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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1533137
WIND IN THE P40 "I got the holeshot in my class, and I got in a good flow and got to the back of the XC1 class and started picking them off pretty fast," said Davis. "Then I caught Stew and Ricky [Russell], and I'm thinking to myself, doing the math in my head. I'm like, there are only two XC1 riders in front of me right now, so I got around Stew when he made a mistake, and then me and Ricky rode together for a while. "Then I finally got around him and just put the hammer down. I tried to pull away, and I think I got a pit board saying I was two minutes up. I was like, alright, just cruise, but my bike started run - ning bad, and then at the four-mile marker, my bike shut off on me for like a minute and a half. I looked back, and Stew was right there, and I just kept going, and he got around me. I just latched on to him, and then it quit on me again for another two minutes. But I'm happy with first in my class and second overall. I extended my points lead, so I'm right there for the overall championship." DeLong capitalized on a good start and rode a consistent race to finish third overall. "That was nasty," said DeLong. "Good start, for sure, that was the key. I'm ready for the next round, and this is the momentum that I needed for sure to get go - ing. I struggled the first couple of races, so I'm happy to get on the podium and happy to put myself in that battle." Despite falling in the first turn, Phoenix Honda Racing's Mike Witkowski rode consistently, limiting his mistakes, and came home with fourth overall. "It was kind of a dull day," said Witkowski. "I just played it smart, honestly. I just picked guys off where I could and tried to pick good lines. Once I got into a flow about midrace, I just found myself at the front. Then me and Craig [DeLong] linked up and basically were back and forth for the last couple laps. Unfortunately, I bur - ied it with about a mile to go, and he got away, but I'm happy with fourth overall [and third XC1] and good points for the weekend." Witkowski's teammate Cody Barnes battled his way through the deep ruts and water holes to finish fifth overall, 30 seconds ahead of FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers' Angus Riordan. FMF KTM Factory Racing's Ben Kelley, who came into the race holding the XC1 points lead, was seventh overall, followed by FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers' Chase Landers, who had his best finish to date, with eighth overall. Draper, who led the early stages of the race, finished ninth, with AmPro Yamaha's Kailub Russell rounding out the top 10. Canadian Philippe Chaine survived the mud to take the win in the FMF XC3 125, beating out Jayson Crawford (Yamaha) and Isaiah Brown (Yamaha) to do so. Red Bear Rocky Mountain Ka - wasaki's Rachael Archer won the Women's WXC class by just over a minute ahead of Rockstar En - ergy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Korie Steede, with Phoenix Honda Racing's Tayla Jones finishing third another minute and 30 seconds back. FMF KTM's Brandy Richards and Rieju USA's Rachel Gutish were fourth and fifth. Shan Moore OVERALL 1. Steward Baylor Jr. (Kaw) 2. Grant Davis (KTM) 3. Craig DeLong (Hus) 4. Mike Witkowski (Hon) 5. Cody Barnes (Hon) 6. Angus Riordan (KTM) 7. Ben Kelley (KTM) 8. Chase Landers (KTM) 9. Liam Draper (Yam) 10. Kailub Russell (Yam) Rachael Archer enjoyed a minute-plus lead when she crossed the finish line in the WXC division.