    |
 |
|
|
|
Race Report: GNCC Round 11, Unadilla
Rider: Paul Whibley
Bike: Honda CRF 450
Team: Moose, Parts Unlimited, Honda
Round 11 of the GNCC series was held at Unadilla, New York. Famous for its' MX track, this year will be remembered by its' extremely muddy conditions.
The course used about half of the MX track and the surrounding woods completed the rest of the lap.
Sunday dawned overcast, but during the morning race it absolutely bucketed down, making the track a big mudfest.
The start line saw a few new names to the GNCC line up. John Dowd, Bobby McKinry and Brock Hepler (MX riders) made an appearance for the race.
I got a good jump off the start. Managing to get around the slippery corners, avoiding a pile up on the second turn. I was in 7th before disappearing into the woods.
Lines were going every which way. Luck played a big part in getting through these swamps, deciding which line to take, which line was actually useable.
The ruts became deeper and the track wider.
Half-way saw the pit stop with no dramas. Mud was removed from the radiators as the 450 was boiling every so often in the tough sections. Kath told me I was in 4th going into the forth lap.
With two laps to go one of the bog sections early in the lap had become really bad. Riders were going so wide to get around the problem they ended up cutting onto the course near the end of the lap, missing about 5 miles of track.
I got onto the wrong track also but realised this wasn't right and turned around. In doing this I lost about one and a half minutes and went from 4th to 5th position. I managed to make a little time up on Williamson in 4th, during the last lap, but still finished the race in 5th.
The lead changed throughout the race. The usual race leader Salminen, showed he is human and went over the bars, ending up in a mud hole. Mullins was leading comfortably until he fried his clutch, slipping back to 3rd. Kanney, used his home town advantage and crowd support to keep a consistant pace, and to take his first win.
Results:
1st- N. Kanney
2nd- J. Salminen
3rd- C. Mullins
4th- J. Williamson
5th- P. Whibley
6th- B. Hepler
The bike and me survived! Only sixteen pros completed the six laps.
I remain 5th in the series with two rounds to go.
Thanks to the following sponsors:
