Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4/Husqvarna Team Report: Mountaineer Run GNCC
Tuesday, September 26, 2017 | 11:25 AM
Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4/Husqvarna Team Report: Mountaineer Run GNCC
MASONTOWN, W.Va. (September 25, 2017) – The Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4/Husqvarna team spent the weekend in Masontown, West Virginia at the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Mountaineer Run GNCC. The eleventh round of the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series put the racers to the test with unexpected hot and humid weather conditions, but the KR4 team produced solid results atop of Marvin’s Mountain Top.
After clinching the WXC title at the previous round, Tayla Jones decided to try her hand at the pro race where she lined up in the ultra-competitive FMF XC3 125 Pro-class. Jones didn’t get off to the best start, but quickly made passes as she entered the woods for sixth. Jones settled into a pace and maintained the sixth-place position throughout the remainder of her first three-hour race. Jones also finished an impressive 36th overall!
“I had a good day and it was fun,” said Jones. “I knew going into this round it was going to be pretty hard with all the rocks and I struggle with them a bit, but I was happy with how I went. I know what I need to work on for next round and hopefully we can get better and better.”
Grant Baylor had his second-best finish of the season in the XC1 Open Pro class where he landed a top-five placement after making a last-lap pass for fifth. Jesper Borjesson also found success on the last lap of his XC2 250 Pro race. Borjesson is still trying to get back on track after an injury sidelined him earlier this season, but is showing promise in making a top-five finish in the remaining two rounds.
“I had a pretty good day yesterday, but made a bad start so had to work my way up from back of the pack,” explained Borjesson. “It was really hard to see in the dust so it wasn’t easy to make passes. My riding felt much better this weekend and I learned a lot so I just have to keep on working from here and bring all the good with me.”
As if the conditions weren’t rough enough, Hunter Nuewirth was also dealing with a virus that left him feeling subpar as he lined up on Sunday morning. Nuewirth rode a consistent race in fifth, and still maintains the runner-up position in the XC3 125 Pro-Am class.
Chase Sweda started outside the top-10 in the 250 B class, and worked his way through the pack to round out the class podium. Sweda continues to sit ranked third in the championship standings. Conner Keegan landed a top-ten finish in 4 Stroke A Lites, while Brandon Keegan finished fourth in 200 B. Hank Hayes was sitting in a podium position in the ultra-competitive 200 A class after the first lap, but had to cut his race short on the second lap and settle for eighth.
KR4 Performance Team Results 1 p.m. Race:
Grant Baylor – XC1 Pro – 5th
Jesper Borjesson – XC2 250 Pro – 9th
Hunter Neuwirth – XC3 Pro-Am – 5th
Tayla Jones – XC3 Pro-Am – 6th
Chase Sweda – 250 B – 3rd
Conner Keegan – 4 Stroke A Lites – 10th
Brandon Keegan – 200 B – 4th
Hank Hays – 200 A – 8th
TJ Fine found success in the rocky West Virginia terrain and placed second in the 4-Stroke C Lites, while support rider, Jesse Groves, also crossed the line second in 200 C. Troy Ayers finished 11th in the Senior C (40+) divisor.
KR4 Performance Team Results 10 a.m. Race:
TJ Fine – 4-Stroke C Lites – 2nd
Troy Ayres – Senior C (40+) – 11th
Jesse Groves – 200 C (16+) – 2nd
KR4 Performance Team Results 8 a.m. Race:
Jeremy Skinner – Super Mini Sr. (14-15) – 14th
Next GNCC Event: Round 12 – St. Clairsville, Ohio – October 8, 2017
The Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4/Husqvarna Team resumes racing this weekend at the Hidden Valley Full Gas Sprint Enduro. GNCC Racing picks back up in two weeks, October 8, with the Powerline Park GNCC In Sr. Clairsville, Ohio.
About GNCC Racing
The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 2,400 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. The series draws talent from all over the U.S., Central America, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised weekly on NBC Sports and RacerTV.com. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.
About KR4 Performance
KR4 Performance is a leading professional and amateur race team that participates in the Grand National Cross Country Championships (GNCC), the Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series (FGSE), and the National Enduro Promotions Group (NEPG) Series. KR4’s team won the 2016 Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro Championship. KR4 Pro, Grant Baylor, was a member of the 2016 Junior American ISDE team, which placed 2nd in the 2016 International Six Day Enduro. KR4’s solid team structure is made up of former GNCC pros, expert motorcycle mechanics, and industry enthusiasts that are 100% dedicated to helping clients achieve their racing goals. Visit www.kr4performance.com for more information.
About the KR4 Arrive-N-Ride Program
KR4 is paving the way for the future of off-road racing with its unparalleled Arrive-n-Ride Program, saving riders time, money, and hassle. For an affordable fee, KR4 can offset the cost of racing and have everything ready for riders on race day. With the KR4 Arrive-N-Ride program, bikes are prepped by the KR4 team before a race and delivered with gear to riders on race day to the location of their choosing. To learn more or sign up for the Arrive-n-Ride Experience, please contact fkeegan@kr4performance.com or visit www.kr4performance.com. For additional information, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. For the team’s photo gallery, visit their Flickr page.