and N1 bikes left in a fury, racing
wheel-to-wheel, trying to grab the
all-important lead to make dust
with miles of dry, high-speed
roads and washes ahead.
Nearing pit eight at race-mile
345, the race saw a big shakeup.
The Ducati team first came
across a closed barbed wire gate
with Cody Simpson on board and
riding through the gate. Luck was
on his side, however, as he didn't
go down or suffer any injuries to
his body. His bike was left with
busted-up plastics, and he contin
-
ued on in the lead.
However, the Hero Racing team
then suffered a mechanical issue
during their pit stop, costing sev-
eral minutes while they repaired
the fueling system, ultimately
letting both the N1 and N3 bikes
by. Leaving Cottontail, Daemon
Woolslayer took the lead by sev
-
eral minutes, but near race-mile
400, disaster struck the Husqvar-
na rider. Loose rear-sprocket
bolts caused a rear-hub failure
and ended their run for the overall
victory. They ultimately made it to
the finish line, nearly 90 minutes
back from the overall leader.
With the N1 bike out, rally ace
and past winner Skyler Howes
rode the JCR Honda CRF450X
flat-out to try and open up the
gap to Australian Callum Norton
on the Ducati Desmo450 EDX.
At the finish, Howes and the JCR
Honda team crossed the line first
physically but second on corrected
time by 34 seconds. With the V2R
victory, Naran has won three in
a row in the AORC and holds the
points lead with one round remain
-
ing. After a long day in the desert,
brothers Caiden and Gregory
Fenstermaker finished third overall
and Open Pro in a time of 8 hours,
24 minutes and 28 seconds.
Other notable results include
Kane Hellberg claiming the Iron
-
man Pro win, Caleb Tate and
team winning the Open Expert
division and finishing first overall
Expert and fifth overall motor
-
cycle, Jeff Miller's team winning
the 60+ Expert class, and Derek
Marley winning the Open Ama
-
teur division and placing first
overall amateur.
Next up for BITD racers is
the season finale in Laughlin,
Nevada, for the Laughlin Desert
Challenge, on October 15-19.
CN
OVERALL (Top 10)
1. Ciaran Naran (Duc) 7:44:56.755
2. Preston Campbell (Hon)
7:46:30.233
3. Caiden Fenstermaker (KTM)
8:24:28.169
4. Matthew Grant (Hon) 8:39:04.000
5. Caleb Tate (Hus) 8:41:48.181
6. Clayton Renner (KTM) 8:48:32.929
7. Jason Shakespeare (KTM)
8:54:38.770
8. Zackery Eaton (Kaw) 8:56:25.137
9. Shane Logan (Hus) 9:00:02.828
10. Kane Hellberg (Kaw) 9:05:00.165
WIND
IN THE
P64
The defending champions, led by
Shane Logan, had a mechanical issue
and finished ninth.
