Salminen: The New GNCC Champ!
Uha Salminen's long journey to the United States is complete. The 10time World Enduro Champion from Finland took a big win in St.
lairsville, Ohio, to lock up the 2005 Suzuki Grand National Cross
Country title.
"This one ranks right up there with the first title I won in Europe:' said
Salminen at the Power line Park GNCC. "This is my job, and KTM wants
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me to win it for them. But it feels very good to come here and see new
things and a new challenge every week."
The new challenge this week came from a pair of Ohio riders who
were determined to win in their home state. First came a battle from St.
Clairsville's own Chuck Woodford, who grabbed the holes hot but then let
Salminen by, in order to follow him.
"The guy has raced all over the world, and I thought I could learn
something from him," said Woodford. "I wanted to be the dog and not the
rabbit at that point. I was right there until I crashed with two laps to go. It
was hard to get back into my rhythm after that."
As Woodford faltered, 19-year-old rookie sensation Charlie Mullins
was at it again, upping his pace and charging through the final lap to take
second.
"I had the lead early, and then I crashed:' Mullins said. "I kind of let
these guys get away a little bit, but I'm pretty happy to come back like this.
I think I can win one of these."
Salminen likes the ever-revolving door of challengers in the deep
GNCC talent pool.
"It's fun, and it's good for the sport:' said Salminen. "It's surprising how
the guys can go good at one race and then not so good at the other. But
the conditions are the same for everyone, and I feel like I can do it in any
kind of conditions. I really enjoy it here, but next year, it's back to the manhunt, because everyone will be after me."
Fourth went to another Ohio rider, FMF Suzuki veteran Fred Andrews,
with Am Pro Yamaha's Barry Hawk in fifth. Rain all weekend made for a
muddy track that slowed a lot of riders, including Rodney Smith, who finished eighth. Smith, the 2004 Suzuki GNCC Champ, took the numberone plate off of his RM2s0 and presented it to Salminen.
"He's a great guy and he deserves it; he's good for the series," said
Smith. "I'm just trying to get back into it after a long time off with an injury.
It's tough."
Only one race remains in the 2005 Suzuki GNCC Series, the Klotz
Ironman Classic in Crawfordsville, Indiana, in two weeks.
Jason Weigandt
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