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/1496288
FMF/KTM Factory Racing's Ben Kelley started the race in eighth but dropped to 10th on lap two. The Connecticut rider made his way into fifth by the second half of the race, main - taining his runner-up status behind Baylor in the series standings. "The Tiger Run wasn't the best race for me, I just didn't execute and felt a little off all day," said Kelley. "I gave it my best and got into a good position and I could see the leaders, but made a mistake—a bad judgment call— and got caught up with another rider. I dropped way back in the pack, then worked my way back up to a decent position again until another crash set me back a few positions, about halfway through the race. At that point everyone had figured the track out and was going pretty fast—it was tough to make up time and make passes." After grabbing the holeshot to start the race, Babbitt's Monster Energy Kawasaki's Josh Strang settled into sixth at the finish, a minute behind Kelley. A series of crashes in the early stages of the race put FMF/KTM's Johnny Girroir at big a deficit, completing the opening lap in 12th position. Girroir was able to fight his way up to eighth by the halfway mark and finally into seventh by the end of the race. "I had a big cartwheel on the first lap, which set me back," said Girroir. "I picked myself up and was working my way through the pack, but had an - other big crash, unfortunately. I fell back a little bit more, was around eighth, and then was able to get going the last two laps." Babbitt's Monster Energy Ka - wasaki's Grant Baylor (Kaw) got off to one of his signature slow starts before working his way up into eighth. Phoenix Honda teammates Cody Barnes and Ruy Barbosa battled it out for the win in the XC2 class, with Barnes in the lead at the start of the race, only to lose out to Barbosa in the end. At the finish, Barbosa was ninth overall and first in the XC2 250 Pro division, while Barnes finished 10th overall and second in the XC2 class. Toby Cleveland (Husqvarna) claimed his third win of the sea - son in the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class, topping Jhak Walker (GG) and Dakota Devore (KTM). Defending champion AmPro Yamaha's Rachael Archer took the win in the WXC class by just under five minutes ahead of Over and Under GasGas' Rachel Gutish and Shelby Turner (FXR KTM). Archer also took the over - all win in the morning class. Shan Moore OVERALL 1. Ricky Russell (Yam) 2. Steward Baylor (KTM) 3. Jordan Ashburn (Hus) 4. Craig DeLong (Hus) 5. Ben Kelley (KTM) 6. Josh Strang (Kaw) 7. Jonathan Girroir (KTM) 8. Grant Baylor (Kaw) 9. Ruy Barbosa (Hon) 10. Cody Barnes (Hon) WIND IN THE P50 Rachael Archer won the Women's Pro class.