Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4/FAR Arrive-N-Ride Team Battles Through Rough Conditions at Steele Creek GNCC in North Carolina
Tuesday, April 5, 2016 | 4:35 PM
Round three of the 2016 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series took place on Sunday at the picturesque Steele Creek Campground in Morganton, North Carolina, where the Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4 Arrive-N-Ride team battled through tough track conditions to capture eight top ten finishes for the day.
As one of the most popular stops on the circuit, Steele Creek hosted a slew of fans to watch the 1 p.m. Pro racing action on Sunday. With 17 entries in the XC1 Pro class, Thad DuVall was among many of the nation's top off-road racers on the front row, where he put his Husqvarna FC 350 into a 6th place start on the opening lap. From there, DuVall continued to push into the top five until an unfortunate mechanical issue ended his day after two hours of hard-fought racing.
Eddie White made his first GNCC appearance of the season after an injury kept him out of the first two rounds. White got off to a great start in the stacked 250 B Class until he had a hard get off on lap two, which ended his day early. Conner Keegan's patience is paying off as he finished 8th in the 4 Stroke A Lites Class where he now sits 3rd in the championship standings.
Hunter Williams captured yet another top-five finish in the 4 Stroke B Lites Class, while his teammate Brittan Laird finished 11th in the class. Derek Pacheco landed another top-ten finish in the Senior A (40+) Class with 7th place for the day.
1 PM Pro Race
XC1 Pro: Thad DuVall - DNF
250 A: Coleman Brinson - 27th
4 Stroke A Lites: Colin Keegan - 18th, Conner Keegan - 8th
Senior A (40+): Derek Pacheco - 7th
4 Stroke B Lites: Hunter Williams - 5th, Brittan Laird - 11th
250 B: Eddie White - 22nd
The 10 a.m. race showcased over 600 riders in the amateur ranks, making for an interesting course for passing. In the 200 C Schoolboy (12-15) Class, it was Cole Groover who highlighted the morning with a 4th place finish aboard his Husqvarna TC125. His teammate, Brandon Keegan, also aboard a Husqvarna TC125, finished close behind in 6th, while Noah Stewart came in 8th after getting stuck in a track re-route due to a bottle neck in the woods.
10 AM Amateur Race
WXC: Sarah Baldwin - DNF
200 C Schoolboy (12-15): Brandon Keegan - 6th, Cole Groover - 4th, Noah Stewart - 8th
4 Stroke C Lites: Ethan Greve - 13th
Senior C (40+): Troy Ayres - 20th
In the Youth division, Dylan Brinson salvaged an 8th place finish in the Super Mini Jr. (12-13) class after finishing the race with a flat rear tire. Canadian rider Troy Horbaty finished 4th in the competitive 65 (10-11) Class, also earning his best overall finish with 51st out of 150 riders.
8 AM Youth Race
Super Mini Jr. (12-13): Dylan Brinson - 8th
85 (12-13): Jack Groover - 11th, Brian Keegan - 23rd
65 (10-11): Troy Horbaty - 4th
BEHIND THE SCENES
At every GNCC event there is a lot of hard work and dedication that goes unnoticed. The Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4 trackside support teams go the extra mile to make sure the team's riders have what they need to succeed at every race. The pit team is responsible for making sure all riders don't run out of fuel, for making sure they have fresh goggles, gloves and drinks each stop. Timing and communication is key in making sure the team's 20-plus riders keep turning laps. The Arrive-N-Ride crew handles over 50 gallons of fuel each race and almost always hit 10,000 Fitbit steps by the end of each day!
Special thanks to Aaron Evans, Brian Keegan, Krissy Keegan, Troy Ayers, Eddie White, Chad Williams, Colin Keegan and Jason Stewart.
The Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4 team will return to racing on Sunday, April 17 for the Big Buck GNCC in Union, South Carolina.
The team would like to extend a big thanks to the supporters that make this program possible: Rocky Mountain ATV/MC, Moose Racing, Maxxis, AMSOIL, Keegan Wireless, Husqvarna, SunStar, DP Brakes,TM Designs,Samco Hoses,HBD Graphics, Motion Pro,Twin Air,Wiseco,Enduro Engineering, EKS Goggles, IMS Tanks, Bullet Proof, Thor Helmets, ARC Levers, Pro X,Cometic gaskets, Moto Master Rotors, NEKEN, Super B, Seat Concepts, Pro Circuit, Beaver Creek Cycle, Hinson and Parts Unlimited.
About the KR4 Arrive-N-Ride Program
Whether your dream is to compete in the entire GNCC or Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series or to enjoy the ultimate racing weekend vacation, we can help! With our current unstable economy and the rising cost of fuel, it's making it harder to get to the races, and this burden is hurting racing family's across the country and abroad. We can save you time, money, and hassle! For an affordable fee, KR4 can offset the cost of racing and have everything ready for you. Let us prep your race bike while you train during the week, attend school or work, or spend time with your family. Just before race day, jump in the car, head to the airport or drive to the track, and we will meet you out there. It doesn't matter how far away you live. Your bike, gear, and fuel will be waiting, just Arrive-n-Ride! To learn more and sign up for your Arrive-n-Ride Experience, please contact [email protected] or visit our website.
About KR4 Performance
KR4 Performance is a leading professional and amateur race team that participates in the Grand National Cross Country Championships (GNCC). We are paving the way for the future of off-road racing with our unparalleled Arrive-n-Ride Program. Our team won the 2012 GNCC XC2 Pro Lites Championship, and we were awarded the 2012 GNCC Sport Ambassador Award. Our solid team structure is made up of former GNCC pros, expert motorcycle mechanics, and industry enthusiasts that are 100% dedicated to helping you achieve your racing goals. Check us out at www.kr4performance.com.