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AMA Grand National Cross Country Series Round S: Virginia Motorsports Park (Left) For only the second time this season, Barry Hawk didn't make the podium. He finished fifth but still enjoys a comfortable points lead. (Right) Jimmy Jarrett rode well in the muddy condrtions.Hejust missed getting on the podium with a fourthplace finish. Andrews battled best, flooring his green machine past the contenders and drawing to Jarrett's rear wheel. He made his way into third before nearly throwing it away on the last luck for a rider known for his consistency. Conditions looked good for racing all weekend, until the clouds rolled in and the skies opened just as the riders were lining up for the start. How muddy the track would become was anyone's guess. Raines nailed the holeshot on his Am-Pro Yamaha, while most of the contenders were left mired in the pack. Lafferty's start was the worst of all. "I hit the button and kicked the lever, but nothing was happening," Lafferty said. "Then I gave it some gas and flooded the thing. I was in last. I was just floundering around, but then I started picking guys off." In addition, Woodford, Andrews and FMF Suzuki's Steve Hatch found themselves way, way back. Raines' ride at the start was shortlived, as Watts came into him hard and put him on the ground. Watts then started pulling away on his KTM 200, a sight that used to be common in the GNCCs. "The first lap was dry, and I'm better in those conditions right now," Watts said. "I'm just not strong enough right now. I wish these races were only 45 minutes." Watts led for a lap until Lafferty completed his charge from last and moved past him. "Regardless of where I started, I was going to get to the front," Laffer- 36 JUNE 25, 2003' cue I e ty said. With his enduro skills helping guide him, Lafferty pulled a big lead and looked like a winner. But Woodford was coming on as well. "It didn't look very good at all. The woods were tight," Woodford said. "But then I started going past guys. The ruts were getting deep, and people were getting stuck. At one point I was in eighth, and I figured' had caught most of the good guys. Then I saw I was two minutes down, and I was like 'Oh my, if I'm going to go, I had better do it now.' So I went as fast as I could go. My bike was working awesome." Awesome enough for him to catch Lafferty. '" stopped for gas and he didn't, and then I got stuck once out there in the woods, so I knew he would be right there," Lafferty said. '" caught up to Michael, and I was thinking, 'This is cool. I'm in second, and I'll just follow him'" Woodford said. "But the pace didn't feel any different. It was weird because I caught him, but when I got there he seemed really fast." The duo swapped positions back and forth, pulling a big lead on the rest of the pack. Jarrett spent most of the race in third after disposing of Watts, while a big battle broke out behind him. KTM rookie Andy Shea took fourth from R.E.R.'s Doug Blackwell, and they battled along with Watts, FMF Suzuki's Mike Kiedrowski, Andrews and Hawk. n e vv S lap. "I tried to give it away," Andrews said. "I fell three times on the last lap. The ruts just kept getting deeper and deeper. I took the same lines, but I ended up sticking it and going over the bars. Jimmy actually got past me, but I put my head down and ended up bush hogging it through the bushes to get around him." On the last lap, Woodford stepped up his pace even further and got away from Lafferty. "I was trying to conserve some energy early so I would have some left," Woodford said. '" had plenty of energy left on the last lap and just rode smart." eN Virginie MatDrsparts Pert< Petersburg, Virgin", Results: June 15, 2003 [Round 8 of 131 O/A: 1. Chuck Woodford (Kaw); 2. Michael Lafferty (KTM); 3. Fred Andrews (Kaw); 4. Jimmy Jarrett (Yam): 5. Barry Hawk (Yam); 6. Andy Shea (KTM); 7. Randy Hawkins (Yam); 8. Robbie Jenks (Yam); 9. Jason Raines (Yam); 10. Steve Hatch (Suz); 11. Joshua McLevy (Yam); 12. Mike Kiedrowski (Suz); 13. Shane Watts (KTM); 14. Stephen Edmondson (KTM); 15. Brett Zofchak (Kaw); 16. Gary Fridley (Yam); 17. Marty Aloisio (GG); 18. Scottie Rich (Kaw); 19. Ben Bouwens (Yam); 20. P. A. Allen (Kaw). AMA GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (Afler 8 or 13 rounds): 1. Barry Hawk Jr. (J 77/3 wins); 2. Jason Raines (131); 3. Michael Lafferty (125/1 win); 4. Fred Andrews (111/1 Win); 5. Robbie Jenks (104); 6. Randy Hawkins (95): 7. Steve Hatch (89); 8. Rodney Smith (72/1 win); 9. (TIE) Chuck Woodford (55/1 win)/Mike Kiedrowski (55). BRIEFLy•••• GNCC racers know how to deal with mud. but it' 5 tough to do so when it starts raining when you're on the starting line. "I have a YZ250 in the rig that would have been a lot better for the mud," said Am Pro Yamaha's Randy Hawkins. who piloted a YZF450. "I also would have changes tires. I was just plowing through it all." GNCC Racing is really starting to step up its ISDE eRort. The inaugural GNCC Golf Tournament will run the Friday before the next series round, the Wisp GNCC. on the Wisp golf course. Most top GNCC Pros, such as Rodney Smith. Fred Andrews. Mike Lafferty and Jason Raines will golf. and fans can play with them for $80. After the tournament. Parts Unlimited, the presenting sponsor of the team. will host a free dinner. The profits from the golf game will help fund America's Team. the 2003 U.S. Trophy Team at the ISDE. Word is the golf level of the GNCC racers varies, so the tournament could present someone's best chance of saying he beat a factory off-road rider at the Wisp. Scott goggles debuted its new GNCC ISDE goggle at the Patriot GNCC, It features a red. white and blue GNCC motif on the strap and frame. The goggles retail for $49.95. the same price as Scott's regular top-of-the-Iine goggle, but profits will go to fund America's Team. The limited-edition goggle can be purchased at dealers or at GNCC events. Virginia Motorsports Park features an NHRA drag-racing course and a new motocross track. The mota course was built into the 1O-mile GNCC track, but the drag strip was not. to the lament of the riders who like fast. open terrain. After Jason Raines blew his points lead at the first Wisp GNCC in 2002. he's looking forward to conquering the race sometime in the future. "I need to beat that mountain." Raines said. "I told my dad that someday. when I get the rod out of my leg, I'm going to drive to Wisp and throw it over the mountain." I." I- fl