Cycle News

Cycle News 2022 Issue 37 September 13

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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put together solid laps, which was tough on this track. There towards the end, Stew and Thad [Duvall] caught up, and it was like we had a train at the end of that third lap and into the fourth lap. Then I think it hit all of us like a wall. It was really intense. I think I just stayed 10 to 20 seconds behind Stew that last lap. I'd make a little up and could see him, and then he'd pull back out. I was just gassed. I just kept thinking, keep it off the ground out here." Returning for his first GNCC since injuring his hip at round one, Rockstar Energy Husqvar- na's Duvall took a popular third- place finish in his home state. Like Baylor, Duvall was uncertain about his future after his injury. "I'm stoked just to be third," said Duvall. "Like six months ago, I didn't even know if I wanted to still race. So, to be up on the podium is pretty badass. I know now that I still have the Steward's neck injury at the start of the season nearly ended his career. "To come back from what I came back from this year, that's a feat in itself," Baylor said. There was a point in time where I was about over it. I was about done. When you lose feeling in your hands and feet, it's scary." Since Baylor is out of the championship chase having missed the first nine rounds, and with former points leader FMF/ KTM's Ben Kelley announcing on social media that he was done for the rest of the season with his leg and shoulder inju- ries, Ashburn, who was fresh off his first-ever XC1 win at the previous round at Snowshoe, did just what he needed to do to extend his lead in the title race to 32 points over Kelley and 56 points over Craig DeLong with his runner-up finish. "I got a good start and just kind of followed Ricky," said Ashburn. "I was just trying to ROUND 10 / SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 SUMMIT BECHTEL RESERVE / BECKLEY, WEST VIRGINIA P68 OFF-ROAD I GRAND NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY SERIES MYOWNRACE 206 JOSH TOTH 7TH XC1/ 16TH OA FMF KTM Factory Racing's Josh Tosh showed up with a new 2023 350 XC and placed seventh in the XC1 class. "It was kind of an up-and-down day," Toth said. "It was my first day on the new bike and I felt great at first. I put myself into second and felt comfortable riding that pace, but I had a p-over and stalled the bike midrace, and it took a li le while to get it going. I lost a few posi ons, but I was able to maintain a good pace a er that. I kind of found my groove, but I had a couple of other li le mistakes. Overall, it was a good learning day. It's a sweet bike, it handles awesome and [it will be great] when I figure out a few things." 342 CRAIG DELONG 5TH XC1 /6TH OA Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's Craig DeLong was sniffing for a podium before falling. "I had a good start," said DeLong, currently third in the championship. "I was in the top five. I just started to feel comfortable and right at the end of the first lap, I went up to the FMF Hill and a rider went around it. I don't know if he didn't see me, or, I definitely didn't see him, but we just came together at the top of the hill. It trashed my gloves and my grips and broke my Roll- Off, so I had to come in for paper towels and goggles. I just lost that posi oning I had on the first lap. I feel like that hurt me, and I had to play catch up." Jordan Ashburn took second and now enjoys a comfortable lead in the championship.

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