Fresh off wrapping up the title in the National Enduro Series, Steward Baylor is going head-to-head with Jason Thomas for the XC2 title. The two are separated by just 1 point heading to the season finale at Loretta Lynn’s. We caught up with Steward to hear more about his 2012 season and the championship battle.

 

GNCCRacing.com: How's everything going today?
Steward Baylor: Everything is going great, just getting everything cleaned up from The Ironman.

So, congrats on the National Enduro title! How’s it feel to wrap that up?
It feels great to get the title, especially a race early. It definitely takes a lot of weight off my shoulders with the way the past few races have gone for me!

Is it even more rewarding to win that title knowing that you weren’t originally planning on doing the whole series?
It was great that I was able to get enough money to attend all of the National Enduros. I really don't know if that makes it more rewarding but rather that I did it after breaking the scaphoid in my throttle wrist mid-season. I doubt anyone has ever done that before;  so being able to overcome that was definitely the greatest accomplishment for the enduro season.

Will you defend that title in 2013?
I will definitely defend the title for next year, and hopefully the following year as well!

Russell Bobbitt is the only rider to win back to back National Enduro titles since 2003, do you think you could do it?
I think that back-to-back years aren't out of the picture for me. I know that I can win those now, and so does the competition!

What has it been like switching between those races and GNCC's all season?
It really wasn't tough to switch between the series for me. I have both style tracks here at my house so I can easily ride both. I also grew up racing SETRA which are tight like enduros and I also raced GNCC's all the time so it was never a challenge for me.

Until Ironman, you had some tough luck in the past few GNCC's, what did it take to turn that around?
I think after wrapping up the National Enduro title, my luck finally turned. As everyone knows my bad luck has killed me at a few rounds but still I had the fastest laps. I know I can win, and so do the other guys.

What about your wrist, how's that feeling?
My wrist has slowly been getting better, so no problems there!

With 1 point separating you and Jason Thomas, do you think you can take the XC2 title?
I definitely think I can get the XC2 championship. I've always been able to pull it out when I really need to and the last round should be no different. 
 
Would it feel even better knowing that you had to really fight for it coming down to the wire?
It will certainly feel better to get the championship seeing as how it will be a three way battle coming down to Loretta's. Every one of us will be going as hard as possible every day to ensure that we get it, but only one can get it in the end so it will definitely be interesting.

What is the competition like in the XC2 class?
The competition is gnarly this year! It started off good for me but after I broke my wrist those guys got a lot more mentally tough and the mental gain they got boosted them to the next level. Most fans don't know, but the mental part plays just as big a part as the physical!

What are your plans for 2013?
In 2013 I will be in XC1 for sure. Not sure what bike but I know I can run with those guys, it will just be a learning curve!

What do you hope to accomplish in 2013?
Next year I hope to mostly learn from those guys but definitely want to win a few!

What do you hope to accomplish beyond 2013?
After 2013 I hope to try some of everything in the following years. Just go have fun with the bike and have enough stories to last the rest of my life.

Alright, before we wrap this up, who would you like to thank?
I have a huge list! First KTM, FMF, my dad and mom, my grandparents, brother, sister, aunts, uncles, Neeley Racing, everyone who helped me get to Wyoming including Randy Hawkins, and even Jared Bolton! All of the clubs that put on the enduros, as well as the whole NEPG crew, the GNCC's, Mid-East, and SETRA for having places for me to race every weekend. Steve Hatch, Jason Raines with the Raines Racing University. I was his first student, and got the opportunity to train with the whole Am-Pro team every day for over a year. All of my friends that support me, and of course the guys that help me out on the bike parts and accessories like Fly, WP USA, PG, Silkolene, Bulletproof Designs, TM Design Works, Motion Pro, Shoei, Leatt, Bax Tech Quick Stands, Scott, Asterisk, Fastway, Pro Moto Billet, Cycra, Renthal, Sidi, Ankle Saver Foot Pegs, Dunlop, V-Force, Glory Hog Action Sports, EBC Brakes and St. Lawrence Radiology, Dr. Maresca hooked me up with the surgeons that got me back on the bike and able to win a championship against all odds. Also any other previous sponsors or anyone that helped me get to where I am today.