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AMA Grand National Cross Country Series Round 4: Big Buck GNCC Jimmy Jarrett 1161 grabbed the holeshot but slipped back to ninth at the finish. track with a variety of woods sections halfway mark before straightening it More than 1100 riders competed at and coming back strong to salvage the ITP Big Buck GNCC, and they fifth. were treated to a superb 12-rnile race The track was highlighted by the Hawk still has a solid lead in the track that transformed from a mud infamous Big Buck creek jump, which turns into the race and then miracu- MSR/Wiseco/Klotz/FMF/Dunlop/Maxxis/ bog earlier in the week to a great was bulldozed in to help the riders leap lously passed everyone on his ITP/Yamaha GNCC standings, but place for an off-road race. GNCC trail over a muddy section. The jump was bigger than ever this year, and it was to challenge the riders. booming KTM 450 thumper to take Raines has closed in sUghtly on his boss Jeff Russell, along with the help the lead. But the torrid pace caught teammate in second. of SE&TRA and Mid-East Hare Scram- enough to help the riders clear the bles' Buren Hamerick, put together a nearly 3D-foot distance over the creek, up with him, and he tired with a few laps left and had to settle for fourth. Jason Raines pushed Andrews toward the end of the race but could knock him down. He settled for second place. Series points leader Barry Hawk had a wild day, too, bending his front brake rotor just past the m 1] ~ Own Race Mike Kiedrowski DNF The former AMA MX champ has added yet another strange DNF to his list. While battling for the lead and looking strong, he snagged a tree and broke his fuel petcock, the same strange scenario that occurred to him at last year's GNCC series opener in Florida. "A midget came out and grabbed the thing," said Kiedrowski, who is experiencing quite a bad luck streak. The Califomian is now saddled with three DNFs in the first four rounds of racing. cD Steve Hatch what he describes 6tha "gnarly virus" Hatch is still battling as and after sprinting hard and tiring at the previous race has decided to play it cooler until he feels stronger. Riding smart and consistent all day, he settled for sixth in South Carolina. 711] 1] Josh McLevy 7th After wearing himself out by riding too much during the week at the previous GNCC, the privateer from New England laid low during the week and was rewarded with a solid seventh-place showing. "We rode in Utah last weekend, and we were all jet-lagged out, so we just took it easy," MeLevy said. "I felt better here." 1] ® Jimmy Jarrett 9th ~71® 20th Jarrett continues to ride well in his comeback from back surgery, but the Fun Mart Yamaha/Kenda/Scott/ ZLT/ Answer-backed rider suffered from a severe case of blistered hands at the Big Buck. "I couldn't hold on," said Jarrett. "My speed is definitely there; I just need to get my body all the way there." Josh Summey After finishing seventh in the previous week's round of AMA/THQ 125 Supercross in Pontiac, Michigan, the Pro motocrosser decided to give GNCC racing a try. He rode well enough but admitted to getting a little tired down the stretch. Summey ended up 20th overall. 18 APRIL 23, 2003 cue I e n e _ s