OFF-ROAD
AMSOIL GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES
ROUND 11 / SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
MATHEWS FARM / MT. MORRIS, PENNSYLVANIA
P66
T
hough it was a long time coming, Thad Duvall's
win at this weekend's Mason-Dixon GNCC rep-
resented a small bit of redemption. The Rockstar
Energy/Factory Husqvarna rider injured his wrist in
a crash back in June while battling for the lead at the
Snowshoe GNCC in West Virginia. And due to this
year's unusually long summer break, Duvall had to wait
three months for a chance to redeem himself.
"The break seemed like it was forever, so it was good
to get back on the track. I was thinking about this race
all summer," said Duvall. "It was good to get the win; I
feel like I needed that to get back in the groove."
Duvall grabbed the holeshot to start the three-hour
XC1 race, leading the class into the 14-mile course for
the first time. However, a crash after he entered the
woods handed the lead to Tely Racing's Steward Baylor.
"That was just a bonehead move," said Duvall. "I
made a huge mistake in a mud hole and crashed in the
mud. I got going in second behind Steward and he was
flying. It was all I could do to keep up with him."
Once in the lead, Baylor gapped Duvall by 20 sec-
onds and appeared to be on his way to his first XC1
victory of the season. The Tely Energy KTM rider even
stopped to adjust his clutch after the first lap, but had
enough distance on Duvall to retain the lead.
"I felt good during the first half of the race, but I tore
out the drink tube to my Camelbak halfway into the
race and didn't have water for the rest of the day, which
caused me to dehydrate at the end of the race," said
Baylor.
Baylor continued to lead until he crashed just after
the two-lap board came out, which gave Duvall the
opening he was looking for.
"Steward and I had a pretty good battle for a couple
of laps, but then with two laps to go he made a pretty
big mistake and crashed and I got around him," said
Duvall. "After that, I decided it was the time to push."
Duvall Gets
Thad Duvall grabs third
