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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128152
AMA Grand National Cross Country Series/National Hare Scrambles Series Rounds 5/3: Loretta Ly n s Dude Ranch STORY AND PHOTOS BY JASON WEIGANDT HURRICANE MILLS, TN, APR. 21 (.;lelf improvement has been a c::Jtheme in the 2002 AMA GNCC Series, as several riders who once roamed below the leaderboard have sprung to the top. The first four rounds of the series were highlighted by two first-time winners - Jason Raines and Mike Lafferty - who showed heightened levels of speed and confidence by jumping out to the top two points positions early on. When the series moved to a National Hare Scrambles dual event at the famous Loretta Lynn's Dude Ranch, the new GNCC elite once again proved they're the riders to beat. Raines and Lafferty, along with former AMA National Motocross Champion Mike Kiedrowski (another rider who has shown tremendous improvement this season), simply checked out on the rest of the pack, effectively making the run for the Loretta's win a three-rider show. And, after three hours of racing in hot and humid weather, the trio held on to sweep the podium. The most impressive ride was turned in by the AM-Pro Yamahamounted Raines, who broke loose from the pack late in the race and rode to his second win of the season, making him the first two-time winner of 2002. In addition, Raines further extends his GNCC points lead he has held since winning the season opener nearly two months ago, and moves up to second in the Hare Scrambles title chase. "This one was tough," said the humble Washingtonian, who used to be intimidated by his GNCC heroes. "Just like Florida, the track just gets 36 MAY 1. 2002' c: U c: • e really chopped out and whooped out. I ran out of water in my drink system on the last lap, and I was starting to get chills from getting dehydrated." The respective second- and thirdplace rides by Kiedrowski and lafferty were also quite impressive, since both riders nearly collapsed at the end of the race last year after fighting the hot-and-humid Tennessee conditions. "After last year and getting dehydrated really bad, one of my main goals here was to leave here feeling good and just be walking and talking," said FMF Suzuki's Kiedrowski. "I've accomplished a lot this year, and I've just prepared a lot better." Said KTM's Lafferty, "I wanted to be strong today. Just getting a third on a course like this is nothing to complain about." As for the standard crop of GNCC contenders, bad luck and mechanical failures once again played a role in their defeat. Fred Andrews, the defending Hare Scrambles Champion Mike Kiedrowski continued the strong riding he's been displaying as of late and was the only rider to seriously challenge Raines, eventually finishing second. n e vv os Jalnes Raines extended his GNCC Series points lead wIttl his second win of the series at Loretta Lynn's. and the runner-up in last year's GNCC series, finished well back after a rock smashed his water pump and Jed to a rapidly overheating bike. Andrews pulled his Kawasaki into the Team Green pits for a repair, but the time lost was too much to make up. Andrews' 2002 season has not been going the way he would have liked. Rodney Smith, the defending GNCC champion, also had a tough time, but he was able to push on and collect a solid fourth-place finish. Smith's FMF/Suzuki suffered from suspension problems all day, which were compounded by the very rough make-up of the Loretta Lynn's course. "It felt like I was riding a pogo stick out there," Smith said. Am-Pro Yamaha's Barry Hawk followed Smith home for fifth. The Loretta Lynn's race was also co-promoted by the South Eastern Trail Riders Association. As the oldest, and perhaps most well-known stop in each of the series, Loretta's attracted once of the largest racer and spectator counts in off-road racing, as nearly 1300 racers attacked the Tennessee track in the bike and ATV classes. Like all GNCC tracks, the course was laid out by former ISDE Gold Medalist Jeff Russell, who created a serpentine layout that wound its way through the picturesque hills and forests of the ranch. The course utilized parts of the facility's motocross track, which also hosts the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships, a variety of steep up- and downhills, and a challenging mix of rocky and whooped-out terrain.