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Race Report: GNCC Rnd 1, Florida
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: Am-Pro Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha WR 450
Result: 10th XC1
Waking up to rain Sunday morning had the sand primed for riding. It all cleared up by the start of the race so things were looking good. With the wave of the green flag the 2010 GNCC series was under way.
My WR fired up quickly and I took the opening holeshot. Jimmy Jarrett snuck by me a couple corners later but I was happy to have someone lead the way for a bit.
I was comfortable in 2nd until some mudholes rearranged the order a little. I dropped back to 4th I think but was still in touch with the leaders.
On the second lap Charlie Mullins made a break for it and begain to open up a lead. A branch had caught my rolloffs and damaged the canister. With a trail of film flying behind me and increasingly distorted vision from the sand and a couple of mudholes I lost touch with the front bunch.
End of lap two we were in for gas (as most riders did) as we elected not to push the gas mileage in the thick sand. With a freah pair of Smiths restoring my vision I managed to catch back up to Josh Strang who was running in 3rd.
Part way into that lap my vent hose for the tank came loose and begain splashing gas everywere. I came into pit again at the end of the 3rd lap to refuel and for a quick repair.
I had lost some time and dropped well back. I pushed hard and regained some positions but had to pit again at the end of the 4th lap to make sure I had enough gas to finish the last two laps of the race.
After working my way up to 4th I ran out of gas just under a mile from the finish. I ran out to the pits and borrowed some gas from the some guys who were pitting track side. By the time I made it to the finish I was down to 10th XC1 and 15th overall.
Very disappointing start to the year and one that leaves me with a lot of work to do.
Results:
1st: Josh Strang
2nd: Chris Bach
3rd: Charlie Mullins
