Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

GNCC Rounds 1/2 February 13, 2005 Suzuki AMA Grand National Cross Country Championship Series/ AMA National Hare Scrambles Series My OWN RACE 21 After a sub-par start, Williamson moved up to run with a group that included Nathan Kanney and Patrick Garrahan. "It was a good race for me," Williamson said. "It was just a little bit different than what 1have been used to. We've been out West, and that has been mainly big whoops. The rocks here are a major difference." 11 Team Green Kawasaki's Chuck Woodford led part of the first lap before settling into fourth place, which he held until the end. "Today was good," Woodford said. '" got off to a good start, and the cards were kind of falling my way. I never put much time in on the rocks during the off-season, and that was my fault. I should have been out practicing the rocks. My arms got a little bit tight, and I lost a little bit of time to that lead group early on. We fell a little short today because of lack of preparation, but we've got 12 more rounds to go and I am real excited about the year." 187 ••. Diaz began the event in about 10th and was starting to make a move to the front before experiencing a flat tire. "It was a terrible race for me," Diaz said. "My arms began feeling very weak, and then I realized I had a flat. My mousse [tube] was completely gone. So , was trying to work my way up with a flat tire, then at the halfway point of the second lap, I ran out of gas. Somehow some dirt got in the floats and I ran out. I know I have the speed to get top flYe, but this is a very bad way to start." 124 I After running as high as second during the early going, Shane Watts dropped off the pace and ultimately came home in 20th. 'il'. tree hit my fuel tap and turned it off," Watts said. "It took me awhile to figure that out, and probably 15 guys went around me, so that was a bummer. I rode good after that for the next three laps, then my wrists gave out on me from all the operations I've had. They don't work when it is really choppy and rough; they just swell up and I can't hang on no more. Other than that, it was awesome and I had a good time." The Lone Star GNCC was held at the Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area, which is an off-road park owned by the Texas Motorized Trails Coalition. It was purchased with the help of government wildlife funds and is funded through the off-road gas tax. So, each time you fill up your car in Texas, a part of it goes to ORV trails. Thumper Racing's Gary Hazel is on the board of directors with TMTC, and because of his familiarity with the terrain, he and longtime friend Dick Burleson do the course layout for the Texas round, a job that is normally handled by Jeff Russell and his crew. A little bit of NASCAR technology called the iCard was being evaluated at the opening round in Texas. The iCard is basically a radio receiver that you pop into your Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance or Game Boy Advance SP so you can wirelessly receive real-time information about times, scores, schedules and results directly from S6 MARCH 2, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS NASCAR's, or GNCC's, official computer. The receiver has a range of about three miles, perfect for GNCC racing, and is the official wireless timing and scoring display system of the Hooters Pro Cup Series. Shane Watts and his new wife, Carrie, showed up on Saturday with a KTM in the back of their Nissan pickup. The couple is expecting a child in mid-July and is campaigning the GNCC series for fun and "just to see how it goes." "This is my last chance to be a professional motorcycle racer," Watts said. "My body is probably only at 50 percent of a good body, but I'm just working with what I've got. I'm here to have a good time, and I don't care about the result. I've got a deal with KTM, but it is basically just for bikes and parts. The knee is bone-tobone and it is not good. But, I will eventually have to have a total replacement. Whether it is in five years or in 20, it doesn't matter, so I might as well race."

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