Interview:
Jarrod McClure - Honda TRX 450R GNCC Pro ATV
Racer
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| #14
Jarrod McClure- Quick Facts |
| Birth
Date: |
10/23/1987 |
| Weight: |
160 lbs |
| Hometown: |
Kaska, PA |
| ATV: |
Honda TRX450R |
| Occupation: |
Mechanic |
| 1st
ATC/ATV: |
Yamaha Blaster |
| Started
Racing: |
15 Years Old |
| Favorite
Track: |
GNCC Ironman |
| Favorite
Drink: |
Water |
| Hobbies: |
Hunting &
Fishing |
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GNCC
Pro Racer, Jarrod McClure, has only been racing
for a few years, but he has quickly moved
up in the ranks and is currently running in
9th in the GNCC Pro Points & 10th Overall.
Just this past weekend, Jarrod claimed his
first-ever Pro podium finish by placing 3rd
overall in round eight at Yadkinville, North
Carolina.
All
though Jarrod has only been racing for a few
short years, he has the determination and
drive to succeed. Jarrod has been training
hard and his results are proof enough that
he is taking his career very seriously. We
recently had the chance to talk to Jarrod
about his recent podium finish and what he
hopes to accomplish this season.
ATVriders.com:
This past weekend was you first time on the
Pro Podium, how did that feel?
Jarrod McClure: It was an overwhelming experience
because Bill Ballance passed me and I actually
thought I had dropped back to 4th place, so
I was in shock when I found out that I actually
earned the final spot on the Podium.
Was
it pretty intense for you running up in the
top three like that?
The first time I ran like that was at Tennessee
and that was a great experience being up there
with the top guys. At North Carolina I was
a little more relaxed. I just tried to put
my head down and ride smart.
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| Jarrod
McClure on his way to his first GNCC
Pro Podium at the Yadkin Valley Stomp |
You’ve
been doing really well this season, what changes
have you made this year?
I’ve definitely been training a lot
harder. I actually started a whole new program
with Marc Spataro at motoprotraining.com.
He has me doing all kinds of stuff that I
never did; more sport-specific type of training.
It seems a lot more helpful than what I was
doing in the past. He stresses side-to-side
movements and lots of legwork and things like
that.
When
did you first start riding ATVs?
I started riding ATVs in 1998 when I was ten
years old. My uncle gave me his Yamaha Blaster,
and that is what I learned on. I used to ride
with my dad and some of his friends, and they
would give me pointers on how to ride and
do wheelies.
How
did you get involved in cross country / hare
scramble racing?
I actually started working at a local motorcycle
shop, and the owner, and now my mechanic,
Jonathan Bowers told me to try it out. He
knew I could ride pretty good, and loaned
me one of his full race 400ex’s to give
racing a try. I raced C-class at a local,
and knew it was something I wanted to do so
I got a 400ex of my own and raced the next
whole season. That was the 2003 season.
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| Jarrod
McClure started racing in 2003 on a
Honda 400EX in the C class at local
events in Pennsylvania, and right out
of the gate he started winning races,
so he jumped to the A Class locally
the following year |
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| Jarrod
McClure made his GNCC debut in 2004
at the Rausch Creek GNCC on a Yamaha
YFZ450, and he finished an impressive
10th place in the Stock Class, and he
raced 2 more events finishing 5th &
4th place, which inspired him to race
the entire 2005 GNCC Season |
When
did you decide to start racing the GNCC Series?
I gave GNCC racing a try in 2004 at a few local
rounds, but I waited till I graduated high school
before racing the entire season in 2005 in the
Stock Class
What
were some of your biggest accomplishments
GNCC racing prior to your
Pro Podium?
During my fist full year of running the GNCC
in 2005, I raced in the Stock Class. I won
my first GNCC Morning overall at Unadilla
that year and again at next round at Powerline
Park. I ended that year earning the top Morning
Overall number of 201, and second place in
the stock class behind Billy Good. The following
year I ran Pro-Am and finished fourth in class
and 20th overall. Last year was my first year
pro, and I finished out the season 12th in
the class and 14th overall. This year I’ve
had a lot of top ten finishes and with counting
the podium and three top five finishes
