GNCC Round Two

"The General"

Washington Georgia March 10^th-11^th

Well, Well, Well, the fire has started and I wonder if Racer Productions will be able to contain it. This years racing is quite possibly going to be the most notorious for one pile of mess that worked its way into the "supposed" Pro's of our sport.

 With the clouds moving in on Friday it could have easily been on wet and messy race just like last year here at Aonia pass in beautiful Washington Georgia. The clouds would stay around on into the starts of the morning class races but eventually lifted for some great weather to race in. The track was absolutely the best conditions a quad guy could ask for. There was Hard pack in the woods with a combination of creek crossings and soft clay in the bermed out corners. The dust never really made its way to the track and many were glad of this. Last year at this round you needed a great set of Scott goggles just to walk around the pits.

 So whats happening in the race scene you ask? I can tell you this it isnt pretty. But lets get some other business out of the way before we get to the worst of the days event. Morning racers charged through the starting lines and the Pro ladies watched, as Stephanie Parton would drag them around the first pin and into the woods. The holeshot was short lived though as Traci Cecco once again set the benchmark for the day, finishing around six minutes over second place. For all the guys who say the girls need to be moved back so they can get a podium I say work on your game and when you can catch the girls then we can talk! Angel Atwell filled up the number two spot and Stephanie Parton made it three. The fourth place would go to a very happy Jennifer Albright and the Texan Lexie Coulter came in fifth. I have seen more talent grow in the Ladies class this year and Racer Productions also noticed a need for a second row of ladies that would give the amateurs a chance to get noticed as well.

 Our 4x4 classes have been heating up as the Can-Am boys find their way to the front on each and every start and then bringing home the number one spots as well. Clifton Beasley grabbed the 4x4 lite win and his teammate Jerime Dudding took second. Both of these guys ride the Mighty Can-Am machines and seem to like them very well. David Reese grabbed third while last years Ute stock champion Ken Robey and his teammate Kevin Johnston finished the field in fourth and fifth.

Micheal Swift made his statement in the 4x4 limited with a 10-minute lead over the second place position. Scott Kilby also took his Can-Am outlander 800 to the victory and thats what Can-Am was betting on. Can-Am couldn't be more proud of these guys as they have put in their best efforts and the training has paid off.

So the sun is out and Ricky Towery sounds the ten-second call. The crowd goes wild and it nothing but thunder to the first turn. Little did Ryan Morphew know he would be the star of this show and with a quick accidental bump from behind Ryan landed on his head in front of thirty of the best riders in this series. Jumping back onto the quad Ryan would give up precious time as the others had disappeared into the woods. Monster Energy's William Yolkey suffered a rough tumble right in the woods off the start and took a minute to gather his composure before reentering the race. William would drive the Kawasaki KFX450r to its best of Seventh place and Yokleys Mom told us she is just glad they got a finish out of the day. William is liking the new Ride and he is defiantly become a billboard for his sponsors as we checked out the Yokley Racing fun hauler I just wished he'd let me drive it. Who knows, maybe someday?

 I guess the final piece of business is probably the most disappointing. I know by now each and every one of you reading this has heard of the protesting going on between the Ballance and Borich clans. Seems Chris Borich has tried to rally the wolves to no avail as racer productions allowed the frame modifications in the Yamaha camp and this has angered more than one team on pro row.

 So I hear it like this, the frame mod is ok according to the rulebook but this isn't good enough for some. Bills win today furthered a swelling battle between the "once friends" killer B's. Chris Borich gets a nasty late start due to some type of problem that he swears will not hook him next round. With a commanding lead Bill sails off into the wild blue yonder and just waits for the lappers to start appearing. As they do a very determined Borich makes some attempts to get around Bill. Now this is where it gets sketchy and I am in no way choosing sides and do not claim to know the facts behind this but there is defiantly some unsportsmanlike action going on in the pits and on the track, which was hidden under the veil of the Georgia woods. Seems Borich finally caught up to Ballance and began to prod him for the number one spot. Well prodding or "bumping" as most would say, began to get the Champ "perturbed" according to him and that's where the game began to turn south. During a run down Pro row Chris Began bumping Bill and that led to some words being exchanged by the pit crews of the top two teams after the racers left.

  Joe Borich, Chris's dad, reportedly approached the Yamaha tent and began verbally bashing the crew and flinging obscenity's until he was asked to leave. Talk about black eyes for the sport. The race went on and Bill along with Chris raced bumper-to-bumper right down to the last six corners.

 This is where I witnessed my first case of politics in GNCC. Balance and Borich rode up onto the podium and it began to spill out one by one. Two very good riders and undoubtedly the best of our series overshadowed by statements, which would make most politicians blush. Neither said their thoughts outright but with the edging around the subject I could feel the heat from yards away. The over ruling statement was "its on now".

  Lets not forget an excited Chris Bithells third place finish had been totally forgotten as all he could do was stand and watch once the games began.

 I was very apprehensive about reporting this but I get so frustrated when words are said and actions are unaccounted for around the children of our sport. They are watching and yes they understand no matter how much they may already be jaded to these things. I hope our sport hasn't come to the same level as dirt track racing where I could go there so many years ago to see a fight when all of a sudden a race breaks out!!

Thanks to Stephanie Sosebee for all the great second pin speed sport photography. See ya at the next round in North Carolina where we find out who brings the A-game and who brings the boxing gloves!!

Sosebee out