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/1542396
Ohio n Penton GNCC Millfield, OFF-ROAD Round 7 ,if,.,y 2l, 2A06 Suzuki 6rand National Cross Countrg S€ries KTrtl"mounted thqne Wofis took o solid top-five finilh in Ohio. remember." The dazed Mullins was iust able to hold off the attack of Andrew's Suzuki's surg- ing privateer rammy Jarrett, who took fourth, while Shane Wans survived a tor- rid battle with lv'lonster Energy/Pro CircuiVKawasaki's Fred Andrews and Parts Unlimited/Moose Honda's Paul Whibley to collect fifth on his Fun Man KTM. All in all, the race marked the return to the three-hour, knock-down drag-out battles the GNCC series was known for before Salminen showed up last year. Hawk has been quick to mention that Salminen's fast starts have been a major help in his win streak, but this time Hawk fought back by grabbing the $100 Racer X lllustrated Holeshot Award. Salminen qLrickly returned the favor by iumping a tricky triple-iump combination on the motocross track to get into the lead. "l was going to wait until after the flrst lap to iump that, but (his mechanic) Anfti told me to iump it,'' said Salminen. "\Mat can I dol lf he tells me to jump it and I don't make it, he will have to fix the bike." Soon Salminen had opened a 30-sec- ond lead. But just as quickly, he lost it when he missed the course arrows and went off ofthe track. By the time he dou- bled back and returned, Mullins and Hawk had Sone past him. Eventually he would catch back up, but then he would get stuck in a mudhgle and drop back again. On another comeback charge, Salminen leapt to the bottom of a big mulch pile in a field to pass Hawk, and then inherited the lead when Mullins suf- fered his huge crash. Hawk was able to hang on to the KTM rider as the white flag came out, as only nine seconds stood bewveen them. After they both stopped for a splash of gas, Salminen was able to put a few more seconds between himself and Hawk, For a moment, it looked like Salminen would survive again with his win streak intact. Until he got stuck. A,gain. There were plenty of lines you had a chance to take,'' said Salminen. "There was a lot of suppon on the course, peo- ple showing me the 8ood line. I let them down. One guy told me to go left and I went right. I 8ot stuck really bad and went over the handlebar. I'm sorry I didn't take them!" 'After I saw Juha stuck - and I probably passed him in that same mudhole today eight or nine times, at least it seemed that way - when I passed him I knew there was a lot of track left," said Hawk. "l just kept my head down and kept charging. lt was a good day. I wasn't the fastest today, but I was the smartest." Salminen was too far back to mount a serious charge, and he accepted second with revenge on his mind for the next round in Sparta, Kentucky. "lt's okay," said Salminen. "l remember why l'm here and what I am doing here, I think the next race will be much easier for me. and I have something to prove again." Cll oVERALLT l. 8d./ Hawk Cfam)i 2. luha Salm.nen (fi!'1)r 3. Chader l',1ullms lYam)i l. limmy Jarett (Yn)i 5. Shane watB (KrM)i 6. Fred Andres (Knw); 7. Paul !ryhibley (Hon):8. Nath& Klnney (Y:m)r9. Glenn Karney (suz)i l0.lurtin williamson C/am): I I D.R. Arwood (suz)i I2. Robbie Jenks (fi1"1); IL s.oE! etk,ns (K!w): la-16* Robi.$n (KN): 15. R.dney Smith (suz): 16. Tavis Gres (Kaw): 17. G rett EdmEten (Knw): 18. A.ron w%rer (Yamr. r9. Chnr Gallt \KiwJ.20 lothu. Gain{ KrH). SUZUKI GNCC OVERALI POINTS STANDINGS (.ft.r 7 of I 3 roundi): L luha Saiminen (205/6 wi.r; 2. S ry Hawk ( 1 27l l win): 3. ChdlE tlullinr { l l 7); 4. Glenn Keamey ( 108): 5. Frcd A.drewt (91): 6. I'lite laffery P0); 7. Prolwhiblel (89): L Shane War$ (79)r 9.limmy Jarea (77)r 10. Gaf€t Edm,nen (sr) WsEco JoHN PENToN GNCC MTLLFTETD, OHlo Rrsu$s: MaY 21, 2006 (RouND 7 or 13) UPCOMING ROUNDS Round 8 - Sporro, Kentucky, lune 1 1 Round 9 . McHenry. Morylond, June 25 40 JUNE 7, 2006 . CYCLE NEWS 1 t (, .t f> x i G \i$. I t :aia It! f i !t - \r t-a -AL r-.1 a'i \ B -l\l ' ;!i '+ t WS),-^ ' 1 r':;rr\r. t-- Mv OwN FtAce I 58 f immy Jarrett 4th Place 4 The Andrews Suzuki/Maxxis-backed priva- teer harn't ridden this well in yea6, as he notched his second-straight fourth-place lin- ish, and this dme neart made il !o $e podi- um, "l'm tired of gettint beat by ever),body." said Jarett. "l've raced the last six w€ckends. That Hps a lot - it helps my endurance. and that'i orle of dle thinSs I've strutgled wlah ny whole career. I wasn't havint fun at the races before. and I am now." I E .: Jt ,.1t 't a - 3 t Rodney Smith I Sth Place Arter missing a round with a broken finter, the Ii'retime GNCC Champion was back in race form in Ohio. A bit crash eart ient Rodney sailang off a hill and into a valley, and had it not hd/e been for a few GNCC hns who helPed him out, he might have there all day. Rodney sho/ved his fitness by gettinS stront€r as the day went on, umil he lost it in a mudhole and went completely underwater. "l went s,wim- ming there, I was totally submerted in the mud," said Smith. ). I / I O Fred Andrews 6th Place Andrews is always fast on hil home te.rain in Ohio. and the Monster EnerB/Pro CjrcuiUKa\,vasaki veter- an was on it again this time. After another midpack stan, Andrets climbed to fifth on the last lapwhile battling hard with Shane Watts and PaulWhibley. lt all came down to a mudhole - the same one that trapped Salminen - when all thr€e riders got stuck in diree different ruts at the same time! Watts pushed his 125 out first to take fifth while Andrews came out sixth.