Jason Thomas’ team, Monster Energy Andrews Cycles, made the switch to Husqvarna machinery recently from Yamaha. Thomas was making his first start on the new TXC 250. 2nd in XC 2 and 7th O/A! Kailub Russell from KTM took 1st in XC2 and 4th O/A. For comparison, Glenn got 8th in XC1 and 10th O/A. The 2 mentioned 250 riders were the only one to break into the 450 dominated top ten...good job! It was a long battle for hours between these 2 and came down to the wire. Within sight of the finish line, Russell and Thomas came together and Thomas ended up going down. In end end, Russell put his Orange P.O.S. across the finish line three seconds sooner than Thomas to claim his sixth win of the series. Real drama.
I'd love to see his TXC setup! Mine is absolutely screaming since the Leo Vince/ECU/Throttle Position upgrades.
http://www.racer-results.net/results/gncc/2010/overall.asp?r=10&e=64&s=5 OA results, that race fans is very deep talent pool as far down as the top 15!
I was at the finish when Russell and Thomas came in ... Real drama indeed!! Evidently they got together just before on the mx track. Russell came out ahead and got the win .. When thomas crossed the line he smacked Russell in the back of his helmet with the butt of his palm. It was a pretty good whack and knock russells head forward a bit. This got everybodies attention. immediately team members converged on the "scene" to calm things down. evidently thomas felt that Russell had purposely t boned him. The ensuing hub bub was quite entertaining. As Thomas voiced his displeasure to Russell, other members of the race camps got into the act!! Including the women!! In what I am assuming was a battle of the girlfriends, although it could have been sisters ... two young rather attractive looking women started in on each other about "race tactics and on track ettiquet" and each camps racers ability ride and properly adhear to said ettiquet!! An older women got into the act ..Mom???... which of course only added a little more gas to the fire!! It was quite interesting to see blow up ... One racer gives another racer a jab and some lip, ok thats nothing unusual .. some big wigs jump in to calm things down .. or were they getting into the act too?? and then at almost the same time a cat fight breaks out!! The whole conflagration took only a minute or so .. quite entertaining!! I did not see what happened on track though ...
Thanks for the first hand report skid. The KTM vs. Husky battle is just beginning. Jason Thomas is a great young rider and I'm happy that Husky got him. btw, I saw a tussle between the girlfriends/wives at a GNCC this year. And it was a very high profile xc1 team as well. Got to love the way everyone gets fired up about competition.
Since some one used the POS first ... I guess it is OK... Thanks for the report and Husky will bury these orange POSs like any good turd should be buried... Husky just needs riders!
LOL. Can't say that I agree with you Ray. Kailub Russell is the cream of the crop when it comes to up and comers. Good kid from the little I know of him and a very very fast racer. Regarding what happened that everyone saw - that was only one small part of the course. Who knows what could have happened elsewhere. I hope their rivalry is clean because at the speeds they carry one poorly thought out action in the heat of battle could be some serious regret on both sides. Good to see they both have the fire in them though.
I'm not betting any $$ so I don't really care ... I just wanna see some Huskies on the startin' line ..
The talent pool is really, really deep...filled with some great people. Locally my son gets a regular chance to ride with... - Bobby Kinsley, Suz. 200C School Boy - Jed Haines, Kaw. XC1 - Ian Pannabaker, Kaw. 4 stroke A Lites - Leeann Bange, Yam. Womens - Zack Smith, KTM 250A Haines and Smith had major mech. trouble in NY. They are great people and love to ride, ride, ride...and always express an open invite for my son to join them.
Isn't that the truth...Haines rode a Husky last year... Haines/Pannabaker/Bange/Smith are the members of the new Keystone Offroad Race Team. They are picking up sponsors as they move along. The bike situation is unusual...these guys and girl represent the sport very well. It would be exciting to see a bike manf. take an interest in this opportunity... We'll see... The last time Andy rode with them they all took their turn on the little Husky...
Husky is making headway .. I rode dilla last year ... saw a few huskies Rode it again this year ... saw quite a few more!! I rode The Stimilon MX Challenge at Southwick this year ... its a Weekend mx race party kind of thing ... Saw quite a few huskies there too. Heard one dude say "whats with all the huskies?? There is enough of them for thier class!!"
