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/1533137
Baylor Bounces Back A fter disappointing results at the first two rounds of the series, finishing outside of the top 20 in both races, Red Bear Rocky Mountain Kawa - saki's Steward Baylor Jr might still have a glimmer of hope for his first GNCC title after a little "Shakin' and Bakin' " led to an overall win at Talladega GNCC in Lincoln, Alabama, on March 9. Baylor was two minutes down from the leaders after falling in the first turn but used his mud- riding skills and experience to pass FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers' Grant Davis on the final lap to score the overall victory in the rain-soaked race. The race was so muddy and rut - ted that it was shortened from the usual three hours to just two hours (four laps). Talladega Super Speedway is a new venue on the series schedule, so the course featured all fresh-cut trail, which greatly favored the XC2 riders, which started one minute behind the XC1 riders. "For an XC2 rider, the trail is al - ready broken in by the XC1 class and you can see all the holes and roots, so it's easier to sprint on the first lap and make up that minute gap," said Am Pro Ya- maha's Liam Draper, who finished ninth overall at Talladega. "Then you can latch onto the back of an XC1 rider, and you already have a one-minute advantage on him on adjusted time. I know what it's like to lead and to have to break in trail. Once 10 bikes have gone through a section, it's a lot easier to catch the front guys." Draper grabbed the holeshot at the start of the race, leading Snodgrass Husqvarna's Lyndon Snodgrass and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Craig DeLong into the tight and slippery single-track. Meanwhile, Am Pro Yamaha's Kailub Russell, Baylor, Phoenix Honda Racing's Mike Witkowski and FMF KTM Factory Racing's Johnny Girroir all slid down in the first turn, los - ing valuable time. By mile marker 11, Baylor had managed to sprint his way into the physical lead in the race, fol- lowed by Triumph Racing's Ricky Russell. After leading, Draper dropped to third, with Snod - grass and a goggle-less DeLong rounding out the top five. Girroir and FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers' Grant Davis ran sixth and seventh, although on adjusted time Davis held the lead, with Red Bear Rocky Moun- tain Kawasaki teammates Nick DeFeo and Josh Toth, all three XC2 riders, holding down the top positions. Ricky Russell took the lead heading into lap two with Draper and Baylor in tow, however, by the midpoint of the race, Davis was in the physical lead, having passed Baylor and Ricky Russell. Girroir came next, followed by Beta Racing's Josh Strang. Ricky Russell dropped off the pace on lap three, falling back to eighth overall, while Toth broke off his shift lever and struggled to get back to the pits. After WIND IN THE P38 Steward Baylor Jr. celebrates winning the inaugural Talladega GNCC with his son, Levi. PHOTOS: MACK FAINT