KR4/Husqvarna Team Report: Big Buck GNCC
by: Kayla Bolton
Tuesday, February 27, 2018 | 11:05 AM
KR4/Husqvarna Team Report: Big Buck GNCC
UNION, S.C. (February 26, 2018) – After a four-month hiatus, racing picked back up at the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series with the 22nd running of the Big Buck GNCC in Union, South Carolina. Anticipation was at an all-time high for the green flag to wave where record breaking attendance was on hand. The KR4/Husqvarna team proved they will be top contenders in each class with multiple top ten finishes and stand out rides.
Layne Michael made his XC1 Open Pro debut with the KR4/Husqvarna team and had a strong showing at the season opener. Michael started off inside the top-five for the first two laps and crossed the line in sixth at the conclusion of the three-hour race. Michael’s performance off the first row was especially impressive when looking at the heavy hitters that the rookie beat.
Michael’s teammate, Cory Buttrick, made his return to GNCC racing after taking last year off. Buttrick worked his way from outside the top ten to finish eighth. “Overall it was a good start to the season,” said Buttrick. “I’m certainly not satisfied with eight, even though it’s not far from a top five. After being away from GNCC for a year I was a little surprised how intense the pace was.”
After a successful race at the National Enduro a couple weekends ago, Liam Draper came into the Big Buck GNCC with full confidence. Draper ran in sixth place during the first two hours of the race, but found himself in an unfortunate run in with a lapped rider in the last hour and recovered to place ninth.“It was a dream come true to get to race my first GNCC,” reported Draper. “It was the roughest and toughest track I have ever ridden. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next one!”
The FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class witnessed the largest rider turnout since the inception last year with 20 competitors. Colin Keegan raced his way to 11th, while his brothers Brandon and Conner battled head-to-head in the 4-Stoke A Lites division. Conner experienced a break-out ride where he led majority of the race until making a bobble on the last lap to finish third, and Brandon followed in 28th.
After near-perfect race conditions for most of the weekend, a short storm passed through during the 10 a.m. race which made the track a little slippery. Even with the cooler temps, the racing action continued to heat up where Tayla Jones battled the entire race with former WXC champion, Becca Sheets. Jones made up nearly a minute on Sheets on the last lap to take the first win of the season, along with the 10 a.m. overall.
“I had a good start to the GNCC season,” said Jones. “The race at Big Buck definitely had its challenges but I had a lot of fun and it was cool to battle the whole race, it makes the win that much better! I had to push hard and I feel really comfortable on the bike and with my fitness. I can’t wait for round two already!”
The AMSOIL Garage also opened for business this weekend and was a huge hit! The KR4 mechanics helped multiple riders get on track with minor mechanical repairs, and also taught them how to work and prep their own machine. KR4 would like to give a special shout out to AMSOIL and ODI Grips.
Overall, the 2018 Big Buck GNCC was one for the record books. The GNCC series picks back up in two weeks with the Wild Boar GNCC in Palatka, Florida. The KR4/Husqvarna team will travel to Louisiana this coming weekend for the Cajun Classic National Enduro.
KR4 Performance Team 1 p.m. Race Results:
Layne Michael – XC1 Open Pro – 6th (8th overall)
Cory Buttrick – XC1 Open Pro – 8th (13th overall)
Liam Draper – XC2 250 Pro – 9th (20th overall)
Colin Keegan – FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am – 11th (65th overall)
Conner Keegan – 4-Stroke A Lites – 3rd (64th overall)
Brandon Keegan – 4-Stroke A Lites – 28th (257th overall)
Hunter Williams – 4-Stroke A Lites – 32nd (352th overall)
Will Bryan – Vet B (30+) – 23rd (318th overall)
Johnny Trump – 200 B – 13th (276th overall)
KR4 Performance Team 10 a.m. Race Results:
Tayla Jones – WXC – 1st (1st overall)
Bill Gold – Silver Masters A (55+) – 4th (27th overall)
Chase Sweda – Sportsman A – 28th (124th overall)
Jesse Groves – 200 C (16+) – 7th (148th overall)
KR4/Husqvarna Team Sponsors:
Husqvarna, Kenda Tire, Moose Racing, AMSOIL, Enduro Engineering, GTR Complex, FMF Racing, Schulz Cycle, Seat Concepts, P3 Carbon, Wiseco Performance Products, ProX Racing Parts, Engine Ice, ODI Bars & Grips, IMS Products, Alco Cleaners, G2 Ergonomics, Twin Air, Moto-Master Brakes, Rekluse, Motion Pro, Cometic Gaskets, X Brand Goggles, TM Design Works, Regina Chains, HBD MotoGraphx, Trail Tech, FPS Racing, Bell Helmets, All Balls Racing, Sidi Boots, Super B Batteries and Nitro Mousse Bibs
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. The 2017 KR4 team took home championships in each respective series. This year Layne Michael will make his XC1 Open Pro debut with the KR4 team, while Tayla Jones will look to repeat her Women’s Pro championships. 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 [email protected] or visit www.kr4performance.com. For additional information, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For the team’s photo gallery, visit their Flickr page.