Barry and Glenn went back and forth. I've
been struggling with a little bit of everything - luck and confidence and even
strength. So now I'm back to where I was
last year, where I have nothing to lose. I
just need to get all the bad luck out."
Kearney worked very hard for what
turned out to be a third-place finish.
"It was a great race there," Kearney
said. "I was in good position on the last lap,
but I had to throw my goggles, and Barry
went around, and then I got roosted. Then
I was trying too hard to catch up and I
threw it away. But these were the same
conditions I struggled with in Georgia, so
I'm happy to get a better result. I didn't
even know Juha was that far out in front of
us, so I thought we were fighting for the
lead. I couldn't push much harder; it wasn't
like I could have caught him."
A few months before the GNCC season began, Kearney was willing to do anything to even get a ride in the series, even
saying he would spend his own money to
race here. Suzuki has now picked up what
has to be the best bargain in the sport.
Fifth in the race went to KTM's Robbie
Jenks. Jenks got off to a great start like
Salminen did, and the two put time on the
field immediately. But Jenks couldn't quite
hang with the Raines, Kearney and Hawk
freight train, and he ended up fifth.
Behind him came two other Ohio riders Chuck Woodford and Fred Andrews who were battling hard for sixth until
Andrews stacked his RM-Z450 up in a
tree, allOWing Woodford to get the spot.
dlIlI8ItIIlln
when
Eighth went to FMFfThrottlehead.com/
Kawasaki Team Green's Steve Hatch, who
had a terrible start, while 250cc A-class
racer Charlie Mullins was ninth overall on
his Am Pro Yamaha. Plessinger KTM's
Andy Shea was 10th, his best finish in years
following a slew of hefty injuries.
eN
STEELE CREEK CAMPGROUND
MORGANTON, NORTH CAROUNA
RESULTS: APRIL
24, 2005
(ROUND
5
OF
13)
OVERAL(, I. Juha Salminen (KTM); 2. Barry H.wl< J'.
(Yam); 3. Glenn Kearney (Suz); <4. Jason Raines (Yam); 5.
Robb+e Jenks (KTM); 6. Chuck Woodford (Kaw); 7. Fred
Andrews (Suz); 8. Steve Hatch (Kaw); 9. Charles Mullins
(Yom): 10. Andy She> (KTM).
SUZUKI GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY
SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 5 of 13 rounds):
I. Juna Salminen (136/3 wins); 2. Glenn Kearney (93); 3.
Barry Hawk Jr. (89/1 win); 4. Robbje Jenks (77); S. Michael
Lofferty (62) 6. Chuck Wood(O
