Jarrod McClure
"Power Line Park" GNCC Pro ATV Race
Report
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#14 Jarrod McClure
on his Honda TRX450R ATV
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St. Clairsville, OH (10/15/2008) -
I put in another consistent top ten ride at Powerline
Park over the weekend. I rode all day in a podium
position, until a last lap crash dropped me back
a few positions. With all of the dust, and the limited
passing, I just couldn't get anyone back. I'll tell
you more about the race below!
I remembered last year how dusty the Ohio track
was, so all week long I checked the weather. I
was hoping that it would rain because I wasn't
looking forward to riding in the dust. No rain
was what the forecast appeared to be, and when
we got to the track I knew it was going to be
a dry race.
The weather was surprisingly warm for October,
and the sun was shining all day. I went out to
watch some of the morning races and the dust didn't
seem to bad. I knew by the time we went that the
track would be down to dry dirt.
I headed over to the start and once again I
had ninth pick on the line. I went to the inside
hoping for a quick start. The flag waved and I
had a great jump, coming around the first turn
in about sixth place. In the third turn I bumped
a Yamaha's tire, I'm not sure who but it almost
sent me over. This allowed the number 4 of Matt
Smiley to get around me. Going into the woods
I was sitting in seventh place right behind Matt.
The first section of woods was dusty, and we
came up on Brandon Sommers against a tree. We all
got around him, which moved me up into sixth. The
track was very fast, it became very hard packed,
and featured a lot of off camber sections, as well
as wide-open roads and some steep climbs.
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ATVRiders.com Rider
Jarrod McClure currently sits 8th in the
XC1 Pro Class Points race and could finish
off the season as high as 6th with a very
good finish at The Ironman
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Halfway through the first lap I was still riding
behind Smiley, and we hit one of the open sections.
We were going so fast that Matt missed the turn
allowing me to jump in front of him. I was up
into fouth, but coming out of the pits I got passed
by Bryan Cook. At the end of lap one I was in
fifth behind Cook. I passed both Bryan Cook, and
Ryan Lane around three miles into the second lap
on a steep uphill section. This moved me up into
third, which is where I would stay for most of
the day. I then caught up to XC2 Pro Am champ
Donald Ockerman who was running second all day.
Don and I rode together for the next two laps.
At the end of the third lap Chris Borich passed
me in one of the dusty sections, and I just rode
with him for a few miles. I figured I would try
to keep on his heels, and try to make a pass by
the end of the lap. My plans changed quickly though
as we came onto the powerline section. I caught
a small kicker coming into one of the slick corners,
which caused my back end to come loose, and sent
me spinning around. I almost saved it but at the
last section my tires hooked up and flipped me
over.
The crash allowed Adam Mcgill, Ryan Lane, Chris
Bithel, and Bryan Cook to get by me. I flipped
my quad back over, and with a few kicks I had
it going again. By the time I caught the pack
of riders that had gotten by me it was to late.
I couldn't make a pass in all the dust so I just
had to settle for eighth place at the checkers.
I was a little disappointed after running third
for most of the day, but I was happy to stay consistent
with a top ten finish.
With the final round to go I am sitting eight
place in the XC1 Pro class points and ninth overall.
The points are very close, and with a very good
race I could even move up to sixth! I will be
getting ready the next two weeks for the Ironman,
and I will see everyone there!
www.gnccracing.com
122 Vista Del Rio Drive,
Morgantown, WV 26508
304-284-0084
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