Monster Energy/Andrews Yamaha Snowshoe Race Report
by: Jason Weigandt
Thursday, September 18, 2008 | 12:00 AM
MONSTER ENERGY PRESS RELEASE
Monster Energy/Andrews/Yamaha Team Returns To GNCC Action In W.Va. ”“
Jason Thomas Podiums In 3rd Place
CORONA, Calif., (Sept. 16, 2008) ”“ Monster Energy/Andrews/Yamaha
racers had a couple months here during the dog days of summer to heal
up and get fired up about returing to race the 2008 Can Am Grand
National Cross Country Series, aka the GNCCs, following the series’
traditional summer break. And they came back hot, recording yet
another podium finish in the popular cross country style form of
motorcycle racing on the east coast.
Returning to action at Snowshoe Ski Resort in Snowshoe, W.Va., the
four Yamaha-mounted Monster Energy crew ”“ under the tutelage of off
road racing great Fred Andrews ”“ were led by a 3rd place podium XC2
class finish from team newcomer Jason Thomas.
“I started the race out with a crash and that made me mad,”à said
Thomas. “So I charged all day. My Monster/Andrews/Yamaha worked
awesome in the rocky and hilly track, that also had a few mud bogs in
it.”Ã
When the flag dropped on XC2 class opener the Monster Energy/Andrews/
Yamaha team blasted out with everyone on the team ”“ Dustin Gibson,
Josh Weisenfels, Dave Snyder and Thomas ”“ all located within the top
ten. When Thomas went down, Gibson had also dropped off the pace after
getting stuck on one of the many hills. But worse than that,
Weisenfels would go down on lap one and injured his shoulder. He then
recorded a highly rare (for him) DNF when he retired on lap two.
“Josh is a tough customer and you’ve gotta believe he was hurting
pretty bad when he pulled off,”à said Andrews. “He’ll get the
shoulder looked at and hopefully, with two weeks before our next GNCC,
he’ll be ready to go.”Ã
By the first gas stop Thomas had come charging back through the pack
from outside the top ten (after his lap one wreck) to 6th place
overall. Gibson had moved up to 9th place, but his day ended when a
rock knocked out a hole in the ignition cover.
Running hard with two laps remaining, Thomas had caught up closer to
the lead pack ”“ passing for a top five position. Still wanting more,
he rallied on the next lap and picked up two more spots to put himself
onto the podium! Snyder would pick up the last top ten spot for
Monster Energy/Andrews/Yamaha with a 10th overall.
On the season XC2 class standings Gibson remained in 2nd place in the
XC2 standings while Weisenfels is in 5th.
Next up for the Monster Energy/Andrews/Yamaha team is the Sept. 28th
GNCC at Unadilla Valley Sports Center, New Berlin, N.Y.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it GNCCs, EnduroCross, MTB, off
road, MX, supermoto, FMX, skate, off road, surf, snow, BMX ”“ name it
”“ the athletes are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these
days. Check out all the types ”“ Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-
Carb, Monster Assault, Monster Khaos, the new Monster/fruit juice
hybrid called “M-80”à and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium
coffee & cream supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Fred
Andrews and his boyz dig ”Ãem ”“ so will you. On the ”ÃNet at
gy.com.