Yamaha ATV racers scored another impressive hat trick by sweeping all three premier classes in the sixth round of the 2009 Grand National Cross Country ATV series in Lafayette, TN. on Saturday, May 2. Taylor Kiser picked up his second win of the season in the XC1 Pro class to vault him to the top of the points chase, while Brian Wolf scored his fourth win in the hotly contested XC2 Pro Am class to likewise take the championship lead – while also beating numerous XC1 Pros in the process. And seven-time GNCC champion Traci Cecco grabbed her second win of the year in the Women’s class. Like Wolf, she now also leads her division as the 13-race series nears the halfway point.
Pro Class... The gloves really came off in the afternoon race, which pitted 10 classes together including XC1 Pro, XC2 Pro Am, and a host of hungry amateurs. Kiser worked hard for his XC1 Pro win, running only seventh in the first of four laps, moving into fourth at the halfway point, and then leading the two final laps, with perennial rival Chris Borich narrowly behind in second, Yamaha’s Brandon Sommers and Donnie Ockerman in third and fourth, respectively, and Bill Ballance in eighth. Wolf was similarly impressive in XC2 Pro Am, putting his YFZ450 into first early and then stretching out an advantage of nearly five minutes at the flag. So fast was Wolf on his Yamaha, that only six XC1 Pro riders were able to stay ahead of him – despite having a head start. “I just kept telling myself to keep steady and not make any mistakes," said Kiser later. "I pushed as hard as I could push – I'm so happy it's unbelievable!"
XC1 Pro Class |
| 1 |
Taylor Kiser - YAM |
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| 2 |
Chris Borich |
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| 3 |
Brandon Sommers - YAM |
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| 4 |
Donald Ockerman - YAM |
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| 5 |
Brent Sturdivant |
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| 6 |
Adam Mcgill |
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| 7 |
Ryan Lane |
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| 8 |
Bill Ballance - YAM |
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| 9 |
Bryan Cook |
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| 10 |
Jarrod McClure - YAM |
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Standings |
| 1 |
Taylor Kiser - YAM |
135 |
| 2 |
Adam Mcgill |
128 |
| 3 |
Chris Borich |
127 |
| 4 |
Bryan Cook |
98 |
| 5 |
Brandon Sommers - YAM |
97 |
| 6 |
Bill Ballance - YAM |
95 |
| 7 |
Donald Ockerman - YAM |
82 |
| 8 |
Duane Johnson |
75 |
| 9 |
Jarrod McClure - YAM |
66 |
| 10 |
Johnny Gallagher - YAM |
63 |
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Womens' Class... Known as “The Titan” for good reason, the endurance event featured a grueling off-road course with every imaginable obstacle for ATVs to conquer – including plenty of deep mud. In winning the morning Women’s race on her YFZ450R, Cecco led three of four laps in an event dominated by blue-and-white machines as Jennifer Albright, Kristen Atwell and Jesi Stracham followed Traci to the checkered flag to make it 1-2-3-4 for Yamaha. After dropping to second behind rival Angel Atwell at the three-quarters mark, Cecco asserted her authority and broke free to win by more than a minute over Albright. "It was going to come down to who picks the smartest line and who doesn't get stuck," a race-savvy Cecco noted.
Womens' Class |
| 1 |
Traci Cecco - YAM |
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| 2 |
Jennifer Albright - YAM |
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| 3 |
Kristen Atwell - YAM |
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| 4 |
Jesi Strachman - YAM |
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| 5 |
Shanna Bradshaw |
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| 6 |
Kara Merritt - YAM |
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| 7 |
Angel Atwell |
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| 8 |
Stefanie Verkade |
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| 9 |
Jami Luburgh |
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| 10 |
Kyrie Brafford |
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Standings |
| 1 |
Traci Cecco - YAM |
112 |
| 2 |
Angel Atwell |
112 |
| 3 |
Kristen Atwell - YAM |
99 |
| 4 |
Jennifer Albright - YAM |
97 |
| 5 |
Jesi Strachman - YAM |
84 |
| 6 |
Shanna Bradshaw |
84 |
| 7 |
Jami Luburgh |
82 |
| 8 |
Lexie Coulter |
79 |
| 9 |
Stefanie Verkade |
60 |
| 10 |
Samantha Vanbuskirk |
60 |
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