2008 Gncc-Round#4-"Pirelli Big Buck- Pro Race Coverage

I finally had to ditch the starting line and shield my cameras from the rain and headed off to seek my spot to capture the starts. Away from the crowds and looking across the field to the rows of riders, I began to ponder just how some of this years finishes have to be playing on the racers. The stress has to be enormous on those expecting to do better, the team managers who are shouldering the weight, the families who send off thier sons and fathers and wait in anticipation of hearing good news. Some of us feel for ya!

The 10 seconds call was given and all the worry in the world was about to be interupted by the sounds of XC1 launching off the line!

Matt Smiley came screamining into the first turn but was forced to swing a bit outside as the pack hit the off camber right hand turn

Smiley may have beaten the pack to the first corner, but it would be Bryan Cook digging in and applying the power to get the holeshot! This was Cooks first ever holeshot in the XC1 class!

Cook exits turn two with Kiser looking to his outside and Brandon Ballance making a run to the inside

Cook explained after the race that he looked around to see what was going on and to make sure he actually had the holeshot!!

Heading into turn 3, Cook indeed had the lead and the race was on!

Kiser, Smiley and Sommers were nipping at Cooks heels through the 3rd turn, as Borich got a mid pack start and would have another race where he would be forced to work through the field of riders in front of him

Jeff Pickens gets the cold shoulder as the riders converge

The pack heads to turn 4, and Mr mcGill was going to face an uphill battle as his machine took just a split second to fire (later admitted by McGill that he touched the throttle...tsk tsk:p )

Now the test was on the table as all the McGill doubters leaned back and mumbled about how now we would see if he had what it took...and they were right! And for his supporters, they all looked like sheep as thier man was now going to be tested! Even the announcer commented through out the race how this would be a huge challenge for McGill as the course was brutal, passing would take alot of skill and luck (it's ok, he has that horseshoe installed:p)

With XC1 now in the woods, it was XC2's turn to let loose!

Donald Ockerman looked like a flush rabbit as he darted out of turn one!

XC2 is over run with entries and is one highly contested class. Just getting to the woods in one piece is a challenge!