Jesse Ansley Race Report from The General
Wednesday, March 19, 2014 | 1:05 PM
TF Racing, Action Kawasaki, and DirtWise Riding Schools backed Jesse Ansley placed 1st in the 85 (12-13) class at the Grand National Cross Country Series Round 2 in Washington, GA. The race took place on Sunday March 16, 2014 at the Aonia Pass MX Park.
It was another awesome GNCC race at round number two in Washington, GA. Coming off an overall win from round one I felt good and was really excited to be here. The track conditions on Saturday were perfect but looking at the radar on Saturday, Sunday wasn’t looking that good. So I prepped for rain!
We woke up Sunday morning to drizzling rain. The rain started about 3 a.m. and never let up. We got the bike even more ready for mud because if you thought round one was wet you haven’t seen anything until you see Georgia wet! It was looking extremely muddy. I wasn’t really nervous I was more excited; I never get to ride in the mud!
When the flag dropped my bike fired first kick and I was second off the start. I was being very careful around the turns because it felt like you were riding on ice. I stayed in second till the fifth turn when I slid out. I started sliding but then stopped…until a kid hit me. I started sliding some more, I felt like a hockey puck! I finally got up and got going again. The whole line got around me so I had to work my way back up front. I managed to work my way up but I sure used a lot of tear offs! I was battling with 2nd until I finally took the spot away and gapped him. I felt like I went faster when I was battling with somebody, rather than being by myself. The only problem with running with someone is that you would use two or three tears offs that you wouldn’t have used when you were by yourself. I ran second until the last lap when I capitalized on the first place kid getting stuck. I was really pumped to see “1st in class” on the board when I crossed the finish line.
The course was really slick, complete with a lot of deep ruts, and standing water all over the place. You had to be careful and keep moving or you would get stuck. I got stuck once but a spectator helped pull me out no problem. I fell three times which isn’t bad at all considering the conditions. The course was pretty much like the Mammoth last year. I’m glad I ran the Mammoth to have experience for this Georgia race.
All in all it was a good day and an even better weekend as I meet my goal of raising $250 toward my Feeding America Virtual Food Drive project.
For the Pro race at 1 o’clock it was defending Champ Kailub Russell taking the win and the overall in the XC1 Pro class. Followed behind him was AmPro Yamaha’s very own Jordan Ashburn. I’m glad to see this young gun get on the podium. Taking 3rd in the XC1 Pro class was Paul Whibley. Now on to the XC2 Pro Lites class. Grant Baylor had an impressive ride taking 2nd overall and 1st in the XC2 Pro Lites class. Grant missed the overall by only four seconds on corrected time. Second place in the XC2 Pro Lites class was round one winner Rory Mead. Following behind him was XC2 rookie Trevor Bollinger. GNCC’s Top Amateur was Cliff Ousley in the Open A class.
I would like to thank TF Racing, Action Kawasaki/Yamaha, DirtWise Riding Schools, HBD MotoGrafx, Dunlop, IMS Products, FMF Pipes, Shoei helmets, Fox shoxs, Powerband Racing, Seat Concepts, SADRA, Steve Thomson Homes, Total Building Solutions, G2 Photos, Pit Posse/Outlaw, 100% goggles, American Import Autos and my family and FTR friends. Thanks for all the support.
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