Lining up on the tarmac ready for the live engine start.  This start system is unique to the Snowshoe event with the riders seeded into rows of five and released at 10 second intervals.  Also unique to the Snowshoe event this year was the 20 plus mile lap.  The lap was kind of in two parts, the first part was out on one side of the mountain with the second part out on the other side.
With the wave of the green flag we were away.  I was on the front row and rounded the first turn in third behind Barry Hawk and Josh Strang.  The first mile of the lap was pretty fast gravel roads and I made a couple of moves and got to the lead.  I led the way for the first half of lap one until I got stuck in a mud hole letting some guys by while I lifted my bike out.  I had lost some time and Josh Strang and David Knight had taken up the sharp end of the field and ran with it.
The track was pretty good with a mix of fast roads and tight technical rock and root sections that were not to tough but a fair challenge.  Some of the roads were a little dusty and in the rocks care was needed to preserve the bike with plenty of riders damaging parts with the slightest slip.
I didn't feel comfortable out on the track and soon found myself in a race with Jimmy Jarret and Charlie Mullins.  Both of them ended up in front of me until I managed to sort myself out a little and move back by them.  I worked my way up to third but David and Josh were riding great and had gapped me.
I continued to put in the best times that I could and was solid in third.  As we came through the pits for the last time I got a pit board saying I was up to second. I wasn't sure what had happened up front but when I crossed the line I saw Knighter so I guessed Josh had problems.  I soon learned that he had hit a deer and crashed hard.  That was a tough break for Josh as he had rode a great race and had me beat.
With my second place result I was able to extend my points lead in the series with only four rounds to go. 
We now have a two month break in the GNCC series for summer.  Although this will not be a quiet time for me as there are four rounds of the OMA series during this time and a round of the Enduro X series.  This will help keep me sharp for the next round of the GNCC series in early September.


Thanks to my sponsors:
GEICO, Monster Energy Kawasaki, Moose Racing, Sidi, Smith, Shoei, Pirelli, Leo Vince, ProMoto Billet/Fastway, IMS, RG3 Suspension/Moto SR, CTi, Vortex Ignitions, G2, PG Graphics, Renthal, Silkolene, EBC Brakes, Tsubaki Chains, CV4, Rekluse, No Toil, WER, BRP, Enduro Engineering, Works Connection, Motion Pro, Ohlins

 

 
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