Hey Ryan, what are you up to?
Hey man!  I just got back home from a bicycle ride.

Cool deal!  You also just got home from the first of two Indiana stops on the GNCC schedule this year.  What were your thoughts on the new Limestone 100 venue?
I thought it was a fun place, the track was kind of slick and technical, but it was a lot of fun!  Anytime you get to race at a new track it makes it fun.

Running the same old tracks year after year can definitely get boring, so even if it’s not the best of places, you at least have a level playing field and something new!  Looking at lap times, it looks like there was never a dull moment for you.  You were making passes each lap and in the early stages battled with fellow Yamaha rider, Michael Wozny.  In the three-hour races, does it help when competition is close to you or do you ride better alone? 
Yeah, I actually got a good start and went into the woods second, but I made a few mistakes on the first lap, which caused me to lose some time, but it’s always fun battling with your classmates.  Michael is a great rider and it seems like every race this year we have battled at some point.  He is a lot of fun to ride with!  I think it is better when you’re riding with somebody. It helps you to keep pushing, and just makes racing that much more exciting.

From my own perspective, I know it’s a little easier to push when you’re focused on battling someone rather than surviving three hours on the bike! (Laughs)  I heard the Kentucky round was similar to last year’s Somerset race in Pennsylvania with regards to rocks.  You matched your best finish of the season with a fourth place and advanced yourself in points.  Would you describe yourself as a technical rider or a little bit of everything?
Well, I grew up riding in the mountains where it’s real technical, so naturally I love it.  But I seem to do better when the conditions are more open and dry. I guess being from the south that’s what I’m used to! (Laughs)

Thus far in 2012 you have scored a pair of sevenths, sixths, and fourths.  Take us through a quick summary of how your season has gone as a whole beginning with round one at River Ranch.
Going into the season I knew it was going to be tough, because I have been off the bike for so long.  The doctor released me to start riding at the end of January, which only allowed me a little over a month to get ready for the 2012 season.  Going into Florida I wanted to do the best that I could and also have fun.  Every race this year that’s been affected by my mentality and that’s been a huge factor.  I have been working really hard this year.  Each race I feel more and more comfortable and I hope to get back out front soon!

Although I know you would rather be winning races, you’ve got to be happy with your results thus far in the season.  You suffered several knee injuries and then a shoulder separation shortly after recovering from those.  Walk us through your injuries and the adversity you worked through to eventually return to racing.  Also, did quitting ever cross your mind?
Yeah for sure, I’m very thankful to be healthy again and being able to do what I love the most.  In April 2010 I dislocated my patella (knee cap) in my right knee.  I decided to just let it heal on its own and hope things would get better.  But as time went on, I could tell something just wasn’t right.  In November of 2010 I decided to have surgery to fix things.  After that, things seemed to have gotten better, I was back to racing and felt good, but in April 2011, my patella popped out again.  This time was a lot worse than the first separation.  I switched doctors and a few days later I had another surgery on the same knee. After being off the bike for so long I was finally able to ride again, but only a month later I found myself back in the hospital.  I had a wreck at a local race and broke my AC joint in my right shoulder; once again I was having another surgery!  It was definitely a rough time in my life and I got to the point where I caught myself asking if I wanted to keep racing, but every time I walked into the shop or even saw a dirt bike the fever came back. The good Lord allowed me to regain my health and now I’m back out there having fun. I’m so thankful to have friends and family who kept encouraging and supporting me, without them my recovery would have been a lot tougher.

I’m going into my sixth month of recovery from a knee injury as well and know how mentally defeating the process can be.  Mentally getting through it is the most difficult and unfortunately, most racers go through injuries and time off the bike sooner or later.  Anyways, looking at the championship points in the Open A class, you are the only rider in the top five who has not won a race this season.  However, your consistent finishes have put you second in the championship chase.  What is it going to take in order for you to grab a win and claim first in points?
I think just keep working hard and do my best at every race!

The Open A class is arguably the most competitive amateur class in the GNCC series this year.  While some classes have only one or two guys in contention for a win, Open A has seen five different winners in the six rounds of racing.  There are literally seven or eight different riders who could win on any given day, you being one of them.  You are no stranger to winning on the national level, but with this sort of competition, do you think a win or championship would be your most memorable?
I have to agree with you on the Open A class being very competitive!  I’d have to say it is probably one of the toughest classes I’ve ever raced in.  I think a win would be very special, but a championship would be most memorable considering everything I have been through the past two years. The last time I won a GNCC race was at Big Buck 2010, the race before I hurt my knee the first time. So it has been a long time since I’ve had the feeling of winning a national, but I’m going to try my best to get that feeling back this year.

Going back to 2010, you competed in the Lites classes on and off for a while before eventually moving up to a 450.  What made you decide to make the jump to the big bike?  Do you find it easier to ride fast on a 450 for three hours as opposed to a 250F?
I remember when Thad Duvall was racing a 250 he would practice on a 450 and he said it seemed to help, so in 2010 I bought a 450 to do the same as he did.  After time went by I started to like the big bike more and more, and decided to start racing it.  Personally I don’t think you have to ride a 450 as hard as you do a little bike, which makes it easier; but then you add the extra weight and horsepower and it makes things a little different!  I’m racing a YZ 450 now and love it.

Randy Hawkins and the AmPro Yamaha team are located in Travelers Rest, SC, which happens to be your hometown.  Do you get to ride and train regularly with Paul Whibley?
Yeah, fortunately there are a lot of fast guys that live near me like Corey MacDonald, Matthew Nix, the Baylor brothers, Jason Raines, Paul Whibley and a lot of other guys.  During the winter a lot of guys from up north come down and stay at Randy’s place, so there are always a lot of people around training and doing the same thing I love to do. It definitely makes practicing a lot of fun with so many people.  Having Paul around is awesome; he trains harder than anybody I have ever met!  Paul allows me to train with him, which helps out a lot because I learn from him throughout the week.  He definitely deserves the nickname “axe man.” (Laughs)

• Shoie VFX-W Helmet
• Scott Goggles
• MSR Riding Gear
• Gaerne Boots

What’s your all time favorite place to ride?
Honestly I don’t have a specific, favorite place, but I spend a lot of time at Randy Hawkins’ farm.   It’s close and has just about any kind of terrain you would want to ride.  Anytime I throw my leg over a dirt bike to go ride I have fun and count it as a blessing.

Having fun is what riding is all about!  Plus it’s not easy going fast when you aren’t enjoying it.  Well, that wraps things up for us, Ryan.  Thanks a lot for taking the time to talk!  Who would you like to thank?
First I’d like to thank the good Lord for allowing me to do what I love, and blessing me with great parents who support what I do.  My Mom and Dad for everything that they have done, Atlas Cycles (Dwayne Leonard), Stickman Graphx, Winners Edge, Dirt Tricks, Asterisk, EBC, Kenda, Cycra, IMS, Twin Air, FMF, Pro Taper, Factory Connection, Offroad Vikings, Randy Hawkins, Darrel Raines, and all my friends and family.

Irvine, CA (May 16, 2012) – The X Games staff announced the X Games 18 Enduro X qualification process and pre-qualified riders a few weeks ago and five more riders have earned invitations. For both the male and female riders, the top two non-qualified finishers at the opening round of the GEICO AMA EnduroCross series in Las Vegas on May 4th would earn spots. Those riders are as follows:  

• Men’s Enduro X, top two finishing riders that were not already pre-qualified

• Cory Graffunder CAN
• Max Gerston USA

• Women’s Enduro X, top two finishing riders that were not already pre-qualified

• Louise Forsley USA
• Chantelle Bykerk CAN

Steward Baylor Photo By: Krista Shaw

The X Games competition staff also extends “Wild Card” invites to top racers from around the world and there is perhaps no rider more deserving of this than eighteen year old Steward Baylor. The South Carolina resident won the 2011 Grand National Cross Country series XC 2 Pro class championship and has won five races of the first six races in 2012. On top of that, Baylor has won four out of five rounds thus far in the AMA National Enduro championship against a strong field of pro riders. Based on these results, Baylor has been invited to his first X Games Enduro X.

“The X Games is an amazing opportunity for these top racers to show off their skills in front of a huge live and television audience” stated Eric Peronnard, the creator of EnduroCross and X Games Enduro X Sports Organizer. “I especially enjoy seeing the young or relatively unknown riders get introduced to the world”, he continued.

If you want to see the riders that will be mixing it up at X Games 18, you can go to the Staples Center on Sunday, July 1st or catch many of those same riders at any of the other seven GEICO AMA EnduroCross events in 2012.

Round two of GEICO AMA EnduroCross championship will take place on Saturday, June 9th in the Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, California. It will be the first ever visit to Northern California for the series and the last chance for non-qualified riders to earn a coveted X Games invitation.  

2012 GEICO AMA EnduroCross Schedule

EnduroCross tracks incorporate various elements of extreme off road racing into a Supercross-style setting, including rocks, boulders, logs, sand, mud, a water-hole…and even a few special obstacles like giant tires thrown in!  Known as the “toughest racing on two wheels,” this indoor off road racing will certainly keep you on your feet. For the seven EnduroCross events, be sure to log-on to www.motorsportshour.com for local air dates/times for the Lucas Motorsports Hour on the Versus network.

ATV classes are scheduled to race on Saturday with race registration at 9:00AM.  Following the morning sign up, the pro race classes will start at noon with waves of starts in the under classes, following in one minute intervals.  The racers will run against the each other and the clock in a two-hour timed event over some of the roughest terrain that Fulton County has to offer.    In the pro class Ryland Johnson and Mike Taylor from Little Rock will square off against five-time champion Spencer Dickerson.  Both riders have shown the talent to challenge Dickerson and this race will be another test for Dickerson’s goal to earn a sixth championship.

The excitement repeats on Sunday with the ever-competitive motorcycle classes that could feature as many as 100 entries among all the classes.  In the motorcycle pro class 2012 points leader Trent Keen, from Elkins will try to hold off Eli Beischke from Harrison and Fort Smith’s Parker Nolen.  Nolen is the 2011 defending champion but fell one race behind after missing Round Two of the series.

There is a $5.00 gate fee for all weekend for spectators to watch the racing action.   Spectators can access different parts of the course to see the event.  This year the race promoter arranged for a live Band ‘on Saturday night.  Camping is available at the racecourse.

Directions from Little Rock: Take U.S. 67/167 north to exit 55 at Bald Knob. Turn left and proceed north on U.S. 167 for 71 miles through Ash Flat to U.S. 62/412. Turn left head westward for 20 miles and turn right on Sturkie Road (approx. 2 miles past Salem). Go 4 miles and watch for banners. Track is located 1 mile down gravel road on left.

GPS Coordinates: 36.446686, -91.884595

The Arkansas Harescramble Championship Series is a family friendly racing organization that boasts over 145 active racers, with eleven events on the 2012 calendar. Racers compete in thirteen big bike class divisions, six ATV class divisions, seven youth divisions and two women’s classes.  More information about the series can be found at www.ahscs.com.  On June 3, 2012, the sixth round of the series will take racers to the Black Bear Race near Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Photo By: Dennis Thomas

FAR Husqvarna’s Andrew Delong earned a career-best finish at Round 6 of the GNCC motorcycle series. Delong took second place overall on his way to winning the XC2 Pro Lites class at the race, held May 13 in Springville, Indiana.

Riding Maxxcross SI tires, Delong came within five seconds of an overall victory after adjusted time. “I saw the pit boards the last few laps, but it never registered that I was that close to the overall,” said Delong. “I was in a heated battle with Stew, and it carried us both to the front.” The class win was his first of the season.

“What an awesome day,” said Team Manager Fred Andrews. “I was running in and out of the woods trying to get split times on Andrew and Baylor, but when I heard the announcer say that he was only eight seconds off of the leader, that’s when it all clicked. Andrew beat every guy out on the track, except for one who started a minute ahead of him. Andrew’s back!”

Photo By: Dennis Thomas

Two other Maxxis-sponsored riders made the overall top ten at Round 6 as well. Chris Bach was sixth overall and fifth in XC1 Pro, and Jason Thomas took eighth place overall and second in XC2 Pro Lites. Bach was pleased with the performance of his Maxxis tires. “I ran 120/90-19 Maxxcross SI’s,” he said. “We got a little rain overnight, so it was slick and polished. It went from hard clay blue-groove to creek bottoms with big, slick, pointy boulders, and that’s where the bigger tire really helped with traction.”

Maxxis congratulates Andrew Delong and thanks all of its riders for their outstanding performances.

Photo By: Dennis Thomas

About Maxxis International
For over 43 years, Maxxis International has delivered high-quality tires to both original equipment and aftermarket customers. Maxxis offers products for automotive, light truck, motorcycle, ATV, bicycle, lawn & garden and industrial use. The company has operations in Asia, Europe and North America, and its products are distributed in approximately 170 countries. For more information, please visit maxxis.com.

A tricky start line that was on a serious off-camber had riders spread out a little more with the best pick of the gate not so clear cut. My choice worked out pretty good with another hole shot, although I’m sure my YZ 450 played a big part in that, finding good drive off the line when paired with Kenda rubber.

Photo By: Ken Hill

I led the first lap but had pressure from the KTM pair of Charlie Mullins and Kailub Russell. I wasn’t really feeling good on the slick hard park track and soon both Charlie and Kailub passed me. I worked hard to match their pace but they slowly edged out of sight. The track got better as the race progressed as some of the lines came together and some dirt was moved around on the hard pack sections that the quads had polished.

After Katherine, Ryan and Gary handled the pit stop I began to get into a groove and the gap to the leaders had levelled off. Sometime during the race Charlie dropped out with bike problems and I moved up to second although I didn’t realize until a lap later when I got a pit board with my position. With a couple of laps to go Jordan Ashburn and Thad Duvall had closed up and had me in their sights. I noticed their advances and made an effort to hang onto my position. Going into the last lap Thad had closed in to about 6 seconds, I pushed hard over the last lap and managed to shake him and put some time on him although Kailub had a safe lead and there was no catching him. Thad incurred a penalty during the race that dropped him back a position in the results and promoted my AmPro Yamaha teammate Jordan Ashburn to third.

1st: Kailub Russell
2nd: Paul Whibley
3rd: Jordan Ashburn

“Our veteran riders had a rough day today,” said team co-owner JT Bennett. “Nate came into the race day nursing some injuries from a race last weekend, and Jimmy took a rock to the face. Luckily, neither of them came out any worse for wear. Our young rider Scott Grills and Brian stepped up this weekend and put in solid rides for the team.”

Wolf continues to recover from a hand infection from the beginning of the season, and in order to get in fighting shape for the race, concentrated on cardio training and not seat time. 

“I didn’t ride from Kentucky until the Thursday and Friday before the race,” Wolf said. “I felt like it would be better for my hands since the incision was in the palm of my hand and I needed to give it as much time as possible to heal.”

The gamble paid off for the rider, as he was in the mix early on in the race, taking the lead position on the first lap. 

“I was right there going into the end of the fourth lap,” Wolf said. “But when I tried to pass McGill for the lead I hit a tree and bent my tie rod. I had a flat front tire and that ended my day of charging. I ended up 7th for the day, but I felt great. The bike was working great. It’s the best setup I’ve ever had. I’m definitely ready to run up front now that I can get in the seat. I’m looking for a podium in West Virginia.”

XC1 rider Nate Kanney’s troubles started last weekend at a local race the rider had entered to prepare for the Snowshoe GNCC. Kanney bruised his ribs and aggravated an old back injury. Despite the injuries, Kanney made plans to compete, but after two laps, Kanney made his way back to the pits.

“I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to race yesterday,” Kanney said. “There were no broken bones and no actual serious internal injuries so I couldn’t justify not trying to race, but once I got out on the track it was just too painful. Every bump I hit was just too much. It’s certainly been a disappointing year so far.” 

Jarrett had a strong start to his race, finishing the first lap in third. He kept it in the top 10 the first four laps of the race, but when a rock got launched into his goggles, Jarrett’s day ended. 

Grills recovered the day for the team in the XC2 Pro Lites Class, taking his second top 5 finish of the season. 

Grills consistently moved his way through the ranks from 7th to 5th by the 5th lap, despite struggling with arm pump. Grills and Brad Bakken went back and forth towards the end of the race, until Grills crashed and stalled in the last lap, letting Bakken pass and pull a gap. Grills put himself back together to finish 5th.

“I’m definitely feeling better out there,” Grills said. “I was able to stay pretty steady and everything came together pretty well. I don’t really have any complaints.” 

Wolf would like to thank JG Off Road, FRE, Honda, Elka Suspension, Hiper, Wiseco, Maxxis, Baldwin Motorsports, ATV 4 Play, DID, PCP, Fasst, Quad Tech, Redling Honda, Spyder Graphics, IMS, Moose, ARSFX, JB Racing, Hinson Racing, Precision Racing Products, Sidi/Motonation, Scott Goggles, Fischer Racing, CV4, Acerbis, Impact Solutions and Standard Process.

Grills, Jarrett and Kanney would like to thank  JG Off Road, Honda, Kenda, Silkolene, DP Brakes, AXP Racing, Moose, Super Sprox, PG Graphics, Cycra, Tsubaki, Factory Connection, FMF, Works Connection, CV4, BRP, No Toil, Rekluse, IMS, Moto Tassinari, Outerwears, Renthal, G2 Ergonomics and Zip Ty.

The team travels to West Virginia for the Mountaineer Run in Masontown on May 26th to the 27th.

XC1 Pro Results:
1.Kailub Russell (KTM)
2.Paul Whibley (YAM)
3.Jordan Ashburn (YAM)
4.Thad DuVall (HON)
5.Chris Bach (YAM)
6.Rory Mead (KTM)
7.Takeshi Koikeda (KTM)
8.Garrett Edmisten (KAW)
9.Jesse Groemm (KTM)
10.Steven Squire (KTM)

XC2 Pro Lites Results:
1.Andrew DeLong (HSQ)
2.Jason Thomas (KTM)
3.Jedediah Haines (YAM)
4.Brad Bakken (YAM)
5.Scott Grills (HON)
6.Cody Gragg (YAM)
7.Michael McGinnis (KTM)
8.Ricky Mair (YAM)
9.Zach Nolan (KTM)
10.Steward Baylor Jr (KTM)

RESULTS:

Ryan Belue Open A 6TH  …28th Overall …2nd GNCC Points
Dylan Stout 250 B 5th ….3rd GNCC Points

www.atlascyclesales.com   www.stickmangraphx.com   www.dropkickcycles.com

KR557 took his 4th-win of the season and is now tied for the points lead with Paul Whibley.

Three laps into the Limestone 100 GNCC it looked like we were going to see a showdown between FMF/KTM’s Charlie Mullins and Kailub Russell. The duo had hooked up and pulled out to nearly a 30-second lead over AmPro Yamaha’s Paul Whibley and were charging hard, until Mullins ran into bike issues that would ultimately drop him 11th-place on the day and an entire lap off the of the lead. While we didn’t see the battle between these two for the win, we did see Kailub Russell reaffirm his position as the man-to-beat in the XC1 Pro Class after a disappointing 4th-place finish at the Mammoth GNCC two weeks prior. KR set the fastest lap of the race on lap three to reel in his teammate, then laid down his 2nd-fastest lap of the day on lap 6 to give himself a cushion over Paul Whibley and Andrew DeLong in the overall. This proves that Russell has speed that is tough for the rest of the field to match and the endurance to last for an entire 3-hour race.

XC1 PRO CLASS LAP TIMES - THE LIMESTONE 100
Lap Time Rank	Finish	Rider	Best Lap Time	Lap #	Worst Lap Time	Lap #
1	1	KAILUB K RUSSELL	0:25:28	3	0:26:24	2
2	11	CHARLES MULLINS	0:25:31	3	0:56:15	4
3	2	PAUL WHIBLEY	0:25:51	7	0:26:30	2
4	4	THADDEUS DUVALL	0:25:52	3	0:26:42	4
5	3	JORDAN ASHBURN	0:25:54	3	0:26:50	7
6	6	RORY MEAD	0:26:28	2	0:27:53	7
7	5	CHRISTOPHER BACH	0:26:36	2	0:27:33	6
8	9	JESSE GROEMM	0:26:40	2	0:28:22	6
9	13	JIMMY JARRETT	0:26:44	2	0:29:00	4
10	12	NICK S FAHRINGER	0:26:51	2	0:28:13	5
11	7	TAKESHI KOIKEDA	0:26:55	3	0:28:24	7
12	14	NATHAN KANNEY	0:27:25	2	N/A	N/A
13	8	GARRETT EDMISTEN	0:27:33	2	0:27:54	6
14	10	STEVEN SQUIRE	0:27:58	2	0:29:30	7

Andrew DeLong broke Steward Baylor's win streak and set the fastest lap in the process.

Through the first five rounds of the series Steward Baylor proved he was the fastest man in the XC2 Pro Lites Class (and one of the fastest riders in the entire series) but in Indiana FAR/Husqvarna’s Andrew DeLong put Baylor to the test throughout the race, actually setting the fastest lap in the class and the 3rd-fastest lap of the day. Baylor would ultimately break reeds in his bike that kept him from battling with DeLong for the win on the last lap (and then crashing and reportedly breaking his wrist after fixing his bike) but with the day DeLong was riding I’m not sure it would’ve mattered, he was simply on it. Baylor currently holds a 43-point lead in the class over 2nd-place rider Jason Thomas and a 68-point lead over DeLong who missed the first two rounds of the series due to injury. Coming into this round you never would’ve thought there’d be a chance for the Husqvarna rider to be a threat for the title but if Baylor is forced to miss any rounds with his wrist injury DeLong could sneak right into the points chase with a few more rides like he had on Sunday.

XC2 CLASS LAP TIMES - THE LIMESTONE 100
Lap Time Rank	Finish	Rider	Best Lap Time	Lap #	Worst Lap Time	Lap #
1	1	ANDREW R DELONG	0:25:46	6	0:26:30	2
2	10	STEWARD BAYLOR JR	0:25:55	6	0:50:47	7
3	2	JASON THOMAS	0:26:31	2	0:27:59	7
4	3	JEDEDIAH HAINES	0:26:46	2	0:28:37	7
5	4	BRAD BAKKEN	0:26:46	2	0:28:43	5
6	15	JESSE ROBINSON	0:26:56	2	0:30:20	4
7	6	CODY GRAGG	0:27:07	2	0:30:13	5
8	5	SCOTT W GRILLS	0:27:14	2	0:28:55	6
9	11	AJ STEWART	0:27:42	2	0:35:32	4
10	9	ZACH NOLAN	0:27:52	2	0:30:23	6
11	8	RICKY MAIR	0:28:01	2	0:29:44	7
12	7	MICHAEL J MCGINNIS	0:28:14	2	0:30:03	7
13	12	LUCAS A STATOM	0:30:28	2	0:32:28	6
14	13	MAT G HERRINGTON	0:32:20	3	0:35:04	2
15	14	LARRY S SILVIA	0:32:40	4	0:36:22	3

AM/PRO’s Paul Whibley is currently tied for 1st place in the GNCC XC1 Pro points standings and 1st in the OMA Pro MC standings. His teammate, Jordan Ashburn is in 6th place in the GNCC XC1 Pro standings and 8th in the AMA National Enduro championship standings. Raines Racing’s Brad Bakken is sitting in 7th place in the AMA National Enduro series and 5th place in the GNCC XC2 Pro class.

Other top professional racers planning to attend the ‘12 KENDA Big Sky XC: Husquavarna’s Cory Graffunder and Kyle Redmond, Factory Beta’s Cody Webb and Max Gerston, Kawasaki’s Destry Abbot, Johnny Campbell Racing Honda’s David Kamo, and ’11 race champion Rory Sullivan. Many other racers from various national series are working on the logistics and hope to commit soon.

These early commitments would not be possible without our premier sponsors. We are fortunate to have Kenda Tires as our title sponsor this year. Kenda is the primary force behind our ability to step up our entire event program. KLIM, our presenting sponsor, has been with us since year one. They can be credited with our ability to grow into a major event in only 4 short years. We’d also like to thank Yamaha Corporation and Blitz Motorsports, who have both stepped up to partner as our official Pro Purse sponsor.

Additional race information can be found at: www.bigskyxc.com. Race date: Aug 25-26, 2012