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Jeff Pickens earned his first GNCC XC1 Pro ATV Podium at Mammoth GNCC
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Oakland, KY (5/6/2013) - Yamaha ATVs scored a half-dozen podium finishes in pro races from Kentucky to California over the May 4-5 weekend. During Saturday’s GNCC competition in Park City, Ky., YFZ450R-mounted Taylor Kiser and Waynesburg Yamaha’s Jeff Pickens went 2-3 in the GNCC XC1 Pro class, Patrick McGuire grabbed a second in the XC2 Pro Am contest, and Kara Merritt and Jesi Stracham went 2-3 in the morning Women’s race. Yamaha’s Walker Fowler is now tied for second in XC1 Pro points, McGuire is second in XC2 Pro Am, and Merritt is likewise second in Women’s points. Then on Sunday at The Ranch in Anza, Calif., Dustin Nelson rebounded from a huge crash in the first moto to take third overall with 6- 3 moto finishes for the day. He now holds second in the points as well.
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#2 Walker Fowler is tied for second place after GNCC Round 5 in Parker City, KY |
#8 Johnny Gallagher sits in eigth in the GNCC XC1 Pro Class |
Round five of the 2013 GNCC season was defined by nonstop rain and mud. In XC1 Pro, Pickens grabbed the holeshot aboard his Yamaha before giving way to Chris Borich, Chris Bithell, and Yamaha-mounted Kevin Yoho and Fowler.
But it was semi-retired Taylor Kiser who provided the most excitement. Advancing from a mid-pack start to complete lap one in only ninth place, he climbed to fourth by the midway point of the two-hour race, took the lead on the penultimate lap, and then finally finished second to rival Borich after getting stuck in a deep mud hole. For third-place Pickens, it was a memorable day in trying conditions as he scored his first-ever podium in the premier GNCC ATV class.
Over in Southern California, conditions were cool and dry for round three of the 2013 Yamaha Quad-X season. Five-time series champion Nelson had a tough beginning to the day after being mired near the back of the pack at the start of moto one, then crashing on a jump and being hit by several riders. Bruised but determined, he remounted and pressed on, eventually claiming sixth place at the checkers. After his team made some quick repairs to the YFZ, Nelson was back at the gate ready to go. He started second, rode smart and finished an admirable third, with his 6-3 motos good enough for third overall. “I was lucky to come out of it with third considering what happened,” Nelson commented. “The bike took a full head-on hit from another quad and all we had to do was change the handlebar, bumper, lever perch and grips, and it was ready to go!”
2013 GNCC XC1 Pro ATV Points |
| Position |
Name |
Points |
| 1 |
Chris Borich |
150 |
| 2 |
Chris Bithell |
93 |
| 3 |
Walker Fowler |
93 |
| 4 |
Adam McGill |
89 |
| 5 |
Kevin Yoho |
75 |
2013 GNCC XC2 Pro-Am ATV Points |
| Position |
Name |
Points |
| 1 |
Brycen Neal |
119 |
| 2 |
Patrick McGuire |
113 |
| 3 |
Landon Wolfe |
98 |
| 4 |
Chad Jones |
81 |
| 5 |
Randy Hamilton |
77 |
2013 GNCC ATV Women Points |
| Position |
Name |
Points |
| 1 |
Kylie Ahart |
100 |
| 2 |
Kayla Merrit |
93 |
| 3 |
Quincy Cunningham |
71 |
| 4 |
Jesi Stracham |
65 |
| 5 |
Jessica Ammons |
32 |
2013
Yamaha Quad-X Pro 450 Production P |
| Position |
Name |
Points |
| 1 |
Davi Haagsma |
72 |
| 2 |
Dustin Nelson |
65 |
| 3 |
Beau Baron |
64 |
| 4 |
Tanner Gemperle |
54 |
| 5 |
Josh Row |
53 |
