A young and fast friend said that was the slickest race he's ever done. He said it was difficult just going across an open field. Good job Husky rider!
Great news! A Husky privateer! These guys are really hard chargers and carrying the Husky flag veryhigh!
Not that 9th O/A needs any more kudos but....a little backround on the "epitome" of privateer. Many know Mark has been top privateer for Husky in GNCC for last 3 years. But what you don't know is total old school and grit and determination. Mark is on a 08 WR250. It runs good for him. He maintains it well. No significant changes to 09 or 10 so as a privateer, the outlay in cash for current model year did not offset the cash in pocket for operational expenses to run the GNCC series. Despite great maintenance with local dealer support from Bottones Jo Bet Cycles, the gears for 1st gear developed an issue a week before the race which caused them to need replacing. Fran Bottone got mark a new 1st gear set and while he was at it managed to get a 5th gear from an older WR to give him a little more legs for top speed if he needed it. Mark picked up the parts Friday afternnon and went home, split cases, installed new tranny components, drove all the way to race saturday after the maintence complete, and had the finish he did. Outstanding and shows the hallmark traits of the privateer. No fancy mechanic....good old mechanical skills brought about by a regiment of good self maintenance. No endless parts bin in a semi.....just good old local dealer support in a timeley fashion. Not to mention.....the choice of the tried and true and proven WR250 moto as a platform. That motor is a tried and true good old soldier. Way to go Mark. keep it up!
This guy is a stud .... A freggin' hard charger ... Living the life many of us wish we could ... I wish him the best next week also! That 08 bike is a bad a$$ ... as U stated ... no real changes needed .... Just park a stud on top and let him pin-it Mark, if you read this, the C2 racing pipes helped my 02 CR250 greatly ... Find one if you can and put it on!
I agree, this guy is something else. He's a rather shy acting, good looking, hard core, make no excuses, old school tough guy, from what I can tell. I've been keeping an eye on him the past couple of years and he is the real deal, IMO. The kind a story you make a movie about. If I had a Husky shop or a higher up position at HNA, he'd be much better taken care of, at the races at least. I hope the best for him.
XC2 Results: 1. Jesse Robinson (KTM) 2. Scotty Watkins (Kaw) 3. Jason Thomas (Yam) 4. Mark Fortner (Hsq) 5. Justin Williamson (Yam) 6. David Snyder (Yam) 7. Steward Baylor Jr. (KTM) 8. Nicholas Hunter (KTM) 9. Brian Lawson (Yam) 10. Kailub Russell (KTM) XC1 Results: 1. Cory Buttrick (KTM) 2. Josh Strang (Suz) 3. Paul Whibley (Yam) 4. Jimmy Jarrett (Kaw) 5. Chris Bach (KTM) 6. Glenn Kearney (Hsq) 7. Kenneth Gilbert (Kaw) 8. Nate Kanney (KTM) 9. Matthew Miller (Kaw) 10. Eric Bailey (Kaw) XC1 Standings: 1. Josh Strang (196/4 wins) 2. Charlie Mullins (176/3 wins) 3. Cory Buttrick (154/1 win) 4. Paul Whibley (152) 5. Chris Bach (125) 6. Glenn Kearney (121) 7. Nate Kanney (112) 8. Barry Hawk Jr. (93) 9. Kenneth Gilbert (91) 10. Eric Bailey (76)
Great interview! There was a good tip at the end on a way to get a newer bigger bike also..... .... I might take that advice and run with it
You guys are totally right about Mark Fortner. Doing it on his on, oldschool style. He doesn't even get to practice. He just goes to races sometimes. Anyway, here is another inteview we did with him during the beginning of the year. If anyone wants to help him get to races, send me a pm and Ill get his contact info to you. http://www.offroadjunkies.com/?s=facebook chat with mark fortner&x=1&y=13
