; it was tough and very hard on the riders to keep their bikes together. The terrain was very rocky, muddy and pretty technical in the transfers, and the test sections were very beat up. We ended up putting in some really good results which landed us with a 4th overall in the Junior class. I missed a gold medal by 20 seconds and had to settle with a silver medal.

As racers, we all are in it to win, but considering it was only your sophomore year as an ISDE competitor, that is definitely a solid result. It wasn’t long after that when you were offered to fly across the pond again to ride the Beta in France. Going back to that, were there any plans for you to race in Europe full-time, or was this just a one-race deal?
Yes, it was a trial run for me, the Beta team wanted to see how I would do. I was not getting any offers here in the USA so I was looking for some support for the 2012 season even if that meant going to Europe to race. The Beta team boss said to keep him in the loop and that if nothing was offered to me here in the states that I was to give him a call and ride for him in some events.

Look for Andrew to be a title contender after a winter to get more comfortable on the Husky and with more time and resources on his side.

Wow, sounds like you had a unique opportunity, but I’m sure staying close to home is more of what you were looking for. How long after that were you and the FAR Husqvarna Team speaking?
Pretty much as soon as I got home from France we got a phone call from Fred Andrews. He wanted to know if I would come to Ohio and test a Husqvarna to see what I thought of the bike.

Since signing your contract with Fred Andrews, you finished on the podium at every race and grabbed a GNCC win. Obviously the transition not only from a two stroke to a four stroke, but KTM to Husqvarna went smooth. Is your early success the result of you being able to focus more on racing, a good handling bike, both, or neither?
It was a lot of pressure off my back for me; I didn’t have to work on getting my race bike ready to roll for the races. All I had to do was work at my job during the day come home and focus on practicing. The Husqvarna is a great bike and it was a fairly easy transition, I am still learning the ins and outs of the bike.

Husqvarna definitely offers riders some unique bikes, but after speaking with you and riding one myself, they are definitely a solid platform and easy bike to ride. With regards to 2012, will you be continuing your relationship with FAR? In what series are you expected to compete?
Yes, I signed a one-year deal with Fred Andrews Racing and Husqvarna. I will compete in the GNCC series, and the National Enduros.

Last winter you and I did some riding together down in Florida. Do you plan on spending your entire winter down there this season or just a few weeks?
I plan on staying down there a little bit longer than I did last year; I want to get in better shape and get faster on the bike and just enjoy it.

If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be and why?
Steve McQueen, he just seemed like an awesome, adventurous guy, and a real badass.

Well, that about does it. Congrats on a great season and thanks for taking the time out of your busy day! Anyone you’d like to thank?
First off I would like to thank Fred Andrews Racing and Husqvarna, Joey Maurer, X Brand Goggles, Maxxis Tires, Fly gear, Bell Helmets, Easton Bars, Enduro Engineering, All Balls Racing, Mom, Dad, my brother Craig, my girlfriend Angelina, RORR Club, and everyone who has supported me in my racing career from mini bikes all the way up to now.

Wednesday Wrench: Kyle Redmond

Jason Hooper — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:54:04 +0000

While the seasoned Honda rider felt comfortable on his new bike, he struggled to put all the pieces together this year. But despite setbacks, Redmond knows what he can accomplish next year. Read on to see how Redmond felt about his 2011 Endurocross season and what’s he’s hoping to do as he prepares for 2012.

Kyle battles with teammate Rory Mead at the Indy EX.

What have you been up to since the end of the season?
I’ve been trying to relax and take it easy and let some stuff heal up from the season.

How do you feel about how the 2011 Endurocross season went down?
I feel pretty unaccomplished from the 2011 season. I want to try again next year.

After your crash in Everett, how long did it take you to get back to normal competition?
After the crash I didn’t ride until practice at the next event in Indy but I really wasn’t myself again until Ontario. I’m still hurting from that one today.

Yow! Did you have to change anything with your training through the season after your injury?
I changed by not doing as much training and trying to recover more.

What do you feel was your best race?
I feel my best race was in Vegas. I came back from a lot of issues that week leading up to that race, and wasn’t really prepared. I feel like l I rode well for what problems I faced. So I’m definitely happy with how I rode there.

Nice holeshot in Vegas by the way. I bet you were super pumped!
I was pumped for about 10 seconds then Taddy spoiled it!

He seemed to have a habit of doing that this season, didn’t he?What do you think you were really successful with this season?
I think I improved a lot this season with my speed and had some really good rides in practicing at home and in a few races and semis. I just always had little problems at the races it seemed. Regardless of that, it’s good to see improvement and know you should be doing way better than you are. I am happy with my speed and know what I can do next year.

Is there something you feel like you improved on from previous Endurocross seasons?
I really feel like just the speed part improved. I’ve always been good at riding over the stuff and I never think an obstacle is hard but I was really bad at racing so that’s something I’m still getting better at.

I asked Geoff and Ryan the same question- but, if you could do something from this season over, what would it be?
I think I would be a little bit meaner on the track. Looking back I was too nice and nice guys finish last!

You competed in some new events this year- and we talked to you right before the Kenda Tennessee Knockout- did it stand up against some of the tough events you’re used to racing in? Did it live up to expectations?
I think Tennessee was a fun race. I struggled there and didn’t get the result I was looking for. It was the same weekend as Indy and I hadn’t been riding leading up to it. I got really tired in the final. So, yes It was a long and tough day, but the trails were not nearly as hard as I’d like to see.

What’s up for you next? Are you thinking about next year and getting ready for it?
I’m thinking about next year a lot and hopefully I will be sticking around. I need to work out some stuff and try to minimize the problems that held me back last year, so thats what I’m working on right now.

What are some of the things you want to accomplish before the 2012 season starts?
Just an awesome deal so I can be happy and enjoy my year!

Anything else you want to add?
I just want to thank my family and sponsors for all the support this year.

Zac Nash Interview

Ian Pannebakker — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:53:19 +0000

I have known Zac Nash and his father for several years through racing. Regardless of whether or not you compete against him or just happen to be pitted next to their van, the generosity of the two remains the same. The nineteen year-old Indiana native finished runner up for 2011 in the GNCC’s, 250A division. Although he was unable to clinch the championship, Zac finished every race he entered within the top five, an undeniably difficult task against such stiff competition. Prior to the season, Zac made several small changes to his program, which in turn led to huge results: two race wins and ten, top five finishes. His efforts and strong results have not gone unnoticed, however, as Zac will be aboard a new machine and team for 2012. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get details, since an official press release by the team is still on hold. We caught up with Zac to shake down his successful year both on and off the track!

Nash grabbed a 2nd and a 1st at Loretta's to secure second in the 250A points for the year. | Photo: www.racedaypix.com

Hey Zac, how are things going with you?
Hey Ian, things are going well, just taking some time off waiting on the banquet.

Good deal, it’s definitely nice to take a few weeks at the end of the season off to relax and then bench race at the banquet. Anyway, let’s jump right into things. Give us some background as to who you are, how you got into riding and what made you choose to race the GNCC series.
I am Zac Nash. I love to race dirt bikes, but I also like to….well there is not anything else. I am also a freshman at Vincennes University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. My father got me into riding when I was three. He got me an old Suzuki four-wheeler and I rode that until I was five, then got my first dirt bike, a KTM 50. I grew up racing the mid-south winter series and some local D15 races in Indiana. We tried a GNCC and I liked it, so we began racing them. I raced in the 250 A class this year and placed second in the class and 24th overall.

This past season was without a doubt one of your best years in the GNCC series, finishing 24th overall. You’ve progressed quickly in just a few years; starting out in the 200C Schoolboy division in the morning race, to racing one of the most intense amateur classes of the series. Looking at your results from the 2011 season, you have to be more than happy with how things turned out. In each of the twelve rounds you competed, your worst finish was a fifth. In other words, that’s 36 plus hours with no DNFs, making you the most consistent rider in 250A. What did you do differently, if anything, from previous years that allowed you to be so successful?
Yes, I was very excited with my consistency this season. I have always been a pretty consistent rider, so it didn’t surprise me. My biggest change this year was adding a trainer to my program. I always had decent speed, but I would die in the last hour. During the off season, I hired Troy Ross who I had heard good things about from Chris Bach. Troy was able to put together an awesome program for me last season, and I was able to ride strong for all the races this season. I also spent some time riding with the Baylor’s over my Christmas break from school, and then I went south a couple of weekends, so I think the training and riding all just added up to a good season.

I know riders like Chris Douglas and Chris Bach talk highly of Troy and his training program for racers, so I’m not surprised to hear how much he has played a role in your results. Good stuff! The 250A class is being used by many riders as a stepping stone to the XC2 Pro Lites class. Do you have any aspirations of jumping to the Pro level within the next few years?
Yes, I have aspirations to go pro someday, that is the ultimate goal. This coming season I plan to race 250 A and take it from there. [Laughs]

Zac Nash is making a team move for 2012 that we should know about soon... | Photo: www.racedaypix.com

You won two races this season in the GNCC series alone, is there anything in particular that made you go fast those days or were you just in the groove?
I was pleased to get some wins this season. I had good speed and ran up front at all of the races and it finally came together for me at Somerset. It was a big relief finally getting a win. It was my goal to win a few races this season, and I knew that if I was going to win I needed to get started there. It was great to end the season with a win at Loretta’s. Nothing special really happened I was just a little better than everyone else those days.

Well said, Zac. It has got to make you feel confident knowing you ended the year as the fastest guy in the class. I’m curious, I often wonder how all these guys from Indiana and Illinois are so fast in the rocks? As a Hoosier, your options for practicing on technical, rocky terrain must be fairly limited. However, you still won at Mountain Ridge with a commanding lead. Is there anything you do to prepare or does rock-riding come natural?
There are no rocks where I live in Indiana, so I don’t get much practice in them. I am a good technical rider, and I attribute most of that on racing the Mid-south Winter Series as a kid for the past several years. It is based in KY and TN, which have a lot of rocks, and since it is in the winter, it gets pretty muddy at times. I believe racing that series definitely refined my technical skills. I am a pretty big guy, so I think that also helps me being able to dab my feet and all. I am a good rider everywhere, and I think that shows with my consistency. I can ride fast races and gnarly races.

Your level of consistency this past season was incredible and something most other riders in your class struggled with. I know you also compete outside of GNCC back home in Indiana, how did you fair in those series? It must be difficult to race during the off weekends of GNCC, prep the bike and yourself during the week, and do it again a few days later.
Yes, I do a lot of racing in the local series up here in Indiana. I can race every weekend from around April to November if I want. The competition is good too. Chris Bach, Adam Bonneur, Chris Douglas, and Steven Squire all show up regularly at the local races, so it is just like lining up at a GNCC. It is really good practice. All of the local series put on really good races. They have good tracks with some fast racers, which makes for great practice.

Earlier in the season you were unable to attend round seven of the GNCC series in Pennsylvania. What happened there?
I missed round seven in Pennsylvania because I graduated as Valedictorian of my Senior Class and I had to be at my graduation to give a speech to my class. I was pretty disappointed I had to miss the race, but I was also proud to be Valedictorian of my class. Now, I am going to school for Mechanical Engineering, a backup plan in case racing as a pro doesn’t work out. [Laughs]

Well congrats on being Valedictorian, not an easy thing to do while driving around the country on weekends to race. So now that the offseason is here and the weather turning colder, do you have any plans to head south for training during the winter?
Yes, I will try to make it south over my Christmas break from school, which will now be longer thanks to being in college. I am going to try to make some weekend trips down south to ride also. It’s hard to get practice time in Indiana during the winter and I have to do what I can to be ready for next season.

I hear ya! It’s hard to prepare when the topsoil is frozen and like concrete in the winter. Spending as much time on thawed ground during the off-season is really beneficial. Well, that about does it. Thanks a lot for your time Zac and congrats on a great season. Who would you like to thank?
I would like to thank my Mom and Dad, without them I wouldn’t be racing. I would also like to thank Moose, Motorex, Smith, IMS, Alpinestars, Pirelli, FMF, Boyesen, Twin Air, Asterisk, God, and Eric Gill Roofing. Also, a huge thanks to you guys for doing the interview.

Josh Strang Talks KTM and 2012

Jason Hooper — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:41:44 +0000

First off, have you recovered from the GNCC banquet this past weekend?
Yeah, I’m pretty good, still a bit tired. I had to get up a bit early to come and do this stuff today so I’m a little bit tired. My leg has swollen up a bit over the weekend with flying, standing on it and dancing and stuff, ya know. [Laughs] I actually had a bike boot on today and when I took it off there was a line pressed into my leg from the boot pressing up against it and I didn’t even have it strapped up tight.

Now, the most obvious, congratulations on signing with FMF/RPM/KTM Racing Team Maxxis for the 2012 season. How did that deal end up coming about?
Well, Suzuki unfortunately pulled the pin on the off-road stuff for next season. I was happy there so that was going to be my first choice for next year but with those guys not being able to come back next year I was looking around at some other teams and the RPM guys had the best offer. At the moment, there weren’t a ton of really good offers out there with the economy and everything. It was something I figured I could start with, and it seems like a really good deal so I’m looking forward to the new challenge.

At the GNCC banquet when talking about your 2012 plans you got a bit choked up when you told the crowd you’d be leaving the GNCC series and doing the majority of your racing out West, I’m guessing you had hoped to stay full time in the GNCCs?
Well, you know me, I choke up easy! The GNCCs have been like a family since I got over here and everyone from Suzuki to everyone that races them has been super nice to me so it’s not like I wanted to leave, it was more of something I had to do for my job. It’s hard to change up what you enjoy doing and what’s easy, so that’s what I think might be good about it. It’s something different and it’ll make me work that much harder to try and get the results that I want to get wherever I’m racing. So yeah, it didn’t feel good to have to leave the GNCCs but we’ve been talking and I may do more of their races than I had originally thought I’d be doing so we’ll just see how it goes.

After battling KTMs for years, Strang will be on one in 2012. (Photo: RPM Facebook)

Your 2011 season started out fairly well, but after the Summer break things started to go downhill fairly quickly with the culmination being your broken leg on Sunday’s race at Loretta Lynn’s. How much of your bad luck do you attribute to knowing that the odds of the Suzuki factory team sticking around another year were very slim?
This year was pretty decent, I finished third after DNFing that last race and pretty much DNFing Unadilla so that there are two races that I really didn’t score average points, you know like a top-5 of whatever. So, if you take those two crashes out of it I had a pretty decent year–there were a couple of races were maybe I was a bit off of the pace. The second half of the year, I think it just wasn’t my turn to win; it was my turn to get some bad luck. When you look back on it, I’ve been racing GNCCs for five years and I’ve only run out of gas once and I broke a wheel once, so apart from that I hadn’t had any bad luck things happen until this year. I guess it happens to everyone at some point and it finally caught up to me and it all happened at once. That’s how I’m looking at it, as far as I knew there was a chance we were going racing with Suzuki in 2012 so that didn’t affect me, I think it was just those couple of races that maybe got in my head that I was having a bad run and it just continued.

So how is the leg doing? The WORCS starts January 13th at Glen Helen, do you think you’ll be ready for the first round?
We’ll see, I go to the doctor tomorrow to get x-rays done and hopefully I get more detail on when I can start riding. At the moment it feels pretty good. I ditched the crutches from the banquet, which I had just so I didn’t have to stand on it all day and I had just started walking around the house without them on Thursday. It feels surprisingly good, I can hobble around most of the day without the crutch and it’s not hurting at all. I think things are going pretty good with it, I’ve never really broken any bones so I’m not too sure what to expect or how long to expect to be off of it, but so far so good.

Looking forward to next year, you’ve done some WORCS races before and you had your best result this past year at Washougal where you finished second behind Kurt Caselli in both motos, how do you see yourself stacking up against that competition in 2012?
I really think that I can win. I wouldn’t have signed a contract to race there if I didn’t think I can win. Once I get back on the bike and back into race shape and the KTM setup, I think I’ll be competitive at the front. I know that Caselli isn’t racing, but there’s still Brownie, Taylor Roberts, Justin Soule and some other really fast guys that will definitely be tough to beat. I think it’ll be similar to the GNCC series where we’ll have five to six of us that should be able to win any weekend and I think with the races being different, just two one-hour races over a weekend it’ll be just something different and exciting. I haven’t been to some of the tracks either so I think it’ll be good.

2012 will be a new year, new bike, new series, and new number for Strang...

A lot of people think that with you having done a couple of outdoor nationals the last couple of years, that your strong suit is in a series like WORCS with more of a motocross style to it. Did that play any part into your decision-making?
No, not really, I was still racing GNCCs in 2012 in my head until I signed the contract this morning. I’ve always enjoyed motocross so I hope that helps out, but I still think I’m pretty strong in the woods back East as well, and in off-road racing in general.

Speaking of off-road in general, are you ready for racing Endurocross?
[Laughs] I don’t know, we’ll see I guess! That’s something that I’ve always wanted to have a go at as well but with the budgets previously it would’ve been hard. To do it right you need to have a bike setup specifically for it, and a place to get practice in and I’ve never been able to do that. That’s probably going to be the biggest challenge with that, getting the bike setup ready and getting myself ready for those races. I mean, I don’t even know how long the races are! I’ve done some Endurocross practice before and I feel like I can ride it pretty decent, so we’ll see I guess at the first race in Vegas in May!

Are you committed to racing that entire series, or if you have a go at it and are terrible you’ll just stick to the WORCS?
No, no way! I’ll be doing the whole lot, that’s what I signed up to do and I honestly don’t think I’ll be awful at it. I might need one or two races to get going but by then I should be able to run up front with those top guys.

What do you think about the KTM? You obvioulsy haven’t been able to ride it right now with your leg, but have you ever ridden one?
Nah, not really. I’m good friends with Mike Sleeter who does a bunch of stuff with KTM from R&D to running their amateur program. So it’s always been there and he’s always been in my ear about the bike. It definitely would’ve been a lot easier if I hadn’t broken my leg at Loretta’s so I could get on and get some testing in before next year for sure. But, that’s the way it goes but I think with everyone that we have helping out I’ll be able to get the bike setup pretty good. I’ve ridden Suzukis when I was a kid and since 2007 so I think that making a switch will be good.

For those people who don’t know too much about the RPM/KTM team, what kind of support do they get from the factory?
Honestly, it’s still all pretty new to me so I’m not too sure as far as what they get while racing since I obviously haven’t done any racing. They definitely get some support from the KTM team that Brownie races for, but from what we’ve worked out so far this team is very solid so far so I think we can get the job done without too much help.

Over the last few years you’ve had some personal sponsors that stuck with you like Moose, Eks Brand, FMF, and Foremost, how many of those do you get to carry over with you to this new team?
That’s the good thing about this deal, I get to keep everything from Foremost Insurace, Moose, Shoei, Sidi, Eks Brand, all the people who have been helping me out with how it worked on Suzuki where I had all my own personal sponsors, they’ll be all the same people here. It’s good for me to be able to keep those relationships with those guys who have supported me since I pretty much first came over here.

Well, that’s pretty much all I’ve got. Thanks for taking the time to do this with us, I know you’re busy with team photos today as well as rehab so I really appreciate you taking the time with this lowly East Coast website! Is there anyone you’d like to thank before we go?
Yeah, I really have to thank everyone at Suzuki that helped me throughout the years–Mike Webb, Shane Nalley, Rodney and Lori Smith for training me and helping me out, Chris “Wolf” Bones, my mechanic, and Chris Wheeler. I really appreciate everything they did for me, we were all like family. I’d also really like to thank Mike Hurlbert and everyone at the RPM/KTM team for giving me this opportunity, I’m really looking forward to the 2012 season with them!

Interview: Tegan Temple

Krista Shaw — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:58:51 +0000

Tegan Temple (225) won 6 races in the 200B class and finished 2nd in the other three rounds he raced, good enough to take the campionship with four rounds remaining.

Hey Tegan- Tell us what you’re up to today?
Just hanging out with my family. We went to breakfast and now we’re just at the house cleaning up and getting ready for Thanksgiving.

For those of us who might not know you, tell us how long you’ve been riding and how you got involved in GNCC racing.
I’ve been riding since I was about three. My dad got into it from his brother, they started out racing flat track. My dad moved into hare scrambles and eventually went on to race GNCCs. Then I came along and I started racing the GNCCs when I was seven.

Tegan will be moving up to the 250A class in 2012.

Congratulations on taking the 200 B championship this year, why don’t you tell us about your season.
It started off good, I got second in Florida. I was doing pretty good but I ran out of gas on the last lap. Fortunately, me and first place were the only ones to stay on the lead lap. Then I went to Georgia and won. After that, I was top three pretty much the whole season. Luckily I could finish up early and move on and get a 250 and start racing A class locally.

Yeah you actually won six out of the nine races you attended, are you happy with what you accomplished this year?
Yeah, my dad and I weren’t really sure how I was going to do. He didn’t think I was going to be able to go out there and do as well as I did right off the bat. I had a great season, I don’t think I could have had a better one.

Now was this actually your first full year racing 200B and moving up from the youth classes?
Yeah, last year I took some time off from the GNCC’s and raced the local youth series and won that in the ECEA. This year, i’m back in the GNCC’s and this is my first year on big bikes, so I was pretty happy with my results.

How different was is it racing in the 3 hour race in the afternoon compared to the youth races?
I did a lot of training over the winter break so it kinda got me ready for it, but it was still really tough going from an hour and a half and doubling it to three hours.

What kind of training do you do?
Mostly cardio, some weight lifting here and there. I usually go mountain biking and running or go to the gym.

You mentioned you got a 250, so what does that mean for next year, are you moving up to a different class?
Yeah I’ll be racing 250A in GNCCs and hopefully, if the races don’t conflict, maybe the local series as well.

What do you want to accomplish in the 250A class?
It’s going to be pretty hard in the GNCCs, there’s a lot of fast guys in that class. I’m just gonna go and see how I do in Florida and go from there. I’m hoping I can race the local series too, I already raced two races so far and won them both. So, I’m pretty confident I can win that.

Well good luck for next year and thanks for talking with us! Is there anyone you would like to thank?
Thanks for doing this for me! I’d like to thank my parents, my sister, Bromley’s, and Clockwork. They gave me a free tank this year and it worked out great.

Interview: Ethan Jaudas

Ian Pannebakker — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:25:29 +0000

Ethan ripping a holeshot at Loretta's on Sunday. | Photo: Racedaypix.com

Ethan Jaudas has been racing the GNCC series for the past several years. His first full run at the series was back in 2008, when he competed in the Supermini 12-13 and then again in 2009. However, it wasn’t until last year when the KTM rider stepped up to a full size bike in the Schoolboy division that his ability on a bike became obvious. This year Ethan committed himself to a rigorous off-season training program which ultimately led to his success in the 250 B division. His championship chase did not go without challenge, as the winner was decided at the thirteenth and final round of racing in Tennessee. We caught up with the sixteen year old 250B champion to get the low down on his season and plans for the future.

Meet Ethan Jaudas, the 2011 GNCC 250B champ. | Photo: Scott Jaudas

Hey Ethan, what are you up to today?
Not too much. Actually cleaning up some gear now and getting ready for my first A race at the ECEA this coming weekend.

For those who haven’t seen you at the races, give us a run-down of who Ethan Jaudas is.
I’m a pretty mellow kid, I like to have a good time and make people laugh. I like hanging out with friends and getting into some crazy stuff. Racing is pretty much everything to me I don’t really know much else. That’s pretty much a run down of Ethan Jaudas.

So, tell me a little bit about your season. You started off with a win in both Florida and Georgia, then didn’t find the top step of the podium again until Powerline Park.
After the first 2 rounds I was pretty sure it was going to be my year but in both Carolina races I had DNFs and that really set me back in points. After the Rock Run race I went home with the Baylor family and worked on a lot of things while I was down there and pulled out a win at the Powerline race, I guess everything started going well for me after that.

Wow, so you went from winning the opening rounds to never even seeing the checkers in just one race. That can definitely wear down your confidence. Mentally, the results you were getting in the middle of the season must have left you scratching your head. At any point did you think the championship may be out of reach?
I never really thought that it was out of reach. TJ Erny, who was leading my class at the time, is a very good technical rider and he got those four wins on the rougher races. I performed a lot better on the faster tracks so I was pretty confident about the faster rounds towards the end of the season.

I agree, your riding style seems more moto-like and the faster tracks definitely played in your favor. The 250B championship chase came down to the double header at Loretta’s. You won the race on Friday, which tied you and competitor Thomas Erny, for first. What was going through your mind on the starting line Sunday?
I was pretty confident after my ride Friday, it was probably my best ride of this season. I was leading the first lap Sunday and I wadded up real bad on the moto track and stretched my throttle cable so I had to race with my bike half-wide open all day, which was super sketchy, but I managed to win by like 20 seconds so it worked out alright. (Laughs)

After a great start to the season, then a rough patch in the middle, Jaudas rebounded in the latter portion of the season to claim the title. | Photo: LeeAnn Bange

As a racer myself, it’s definitely frustrating to damage the bike early during a three hour race and then have to adjust and deal with the issue for the next three hours. Obviously, you were able to adapt and that twenty second gap earned you a championship! I know you spent a lot of time this season riding with Pro’s such as Baylor and Russell. Do you think spending weeks at a time training with those guys helped you to earn the 250B class title?
Yeah, riding with them for sure helped me out a lot. I was at the Baylor’s place a few times this year and they have a really good place to ride down there and work on things. I went home with Russell after the Ironman race until the double header. We rode and trained just about every day for two weeks and he got me where I needed to be going into the last race, so I for sure need to give him a big thanks for helping me out.

If you’re not on the road, what do you do at home to stay in shape and keep your skills sharp on the bike?
Well I don’t ride at all when I’m at home because we don’t have anywhere to ride near me. I’m in the gym 4-5 days a week to stay in shape though.

Ethan has spent a lot of time training with the likes of Steward Baylor and Kailub Russell and attributes a lot of his success to their help. | Photo: Scott Jaudas

In order to get to the next level, hard work in the gym is definitely necessary. Your conditioning was better than it had ever been and despite not having the luxury of a track out your back door, made things happen. As far as next season goes, what are your plans for transitioning to the A class and how do you plan on preparing during the off season?
After Christmas I’ll be heading down to Florida to live with my Uncle for the winter, he has something like 10,000 acres out of his garage that we ride so I’ll be set on riding this winter. Ill be in the gym just as much as I am now but I plan on doing a lot more cardio for next year.

Cool deal. Florida and its gnarly sand whoops are without question the off-road hot spot for GNCC racers during the off season. What are your goals both inside and outside racing in the future?
I would really like to become a factory rider one day just like everyone else. I know it will be a lot of hard work but I am determined to do it. Outside of racing I’d like to do something to progress the sport one day, maybe open up a training facility or open my own business for something along the lines of racing.

Sounds like you’ve got good self-expectations for yourself in racing and the drive to succeed. Before I let you go, tell me something interesting you can do that people wouldn’t expect.
I can shred on a snowboard and bicycle quite well.

Thanks for your time, Ethan, and congrats on the 250B championship. Anyone you’d like to thank?
My Dad and Mom couldn’t do any of this without him, Clockwork Ktm, Evan Yarnell from Solid Performance, Scott, Cycra, Bart Hayes from WP, FMF, Renthal, Dunlop, and Twin Air.

Wednesday Wrench: Jimmy Jarrett

Jason Hooper — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:54:19 +0000

Despite what some would call a pretty rough season, Jimmy Jarrett’s already taking charge and making plans for new challenges next year, like racing his first Hare and Hound and dabbling a bit in writing about his experiences along the way. Read what Jimmy has planned -so far- for next season and some reflection on the past season.

Hey Jimmy, how’s it going? How’s your break from the season going?
It’s actually pretty good! I always kind of look forward to the start of the season, and once it winds down and you just have a few races left, you start to look forward to taking time off. I definitely didn’t have a very good year. It was good to get it over with and be healthy. It’s good to take some time off and recharge the batteries.

What have you been up to now that the season is over?
Ohio bow season is in so I’ve been doing a lot of bow hunting. I flew out to Vegas last night and I’m hanging out here for the Endurocross this weekend and JT has some meetings with GEICO and Honda this week. I’m meeting some guys from Honda and I’m looking forward to that. We’re going to get some things rolling hopefully and build something awesome for next year.

I wanted to talk to you about your season, and I’d like to start with Loretta Lynn’s. Before the race had really even begun you gave up your chance for a good finish to stop and help an injured Josh Strang. Can you tell us what happened?
I think he fell down in the first corner, but then he he caught me. I was out of hopes for any championships and it was down to Charlie , Josh and Paul and I’m not going to hold anyone up, so I just let him go. It was pretty dusty in spots, and Josh pulled away from me but when I came around the corner I saw that he had crashed. I pulled up next to him and I could tell he was in some pain. I decided to go get help but we were out in the middle of nowhere and I didn’t really know where to go. I didn’t know how bad he was hurt so I just kind of went a couple hundred feet and then I came back for him to make sure he wasn’t seriously hurt. We’re all friends out there, and I didn’t have anything to gain – and even so, helping a buddy is always more important, I think.

This season was pretty rough on you with injuries and some bike troubles. At one point, JT even said you better start going to communion! Did you start to think you had some kind of curse?
Yeah I didn’t know what was going on! Some freak things were happening. Stuff that had never happened before was happening. It’s happened to other riders before and it felt like happening to me for some reason. I would have some good races, and get motivated, and then I’d have a bad ride, and then I’d have a good race, and then another two bad ones. I can’t really complain about the season but it couldn’t have been better but it could have been worse too.

2011 wasn't the greatest year for Jimmy Jarrett but he's happy to end it healthy and is looking forward to new challenges in 2012

You did find some success at the OMAs, and ended the season with a second. That had to have made you feel good after some tough luck.
Yeah for sure. I have been running the OMA series for 8 or 9 years and have always liked it. Doing well there always keeps me motivated for the next race. Those few and far between good rides definitely kept me going. Sometimes you feel yourself getting older, and think maybe it’s time to give up- but I’m still having fun. I think it’s definitely time to wind down. I’ve been doing two series for a long time. Next year I might travel around and do some select events that I’ve never done and make it fun again and keep me motivated. I’m going to Kurt Caselli’s to get ready to run the first National Hare and Hound which I’ve never done before. I’m going to do some races like that and maybe write some stories about it.

That’s awesome! I think you’d do really well at that. You’d definitely write some interesting stuff.
I’m really excited about it. I want to share my experiences. Not everyone gets to do that.

You went back once again to compete in the International Six Days Enduro. After competing in that series for years, how have you seen it change?
I guess the first one I went to, I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t do very well my first one. You kind of learn as you go. That event is one of the coolest I’ve ever done and that’s why I keep going back. I’m going to keep going as long as I can. Now it’s fun seeing the new kids come up. When I was first going I was looking up to guys like Destry- and now it’s fun giving advice to the younger guys.

So you’ve become the mentor.
Yeah, I enjoy doing that. I really enjoy helping people out, it doesn’t matter which team.

What was the Finland experience like for you?
It was probably the strongest ISDE I’ve been to. It’s a beautiful country and we had beautiful weather. It was probably the toughest one we’ve done. When have a good result though, it makes every thing even better.

We haven’t done an interview with you since April. Now that you’ve got a season under your belt on the Honda- how did you feel about your new ride?
I think the bike is awesome. I definitely struggled at the beginning of the year with set up and stuff. I’ve never been that big of a tester. It’s hard for me to tell someone which way to go with the bike to make it better. I really worked on that this year. I couldn’t ask for more support from the guys from Honda. Anything we asked, they were more than willing to help us. We’re a year into it, so that’s just going to make it better for next year. I think we have a good shot for next year.

Your teammate Scott Watkins moved up to XC1 midway through the season, how did you feel about having a teammate on the front line with you at the GNCCs?
It was good. I think he was at a point in his career that there was not much to do but move up. He’s been in that XC2 class a long time and I think he rides a 450 better than the 250. Sometimes it takes a little change to get them re-motivated and want to go to the races again. I think it’s a good move for him.

Rory Mead also jumped in when you were injured midway through the season and stayed on to finish up the season. How did you like the dynamic with a new rider on the team?
It was good. Like I said, it’s always fun having someone come up and having someone new there. It motivates you. I know he didn’t have much help and our budgets were full but we all helped as much as we could. Having someone there like that was really nice.

Ok- last question of the day. What was your most memorable experience this season?
I definitely have to say the ISDE. That race is like no other. I always look forward to going there and I’m looking forward to the next two races already. They’re never the same. Just going over there with friends and having a good result made it just that much better.

The Quick ‘n’ Dirty: Jordan Ashburn

Jared Bolton — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:02:48 +0000

Ashburn has been on a hot streak since the break carding 3 straight wins and two 2nd-place finishes.

Hey Jordan, how’s it going?
Well it’s going pretty good, just watching it rain right now.

Almost sounds boring! So how has the 2011 season gone for you?
Well the start was a little rough just getting to know the bike and stuff, but we got everything dialed in now.

With somewhat of a rough start to the season, what did you change?
It was a new bike and team and just took some getting used to. It was also a lot more training than I was used to doing in the past.

You came on strong before summer break, and were on a roll after summer too. How did it feel to take three wins in a row?
It was great! I wanted it all year and finally some hard work paid off.

What has been your biggest highlight of 2011?
It would have to be Unadilla’s 5th overall

What do you hope to accomplish through the end of the season?
I want to win but I’ll be happy with a podium for the year.

With only the Loretta's doubleheader remaining, Ashburn has moved into 2nd-place in points in the XC2 class only 1-point ahead of Jason Thomas.

How do you feel about your chances at the final rounds at Loretta’s?
I feel ready to go out and give it all I’ve got. I’m kinda close to home so that will help having more family and friends.

You also put in a pretty solid performance at the Knockout Extreme Enduro this year. Is that a format of racing you’d like to try elsewhere?
I had a really good time down there it was a lot tougher than I thought. I would like to do more races like that in the future.

What are your plans for the 2012 season?
Nothing for sure yet on what’s going happen, but hopefully I’ll be on a Yamaha again!

What do you hope to accomplish for 2012?
To have a great year and get some good results.

Where would you like to see your career take you in the future?
To be a national champion.

Words to live by?
Matthew 5:16 – In the same way let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Who do you want to thank?
The Lord, mom and dad, Obermeyer Am-Pro Yamaha, GYTR, MSR, Factory Connection, Scott, HBD, Gaerne, Pro Taper, and IMS

The Quick ‘n’ Dirty: Cory Buttrick

Jared Bolton — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:26:48 +0000

It hasn't been the greatest year for CoryB, but he'll be back with KTM for 2012 and looking for a better year.

Hey Cory, how’s it going today?
Good! I’m carving pumpkins with my girlfriend right now and I got to ride today so it’s great!

Sounds awesome! Give us a quick run down of how the 2011 GNCC season has gone for you so far.
Do we have to talk about it? [laughs] No it’s gone decent. Neither series went the way I wanted them to, but next year is a new year and a fresh start. I’m looking forward to putting together a strong finish.

Oh, it could always be worse! How about the crash at Unadilla, what all do you remember?
I remember getting a decent start and just passing Whibley and Mullins, moving into second as soon as we came onto the moto track, and that’s all she wrote.

What exactly did you do during your stint off the bike to get yourself ready to come back?
For about three weeks I couldn’t do much except watch a lot of videos and movies of people riding. I wasn’t allowed to do much and I didn’t want to put myself further behind.

I spoke to Antti Kallonen, your team manager, at Somerset and he told us about some of the pre-season concussion testing that KTM does so that way they have a benchmark to evaluate an injury if it does happen, tell us about the testing and everything that KTM had you do after the concussion. What was that like?
My boss, Antti, set me up with a (Impact) Concussion Test to take online. It checks memory, brain function, balance, strength, coordination, concentration, reflexes, and things like that. I did not do well at all. I felt really sick after I took the test, every time. I reported back to him and he sent me the results and he was not impressed. I took my third Impact Test Sunday night, the night of the Somerset GNCC, and finally got the okay to ride that Tuesday. The test was good because back in December when we all go out for testing, the KTM team all had to take one and we got to have our own results. So it’s not like they were basing me off of just a normal individual.

Power Line Park started good for Cory but a stator issue in the last hour of the race put a damper on things.

You ran into some trouble at Power Line Park, what exactly went down?
Yeah Power Line Park was disappointing but it was a stepping-stone. I hadn’t had much time to prepare for it and I still feel like my head was catching back up to speed but hopefully Ironman is going to go well. After the third lap, I started having stator issues and unfortunately didn’t get to race the last lap.

How do you think you’ll rebound and do at The Ironman?
I’m really looking forward to the Ironman because it’s always one of my favorite races. Hopefully I’ll get a better start than at the last race and finish strong.

Looking to next year, what are your plans as of right now?
To just have a better off season and be completely prepared for 2012, and I’ll be headed in the right direction.

What will be your goals for the 2012 GNCC and National Enduro seasons?
My goal is to win a championship in both series, to be consistent and smart the whole way through.

Making the transition between the two series, do you run into any difficulties making the switches between formats and track styles?
Really it goes pretty easy. It’s pretty refreshing not having to race the same series, the same format over and over again. It’s a good switch up. Bouncing back and forth between both bikes comes pretty easy also.

Which track style do you like better, the faster GNCC courses or the tight National Enduro courses?
I can’t say I really have a favorite but it’s always a good time getting to ride fresh single track.

There was a lot of discussion surrounding the switch to the 250 2-stroke for the Enduros, how did you like the switch?

I loved it! I love riding 250′s. It makes me smile every time! It made the series a whole lot closer having everybody ride 2 strokes.

Life Motto?
Never give up.

Who do you want to thank?
First off a big thanks to the FMF/KTM team, my mechanic Chuck, my girlfriend, mom and dad, Leatt, Scott Goggles, Thor, Arai, Helion Designs, Muscle Milk, Athens Bicycle, Dr. Steve, and NFC.