Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128370
weeks.' But it's not like that. I've just been training and riding and trying so hard these last few years to try to get back up here." Fourth place went to KTM's Kurt Caselli, with fellow KTM racers Mike Lafferty and Robbie Jenks taking fifth and sixth, respectively. In fact, if it weren't for Henry's amazing ride on a Honda CRF450, KTM would have swept the tOP five spots. Seventh went to FMF Suzuki's new recruit Glenn Kearney, with 2003 GNCC Champion Barry Hawk struggling to eighth. Ohio-based Kawasaki riders Chuck Woodford and Cole Calkins rounded out the top-10. CN MOOSE RACING ORANGE CRUSH FLORIDA Briefly... The Moose Racing Orange Crush GNCC is a new round on the schedule, replacing the Hurricane GNCC in Palatka, Florida. The new track offered two major benefits; It's very close to the Daytona scene (about 25 minutes away), and it didn't turn into a swamp like the lowlands of Palatka. Without the mud, all that was left were sand whoops, and many riders said they had never seen a track so rough. "It was fourth gear all the way around," KTM support rider Robbie Jenks said. "The last time I raced a track this rough was Cocoa Beach way back in 1987: Scott Summers said. GNCC DELEON SPRINGS, REsuus: MARcH 8, 200S (ROUND 2 OF 13) OVERALC I. Doug HeN)' (Hon); 2. J.... Salmmen (KTl1); 3. Shane WaltS (ICTM); 4. Kun CaseI~ (KTM); S. Moke l.afIeoty (KTM); 6. Robb;e lenla; (KTl1); 7. Glenn KeMne)' (Son); 8. Barry Hawk (Yam); 9. Chuck Woodf",d (Kaw); 10. Cole Calkins (Kaw). GNCC SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 2 of 13 rounds): I. Juha Salminen (55/1 Win); 2. Glenn Kearney (39); 3. M:ke Lalle,,>, (37); 4. [TIE) RoblHe Jenla; (30VChuck Woodford (30)/000g Henry (JOII win); 7. Steve Hatch (26); 8. Cole Calkins (25); 9. (T1E) Charles Mullins (21 )/Shane WaltS (21). (Below, left to right) After winning the first round, Juha Salmenin finished a hard-earned second; Aboard a KTM 125, Shane Watts scored his first podium in a long time; California racer Caselli garnered a fourth in the grueling event. With a first and a second in the first two rounds, Juha Salminen has a big points lead in the series already, and he likes his championship chances. As long as Doug Henry doesn't stick around, of course. "I hope he doesn't do any more of the races," Juha joked on the podium. As for Henry's plan, he says he doesn't expect to do any more races since he has to race the AMA Supermoto Series. "But you never know," he said with his trademark smile. 2004 GNCC champ Rodney Smith attended the race again as a spectator, but his broken leg is healing up quickly. "The doctor says I'm about three weeks ahead of schedule," Smith said. "He took my out of the full leg cast, and he was going to give me a removable bootie, but then I told him I had been riding a mountain bike. He didn't want me to try anything crazy and hurt myself again, so he left this east on." GNCC television should be back in 2005 on the Outdoor Life Network, and an announcement on dates and times is coming soon. WORCS Champion Nathan Woods tried his hand at GNCC, but he never got going after hitting his hand on a coursemarking pole on the first lap. Woods, who was riding as a guest of the Am Pro Yamaha team, pulled off after the second lap in pain. Suzuki privateer Doug Blackwell also tweaked his wrist. Blackwell caught a root that ripped the bars out of his hands, and the impact tweaked his wrist enough for him to call it a day. _ - . 0.....- Am Pro Yamaha's amateur support wing continues to reap rewards as Charles Mullins took top amateur honors with 12th overall. Six-time AMAGrand National Flat Track Champion Chris Carr came out to the race to work as Grand Marshall. Carr yelled out the GNCC trademark "10 seconds!" call before the start of the race, letting everyone know the dead-engine start was about to kick off. _ _ _ _ _ _ _._'I.o--.L-'-L.f EW S • MARCH..23~.--"-""""-........:l!4..... 3,---