It was a tough day for the Maxxis/KLIM/DirtWise KTM Race team at Rd. 3 of the GNCC series conducted near Morganton, NC on Sunday, March 30.

Rory Mead, the current XC2 Pro class points leader ran solid for the majority of the before starting an inspired last lap charge towards the lead. It was during this lap that Mead crashed hard and sustained some severe neck fractures. Following surgery and evaluation testing there is good hope that he will be able to make a full recovery despite currently having no feeling and movement from the chest down.

Fellow XC2 teammate Jesse Groemm struggled to get going in the difficult trail conditions and was held back by several unforced mistakes and crashes. Groemm entered the last lap in 7th position but finished in 9th. Groemm stated, "I pretty much sucked all day with bad line choices, and then on the last lap I stopped to check on Rory. Seeing Rory just took all the wind out of my sails and it was all that I could do to just cruise to the finish."

XC1 team rider Jason Thomas also struggled to find his groove in the first half of the race, but then started to pick up the pace and move up the leader board. Being one of the first riders to come across his downed teammate, Thomas had no hesitation in stopping and overseeing the safe care of Mead until there was no further danger.