2006 ATVA MX Nationals Round #4 – Echeconnee - Preview & Live Coverage

[Admin]

Macon, GA - After just a one week break from sunny Florida, the motocross action set to jump back into gear in Georgia this weekend for Round #4 of the ATVA MX Nationals at the famous Echeconnee MX Park hosted by former Pro Racer, Donny Banks.

The track is located just west of Macon, GA, and the MX National falls on the same weekend at the Cherry Blossom Festival, which runs for nearly ten days, so to keep with the Georgian spirit, I spent my whole 5 minutes connecting with nature and enjoying the beauty of the blossoms before coming to my senses and rushing to the track for some ATV action.

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On the way to the track, I discovered how the track acquired its name. Echeconnee MX Park is named after the "Echeconnee Creek", which runs through the valley only about a mile from the track.

It seems that its the norm in the motocross track naming practice to name them after creeks and rivers because this is why we have "Muddy Creek", "Budds Creek", Unadilla, "Birch Creek", and I am sure their are many more that I am quickly overlooking.

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Finally, I arrived at the Echeconnee Offroad Park, so I checked out the motocross track, which is composite of sand and clay. It has some elevation changes with the top of the hills primarily clay with sand in the valley. All the jumps are faced with clay, and the clay sections turned into concrete after only a few laps. The sand on the other hand, quickly turned into some seriously whooped out sections, which will really work a person, so physical conditions will really be a key factor in this weekends racing.

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The event was packed with vehicles, but attendance was slightly off this year with the rising cost to travel to the races, but the attendance still wasn't too shabby with nearly 600 entries.

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#411 Pro Rider, Donald Lysinger, had a major scare at Gatorback when wrecked and was temporarily paralyzed from the neck down afterwards due to swelling around his spinal cord, but he was later given a clean bill of health.

The tragic accident was more than he could stand with a child on the way in only a few months, so he has decided to take a break from racing for a while and focus on his new born and his wife Lisa. Donny will still be traveling to all the races to help out with some the amateur riders.

On Friday, he was kept busy all day answering questions from fellow pro riders on his condition as everyone was concerned about his condition.

Also, as everyone knows Zachary Griffin lost his life at the Gatorback in a tragic accident in the Youth Production Class, so another auction will be held on Sunday at the track to raise money for his family.

(left to right) Travis Spader, Donald Lysinger, Joe Haavisto

[dodgepower]

Cant wait till it starts and yall report. I am in kuwait right ow so this is only way of getting to keep track.

[Admin]

With Pro practice about to begin on Friday, Harold Goodman checks out some of the amateur practice.

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Women’s Production, Michelle Reiser would go down hard in practice bruising up her already injuried leg, so she would spend the rest of the weekend watching the racing from the sidelines.

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#4 Tim Farr looked great in Florida for the majority of both Motos, but he just withstand the 20 minutes on the track, and he was out in practice on Friday to see if he was up to racing this week, but afterwards he decided to take the weekend off from racing.

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#16 Jeremy Lawson made the necessary engine repairs to his Honda from Florida, and he was back out on the track for practice on Friday to prepare for qualifiers on Saturday