That is the new and improved 100 mph Hill......anything under tapped out in 3rd and a hard flat landing is in store! Here is the official press release below. Funny story; on Saturday Jake and Charles rolled in to do a pre race checking and survey the terrain so we grabbed Jake and put him on the loudspeaker for a little interview. On the way to the microphone I asked Jake if Charles had told him what happened when Cory Graffunder came up 2 years ago. "Nope"...so I tell him about Cory's huge lead for 4 laps only to be waylaid by a lapped rider on the last loop just as local legend Rory Sullivan was trying to close the gap. Rory cruised by as Cory fixed his locked up brakes. #1 Rory, #2 Cory at the line..... Yes, ladies and gentlemen.....it happened again #1 Rory, #2 Jacob... As I approached Jake after the race yesterday I said, "So, you remember the story I told you yesterday"..he smiled and nodded his head in chagrin. Threepeat for Rory Sullivan, and Jake is on his way to a well deserved National West Hare Scrambles title. Big, strapping, nice guy....looks like the dark haired version of Cory Graffunder :-)
Rory S= home zone advantage(fast), even with the leader misfortune factor installed. Jake A= Gentleman Racer-Fast. PS I've see Ritzman race as well, he's no slouch at the National level either(fast too)!! Good competition all around, who else (any Cafe crew) did the race at the semi-pro/ammie level? WHS is a good series (I did one at the Ranch in Anza when it was RynoLand in 09), kinda like the GNCC of the west, agree?
Respectfully BS. Rory has no home advantage that place gets ridden once a year for that race only and is not open to riding. He races it once a year just like everyone else. I spoke with Rory, regardless of the media spin there was no "leader misfortune" I'll not start a argument here about it but Rory beat him straight up. Came from a 7-8th place start and worked his way up to do it. All racing the same track and the passing the same lappers. Any race you have to come with a bike that will do the whole race and get through the same lappers. Making excuses is just that. it is GNCC like.
Both riders told me that Jake went down on that last loop. Rory was already closing and in sight of Jake to make the pass and would very likely have won, but a guy on the ground can not do much to resist the pass for the lead or give chase effectively. Rory is a strong smart rider, and its true that nobody gets to ride this course any other time than the race itself. The crowd is with Rory which isnt good for much in a XC race. I even gave Jake fair warning :-) Both put in a good ride and Rory emerged in front....again...3peat for the 'old' man.
Blake and I were there for the race and it was awesome. Some of the best terrain I've had the pleasure of laying a knobby on. And I never knew grass track could get so rough!
no need need to respectfully call BS on me (I aint thin skinned) . how about change it to, "knows the terrain from experience".....meaning if the race was in ridgecrest ca. on a brand new course Jake would have an advantage, that sort of advantage. If it were a GNCC neither would have won!!
