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/1543582
tion my move to a new team, and I'm pumped to prove to myself that I can be up here and run with these guys. You know, prove a lot of doubters wrong," said Barnes. "I just tried to ride smooth, and I got with Grant and Ben, and then Ben got in the lead, and he dropped the hammer. I've got a little bit more work to do, but I'm pumped to bring it home in third." Fourth overall went to Phoenix Honda Racing's Mike Witkowski, who has shown flashes of bril - liance this year. He was steady all day in Florida and adapted as the track got rougher with each lap. "It was gnarly out there," said Witkowski. "I pretty much stayed steady. The first lap or two, I wasn't very comfortable on my bike. Luckily, I can make a few changes on the fly, like on my forks. So, when I hit pit lane, I was just clicking on it, trying to improve the bike a little bit. Hon - estly, it works. After a few laps, I was way more comfortable. I could see the leader; we were all in the train, battling for a podi- um. But then I got hung up with a lapper and hit a stump with my foot pretty hard. That took the wind out of my sails for a couple of miles, and by that point, the lead group kind of got away. Liqui Moly Beta's Josh Strang claimed his best finish in a while, edging AmPro Yamaha's Kailub Russell by 1.4 seconds for fifth overall. Seventh went to Liqui Moly Beta's Jhak Walker, who was also the top XC2 rider. "I feel like I just floated all day," said Walker. "I wasn't pushing. I was riding up a gear and just letting the bike do all the work for me. My setup was good, and we came through." Unfortunately, with just four miles remaining, Tino was forced to withdraw from the race due to heat exhaustion in the brutal Flor - ida conditions. He was credited with seventh in XC2 in the end. FMF KTM Factory Racing rider Angus Riordan had the XC2 class win in sight, but a deep waterhole ended his day. Race Craft Off-Road/Husqvar- na's Brody Johnson was second in XC2 and 11th overall, and Kari Resources/Triumph Racing's Jack Edmondson, who was 12th overall, rounded out the XC2 podium. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Craig DeLong was eighth overall, 10 seconds ahead of Ashburn, with Red Bear Rocky Mountain Kawa - saki's Grant Baylor rounding out the top 10. Van Adams (KTM) won the Open A class, while Lane Whit- mer won the 250 A division on a GasGas. FMF KTM Factory Racing's Brandy Richards took advan - tage of a mishap by defending champion and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Racing's Korie Steede to win the WXC class. Steede led with just a few miles to go but chose an alternate line to get around a lapper, where she sub - merged her bike and got stuck. Am Pro Yamaha's Danielle McDonald finished third, ahead of Jocelyn Barnes (Husqvarna) and Carly Lee (Husqvarna). Shan Moore OVERALL (Top 10) 1. Ben Kelley (KTM) 2. Grant Davis (KTM) 3. Cody Barnes (Bet) 4. Mike Witkowski (Hon) 5. Josh Strang (Bet) 6. Kailub Russell (Yam) 7. Jhak Walker (Bet) 8. Craig DeLong (Hus) 9. Jordan Ashburn (Hon) 10. Grant Baylor (Kaw) WIND IN THE P40 Brandy Richards (pictured) won the WXC class with pressure from runner-up Korie Steede.