VOL. 53 ISSUE 31 AUGUST 9, 2016 P37
decent start, not awesome,
because everyone is on two-
strokes. I just rode my own race.
The first moto I was able to get
to the lead. I made a few mis-
takes. Me and Mike (Witkowski)
were going back and forth. He
was riding good. I had one pretty
big get-off toward the end, but I
was able to bring it in for the win
first moto.
"The second moto, same
start, not awesome. I got stuck
behind a few riders, and Stew
(Baylor) got to the front real
quick. He was riding like a mad
man. He got away, and once I
got to second, I tried to creep up
on him. I got kind of close, but
he was riding real good.
"It's hot out, and I knew I
needed to just bring it in for
second to at least get that first
overall and not make any mis-
takes to end my day."
According to Baylor, "the
second moto I was riding like
a p***ed-off teenager. I hit the
woods like fourth or fifth, and I
made passes quick. I had all my
lines picked out, and I wasn't
backing off. The first moto I had
a lot of good lines, and I had the
front tire on a lot of people. I just
didn't stay with it. You know, I
was playing it safe. The second
moto I was riding mad the whole
day. Once I got a 10-12-second
gap I just tried to maintain it. I
tried to not make any mistakes."
John Gasso
Overall Results
1. Ricky Russell (Suz)
2. Mike Witkowski (KTM)
3. Steward Baylor (KTM)
4. Nick Fahringer (Hus)
5. Drew Higgins (KTM)
6. Adam Bonneur (Suz)
7. Harrison Helmick (KTM)
8. Cody Barnes (Yam) Pro 2
9. Steve Leivan (KTM)
10. Jeremy Smith (Yam) Pro 2
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
JOHN
GASSO
(Above) Cody Barnes took the Pro 2-class win.
(Left) Ricky Russell went 1-2 to claim the overall win at the OMA Grouch XC in Illinois.
