There was a noticeable absence at this weekend’s Suzuki Summer ATV National at Sunday Creek Raceway as Motoworks Can-Am‘s Chad Wienen missed his first race of this season after undergoing surgery just last week. Although Wienen will not be racing again this season, the ATV Motocross family will continue to follow and support Wienen in his recovery efforts.

Round 8 of the AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series presented by DWT took over the grounds of Sunday Creek Raceway in Millfield, Ohio, for the first time ever in the history of the series. A small rain took place in the early afternoon, creating an interesting dynamic for the first set of motos, but as soon as the rain stopped and the sun came out, it was a perfect day for ATV racing.

Motoworks Can-Am’s Jeremie Warnia was the fastest qualifier after taking advantage of the dry track conditions during the morning practice sessions.

“The track was awesome for practice, I prefer when it’s dry definitely. My Can-Am was running really good and I just found smooth lines out there,” says Warnia.

Adam McGill pocketed a cool $5,000 and moved within striking distance of the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Series points lead by taking a spectacular win at the Motosport.com Snowshoe GNCC, round eight of the series at Snowshoe Mountain Resort in Snowshoe, WV.

With the win, his second of the year, McGill moved to within seven points of series points leader Chris Borich, who finished a disappointing 12th after mud clogged his radiator and caused the engine on his Rockstar Makita Suzuki to overheat.

McGill’s Foremost Insurance/Warnert Racing Can-Am teammate Chris Bithell finished second after leading much of the race, while FRE Racing KTM’s Bryan Cook claimed his first podium finish of the year with a third.

On June 4th over 250 entries started at the 43nd annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 with the expectations to finish the race and hopefully cross the finish line first. The Matlock Racing team once again covered the rough and boulder strewn course with the fastest time in class 25 for the fourth year in a row.

Less than a month before heading south to Baja, team leader Wayne Matlock had a mountain biking accident that ended with a torn ACL in his knee. A week before the race, the Matlock Racing team headed south of the border to Ensenada and began pre-running. With his injury, Matlock was unable to ride a quad until he began pre-running, however this did not hold him back and his knee seemed to be holding up during the week of riding. After a week of pre-running each team member was prepared to take on the course at race speeds.

The #1A Honda TRX700XX with Wayne Matlock aboard would start in the No. 3 position just one minute behind the #2A quad. On race day the early morning clouds laid low over the town of Ensenada, these would hold in the silty dust turned up by the motorcycles that would start before the Pro quad class. Matlock took the start and worked hard to make the pass on the #2A & #3A quads early in the race.

Warm temperatures and sunny blue skies surrounded round 7 of the AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series presented by DWT, as the series headed to Spring Creek MX in Millville, Minn. this weekend. Challenging track conditions made for an exciting day of racing as the top ATV racers in the country battled for the overall win.

Joel Hetrick shot off the start to grab the SSiDecals.com Holeshot Award in moto one, barely edging out Jannsen Motorsports rider Nick DeNoble. Motoworks Can-Am pilot Chad Wienen, the fastest qualifier of the day, got a mid-pack start, forcing him to work his way through the pack early on. Hetrick held John Natalie off for about five laps until the rookie appeared to get a little winded. Natalie took over the lead and for the remainder of the race focused on holding his teammate Wienen off. Wienen had Millville’s famous “whoop monster” whoop section down, gaining time each lap.

Round six of the 2011 AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series presented by DWT traveled to Steel City Raceway for yet another exciting weekend of racing. Saturday’s podium celebration saw fresh faces as American Honda’s Joe Byrd claimed his first overall win of the season, while Ballance Racing’s Thomas Brown took a season-best second and Motoworks Can-Am’s rookie Chase Snapp finished an impressive third overall – marking his first ever podium finish in the Pro class.

Current points leader Chad Wienen captured his very first SSi Decal Holeshot Award of the season in moto one. John Natalie tucked in behind his Can-Am teammate right away, launching what appeared to be the beginning of another classic Can-Am battle to the finish.

Brian Wolf got his first-ever premier-class win at the inaugural running of the Indy 100 GNCC, round six of the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Series in Gosport, Ind.

The XC1 rookie put his GT Thunder-backed Honda ahead of Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chris Borich and Foremost Insurance/Warnert Racing Can-Am’s Adam McGill at the end of the four-lap race, taking the checkered flag in a virtual downpour as a driving rainstorm moved overhead at the three-lap mark, turning the red Indiana farmland into slime.

“It’s unbelievable,” says Wolf. “I couldn’t believe things panned out like they did. I was just hoping to get on the box but I ended up in the middle of it.”

The chase for the championship tightened up this weekend at round five of the AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series presented by DWT. Only four points separate the current points leader from second place, the closest margin yet this season. At almost halfway through the season, the veteran riders are beginning to mark their territory while several Rookie riders are showing flashes of brilliance.

Although Motoworks Can-Am’s Wienen lined up at his home track, all holeshot advantages were pushed aside as Sunset Ridge debuted a brand new starting structure this weekend. Makson Construction/JB Racing/Maximum RPM/Hetrick Racing’s Joel Hetrick had no problem adjusting to the changes as he shot out of the hydraulic-powered gates to capture the SSi Decals Holeshot Award. It didn’t take long for Wienen to put the move on Hetrick as the duo went side-by-side over the finish line jump on lap two.

This is the place to learn about some of the wildest off-road events, find out who won the latest race, and enjoy some off-road stories and advice from our veteran riders and writers.

It wouldn’t be springtime in Maryland without a good old-fashioned mud race. Mother Nature did not disappoint this weekend at the Motoworks Budds Creek National, round four of the AMA ATV Motocross Championship Series Presented by DWT. John Natalie prevailed through the muddy conditions as he swept both motos and took over the points lead from Motoworks Can-Am teammate Chad Wienen.

“I usually do pretty well in the mud. Being from Pennsylvania it’s basically all we’re used to riding in so I was really happy with it today,” says Natalie.

Natalie grabbed the $125 SSi Decals Holeshot Award in both motos, banking a total of $250 for his impressive starts. Good holeshots weren’t the only thing Natalie was winning, though. The Can-Am rider used his starts as leverage to separate from the pack early on, which is especially important in muddy conditions.

Chris Borich got back to his winning ways with a strong performance at the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC – round four of the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Series in Union, SC.

After finishing fifth at round three in North Carolina when he suffered an ignition problem, Borich was determined to make a mighty comeback at the Big Buck. And that he did. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider got off the line in the top five at the start the race, and then moved into second behind round-three winner Adam McGill, as the two riders broke away from the pack.

On lap three Borich came out ahead of McGill when the Foremost Insurance/Warnert Racing Can-Am rider pitted for fuel. From that point on it was all Borich, as the two-time champ turned up the heat, eventually taking the win by a forty-eight-second margin.

Adam McGill and Chris Bithell gave Can-Am the top two steps of the podium with an exciting one-two finish at the FMF Steele Creek General GNCC – round three of the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Series in Morganton, NC.

The Foremost Insurance/Warnert Racing/Can-Am teammates battled race-long with Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chris Borich and Ballance Racing Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser, with McGill, Bithell and Borich trading the lead over the course of the two-hour race.

McGill and Bithell took a strong lead on lap two when they elected not to pit and the rest of the field did, however; near the end of the race Borich and Kiser pulled to back within striking distance on the rough and mountainous 11-mile course.

By now it’s no secret that the defending Champion Josh Creamer did not have intentions to race the AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series presented by DWT this year. A change in plans caused Creamer to race round two aboard his privateer Honda machine and he may have found out that it’s harder to defend a championship than it is to win one.

The temperatures were beyond perfect at Millcreek MX Park in sunny Pell City, Ala. this weekend. With a full gate of AMA Pro riders and a well-groomed track, it couldn’t have been a better day for racing.

Motoworks DWT Fox Shox Holz Racing Can-Am rider Chad Wienen ran the fastest lap time of the morning. Coming off the previous two seasons as just a top three contender, Wienen has come into 2011 fully prepared and ready to take home a championship. So far, the Illinois native has swept every moto, giving him the points lead heading into round three in a couple weeks.

Chris Borich made it two wins in a row in the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Series with an exciting victory at the Maxxis General GNCC – round two of the series in Washington, Ga.

Racing was close all day, with four riders going nose-to-trail for much of the two-hour race. Warnert Racing Can-Am’s Chris Bithell moved into the lead on the opening lap and held it for most of the day with Borich, Adam McGill and Brian Wolf following closely behind. However, on the final lap, Bithell and Borich broke away into their own personal battle for the lead.

With half a lap to go Borich made his move, cutting under Bithell in a sweeping turn on one of the fastest portions of the track. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider made the pass stick and held on to take the win by just three seconds over Bithell.

Chris Borich took the first step towards adding a third GNCC title to his résumé on the weekend by winning the opening round of the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Series at the Moose Racing Westgate River Ranch event, near River Ranch, Fla.

Last year, Borich won 11 of 13 rounds to claim the 2010 title, and this year the Yoshimura Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider picked up right where he left off, using a strong final lap push on the rough and sandy course to take the opening round victory over Ballance Racing Yamaha‘s Taylor Kiser and Warnert Racing Can-Am Foremost Insurance’s Chris Bithell.

“This is a good win for us,” says Borich. “We got the lead on the last lap and I put the hammer down and tried to pull a gap. I can’t thank my team enough. For sure, it was a team effort and a good win.”

Coming off a strong finish last season, Motoworks/ Can-Am Pro riders Chad Wienen and John Natalie were heavy favorites coming into the first round of the AMA ATVMX Championship, presented by DWT. They certainly lived up to expectations.

Josh Upperman grabbed the moto one holeshot aboard his Baldwin Motorsports Honda, taking over the lead early on. Natalie and Wienen weren’t letting Upperman out of their sight, though. Pro class Rookie Joel Hetrick got a great holeshot behind the veteran riders. On lap 5, Natalie went over the berm, allowing his teammate Wienen to cruise on by for the second place position. Hetrick also capitalized on Natalie’s mistake, moving himself into the third spot behind Wienen.

Chris Borich claimed his 11th win of the season, leading from start to finish at the Amsoil Ironman GNCC – the 13th and final round of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series in Crawfordsville, Ind.

In one of his most dominating performances of the year, the Yoshimura Suzuki rider grabbed holeshot to start the race and then quickly pulled away as the rest of the field jockeyed for position. After two hours of racing Borich crossed the finish line with over a minute to spare ahead of second place.

“I got a good start and I knew I had the championship all wrapped up so I decided to go out put the hammer down to see what I could pull,” says Borich. “It was just an awesome day out there and I was having a ball all by myself.”

Chris Borich wrapped up his second-straight Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series title with an exciting win at the ITP Power Line Park GNCC in St. Clairsville, Ohio.

As usual, the Yoshimura Suzuki-backed Borich played it smart during the first part of the race, biding his time and checking out lines before making his move at the halfway point of the two-hour event. When the time was right, Borich knifed his way through the pack in a spectacular run to the front, passing Ballance Racing Yamaha‘s Taylor Kiser, FRE KTM’s Bryan Cook, and Warnert Racing Can-Am teammates Chris Bithell and Adam McGill to claim his 10th win of the season and wrap up the XC1 championship with one round remaining on the schedule.

“It feels good and I’m especially glad to wrap it up with a win here in Ohio,” says Borich. “It’s been a heck of a season and I can’t thank Suzuki and Yoshimura enough – without them I wouldn’t be here. This took a team effort and I’m happy to be working with these guys.”

Chris Borich claimed an exciting win at one of the closest races of the year during the Titan GNCC in Lafayette, Tenn. After two hours of racing, the Yoshimura Suzuki-backed rider topped Ballance Racing Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser by less then two seconds to nab his ninth victory of the season and further extend his lead in the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series championship standings.

With the win Borich inched ever closer to a second-straight XC1 GNCC title, and now holds a 50-point lead over Kiser with just two races to go.

“I’ve just been training hard and the bike has been working awesome and things are working out for me – so this was a good win,” says Borich. “We’re getting close to that second championship and I think we can win a few more races before the year is over as well.”

Rockstar Makita Suzuki pilot Josh Creamer clinched the 2010 AMA ATV Motocross championship at the season finale at the Loretta Lynn Ranch. Teammate Dustin Wimmer, who came into the season with back-to-back titles of his own, finished second, giving the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team a 1-2 finish.

The season started out in Alabama in March, with Round 1 at Pell City. In his debut aboard the yellow Suzuki QuadRacer R450, Josh Creamer was determined to prove that he had the speed and the talent to put himself at the front of the pack. He did just that by taking both holeshots for the day, but it was his teammate Wimmer who came out victorious with 1-1 moto finishes. It looked like the defending champ wasn’t going to let his new teammate get to the top so easily, and Wimmer took the immediate lead in the points chase. Creamer finished third overall but was positive he could do better in the next round.

Josh Creamer sealed his first ever ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship at the final race of the 2010 season aboard his Rockstar Makita Suzuki at Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

Due to inclement weather throughout the weekend, track officials were forced to reduce the pro racing to a one moto format, which was won by Chad Wienen aboard his Motoworks Can-Am. Wienen took his second overall win in a row, while Dustin Wimmer rode through the mud to take second place.

“Here at Loretta’s, we had a really great weekend” says Wienen. “When the rain started, we didn’t look forward to it, but the track workers did a really great job getting the track back into shape.”

Chad Wienen took his first overall win of the 2010 season aboard this Motoworks Can-Am during round 10 of the AMA Pro ATV MX championship at Red Bud in Buchanan, Mich.

Baldwin Motorsports/PEPs Josh Upperman took the win over the field in Moto 1 with the current points leader, Rockstar Makita Suzuki‘s Josh Creamer in the second spot, and Wienen in the third spot. In the second moto, Wienen was able to pass through the field to take the second moto win, and the overall with 3-1 finishes. Creamer’s 2-2 scores for second overall put him 40 points ahead in the 2010 ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship standings going into the final round two weeks from now at Loretta Lynn Ranch.

“This weekend at Red Bud was very exciting,” says Wienen. “This win was a long time coming, but everyone has been working really hard. You know, that’s what it takes to be on top, a lot of hard work and you have to have a lot of fun. I definitely had a lot of fun here at Red Bud.”

Josh Creamer captured his sixth overall win this season during round nine of the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship presented by Parts Unlimited at Unadilla Valley Sports Center in New Berlin, NY. Creamer was able to take the overall win with 3-1 finishes, and continues to lead points in the chase for the AMA Pro ATV MX Championship. With this win, Creamer lead stretches out to a 30 point advantage over his Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammate Dustin Wimmer.

The Suzuki duo may be in front in the points but it was Baldwin Motorsports PEPs Josh Upperman who was in front of the field when he grabbed the holeshot and the early lead in moto one. Wimmer followed Upperman off the start, while Motoworks Can-Am rider Chad Wienen, and Creamer battled for third. As the race went on, Creamer was able to move into the third spot behind Upperman and Wimmer at the finish.

Pennsylvania’s own John Natalie took home the overall win aboard his Motoworks Can-Am during round eight of the AMA Pro ATV MX Championship at Pleasure Valley Raceway in Armagh, Pa. This win marks Can-Am’s first time winning an AMA Pro ATV MX overall. Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki‘s Josh Creamer finished second overall, further extending his points lead over his teammate Dustin Wimmer.

“The weekend went really well for me here at Pleasure Valley” says Natalie. “I was able to grab Can-Am’s first ever win in front of these amazing fans.”

Natalie started moto one by grabbing the holeshot and the early lead on the field. Throughout the moto, Natalie and Wimmer fought closely for the win, at one point making contact in a corner after Natalie lost his footing on the footpeg and came to a stop. The battled ragged on throughout the moto, but in the end Natalie won, followed by Wimmer, with Jeremy Lawson rounding out the top three.

Although the results are still unofficial, it appears that Brian Wolf will be $10,000 richer after winning the prestigious MotorcycleUSA.com Snowshoe GNCC in Snowshoe, WV – round nine of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series.

This is the second year in a row that the HMF Honda rider has claimed the top prize at this race, despite the fact that he’s an XC2 Pro-Am rider. What made it even more exciting was that Wolf battled back and forth with eventual Pro class winner Chris Borich in a thrilling race that was only decided in the final few miles.

The Snowshoe GNCC is a special event in that $50,000 bonus money is paid out based on the overall finish of the race, and factoring in a time differential (the XC2 class started a minute-and-a-half behind the XC1 class, Wolf was awarded the overall win despite physically crossing the finish line behind Borich. In the meantime, Borich went home with a $5,000 check for finishing second overall, while another XC2 rider, Walker Fowler, claimed $3000 for finishing third overall.

Josh Creamer took home his third overall win in a row aboard his Rockstar Makita Suzuki during round seven of the AMA Pro ATV MX Championship at Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, TN. Creamer may be on a winning streak, but his overall win today was not an easy feat. With second place finishes in each of the two motos, Creamer took the overall win, and moved him 20 points ahead of his teammate Dustin Wimmer in the chase for the championship.

“Today turned out really well for us,” said Creamer. “This is our third win in a row, and we’ve extended our points lead ever further.”

Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki started their weekend on a high note when current champion, Dustin Wimmer, earned the $100 ATVRiders.com Fastest Qualifier award. Going into today’s event, many slated Wimmer as the man to beat, but he first had to overcome more of the hard luck that has slowed his charge for a third-straight ATV MX Title.

At the start of moto one, Baldwin Motorsports PEP’s Josh Upperman took the first corner and the $250 MotorcycleUSA.com holeshot award. Although Upperman was off to the early lead, it wasn’t long before Motoworks Can-Am rider John Natalie and Dustin Wimmer were headed for the front. As the riders jumped through the pro section, Natalie’s bike shut off mid-air, forcing Wimmer to land on top of him.

Josh Creamer took the overall win aboard his Rockstar Makita Suzuki during round six of the AMA Pro ATV MX championship at Spring Creek Motocross Park in Millville, Minn.

Creamer was able to lead start to finish in both motos, dominating the field at one of the roughest tracks these riders have seen. With Creamer’s win, he now is 15 points ahead of his teammate and two-time defending Champion, Dustin Wimmer for the 2010 ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship.

“This weekend went really well for me” says Creamer. “I was able to put the Rockstar Makita Suzuki back on top again, and further my points lead. What can I say? That’s a great weekend.”

Wimmer had the distinction of being the fastest qualifier, edging out teammate Creamer by just tenths of a second to take the first gate pick.

Yoshimura Suzuki rider Chris Borich earned his sixth win of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series at a muddy Wiseco John Penton GNCC in Millfield, Ohio.

Anyone who has ever ridden the John Penton in the rain knows how slippery this race can get, and for sure, this one will go down as one of the muddiest. When a driving rainstorm left rivers of water cascading across the course, Trail Boss Jeff Russell made the decision to move the 1 p.m. start time back an hour to give the water a chance to subside. This helped the worst areas of the trail, but the damage was already done, and a steady afternoon rain didn’t help matters.

When the flag finally dropped to start the two-hour race, it was Jeffery Pickens who grabbed the holeshot, leading Borich, Balance Racing Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser, Honda-mounted Brent Sturdivant, FRE KTM’s Bryan Cook and Warnert Racing Can-Am’s Adam McGill through the first sections of the motocross course. Sturdivant actually held the lead at the end of the opening lap; however, Borich soon took the point, with Kiser, Cook, McGill and Sturdivant right on his tail.

For the second year in a row Josh Creamer dominated the ATV Stampede at Steel City, earning a 1-1 moto sweep during round five of the AMA Pro ATV MX Championship in Delmont, Pa.

Creamer had his work cut out for him throughout the weekend, battling to the front in both motos to take the win aboard his Rockstar Makita Suzuki. Creamer’s success moves him back into the points lead ahead of teammate Dustin Wimmer in the chase for the 2010 ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship.

“This was a hard fought weekend,” says Creamer. “I didn’t get the starts, but we pulled through and got the win.”

At the start of moto one, Josh Upperman grabbed yet another holeshot aboard his Baldwin Motorsports PEP Honda. Upperman, Yamaha/Mushin/Golden West’s Thomas Brown and Can Am/Motorworks John Natalie immediately hooked up in a three-way battle for the lead. In heartbreaking style, Upperman suffered engine problems and was towed off the track on Lap 3. Natalie now held the lead, but the Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki teammates of Creamer and Wimmer began to battle through the pack.

As many as five different riders held the lead during a wet and wild Moose Mountain Ridge GNCC. However, after two hours of bar to bar racing, Yoshimura Suzuki‘s Chris Borich emerged with his fifth win of the season, adding to his already impressive points lead in the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series.

A steady and sometimes driving rain moved in over Somerset, Pennsylvania, just as the flag dropped to start the afternoon race. And exiting the first turn with the lead was Yamaha rider Jeffrey Pickens. Following Pickens was a tightly spaced group consisting of Borich, Ballance Racing/Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser, FRE KTM’s Bryan Cook, and Warnert Racing Can-Am teammates Adam McGill and Chris Bithell.

During the first half of the race, Pickens, Borich, Kiser, McGill and Bithell, all held the lead at one point or another, although Bithell held the lead for the longest stint. However, after pulling his goggles off when they got covered with mud, Bithell caught a stick in the eye and pulled off the track to recover, leaving Kiser, Borich and McGill to battle for the win.

Josh Upperman took home his first career overall win aboard his Baldwin Motorsports PEP Honda during the fourth round of the AMA Pro ATV MX championship at Sunset Ridge Motocross Park in Walnut, Ill.

Upperman was able to take the overall with start to finish win in moto one, but was overcome by two time defending Champion Dustin Wimmer in the second moto, finishing runner up in moto 2. With third and first place moto finishes, Wimmer took second overall but moved back into the points lead over teammate Josh Creamer for the 2010 ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship.

“Everything fell into place this weekend for me. It feels so great to be up front running with these top guys,” says Upperman. “It really was a great race. Mark Baldwin and Wayne Mooradian had the bike working perfect for me. I couldn’t be happier.”

Upperman started the weekend off right, taking the holeshot moto 1. Motoworks Can-Am teammates John Natalie and Chad Weinen battled closely behind Upperman at the start of the race. Unfortunately, the battle ended early at lap five when Weinen and Natalie raced side by side and came together. Both were thrown from their machines, and Weinen took a somber ride back to the trailer with a DNF while Natalie was able to come back to sixth. This left the door open for Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammates Josh Creamer and Dustin Wimmer to capture the second and third positions respectively, while Upperman walked away from the pack with the win.

Upperman continued his reign in the second moto by again capturing the holeshot. This time, Wimmer was just seconds behind Upperman, and Natalie and Creamer were both fighting towards the front. At the halfway point in the race, everything changed. Creamer was able to get by Natalie and take the third spot, but then accidentally pulled his own tether cord, shutting off the machine and falling back to sixth. On the same lap, Wimmer made the pass on Upperman and walked away with the second moto win.

“The second moto we were running in third and somehow my kill switch came unplugged,” says Creamer. “I’m just glad I was able to get my Rockstar Makita Suzuki back on the podium this weekend.”

Upperman was still able to take the overall win, followed by Wimmer in second and Creamer with third.

“I’m just happy to come out and be neck and neck with my teammate Josh Creamer,” says Wimmer. “I had a good second moto and was able to make up some points and regain the points lead. is great motivation leading into Round 5.”

In the Pro-Am Production class, Joel Hetrick continued his success with wins in both motos. In the first moto, Joel was able to quickly pass to the front and ran away from the rest of the pack. Jeffrey Rastrelli continued his success this season with a second overall with 2-3 moto scores and the first moto Idol Speed Holeshot award. Travis Moore captured third overall with a 3-4. William Cottage took the moto 2 Idol Speed Holeshot award.

The series travels next to Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa. for the ATV Stampede on May 29-30.

Chris Bithell claimed his first win in almost two years, and the first of the year for Can-Am, with an impressive and exciting come-from-behind performance at the Yadkin Valley Stomp GNCC in Yadkinville, NC – round six of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series.

Despite the fact that most of the GNCC-regulars consider the Yadkinville course to be one of the toughest to pass on, Bithell was dead last at the start of the two-hour race, and still managed to pass the rest of the XC1 field, and most of the XC2 riders, en route to the victory.

Ballance Racing/ Yamaha‘s Taylor Kiser appeared to be heading to his second win of the year nearing the end of the race, until Bithell came calling on the final lap, as the two riders diced back and forth for the lead.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki‘s Josh Creamer pulled out his second win in a row at the TriangleCycles.com Birch Creek National, in Danville, Va., in a thrilling, fast-paced second moto that saw four different riders take the lead. Creamer now sits at the top of the points standings of the 2010 ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship. His teammate Dustin Wimmer took second ahead Yamaha‘s Thomas Brown.

“I’m really thrilled we got the win,” says Creamer. “We didn’t get holeshots this weekend, I was actually getting too much traction leaving the gate so I was struggling keeping the power under control. We worked our way through the pack both motos and ended up winning. Even if we don’t get holeshots we can still work our way up through.

“Everything on the bike was working good. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki was working awesome. The Fox Shocks were working well. I could get the bike wherever I wanted. It was hard to pass on the track so I had to stick it in there and have to make the passes happen. The second moto, we got a little bit of lead at the end of the race and that sealed the win.”

The Acerbis Loretta Lynn GNCC in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. was wet and muddy after an all-day rain pummeled central Tennessee; however, the racing couldn’t have been more exciting, as Chris Borich emerged from a four-rider battle to make a last-lap pass to claim his fourth win of this year’s Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series.

Borich grabbed the holeshot to start the race, putting his Yoshimura Suzuki at the front of a tightly-packed group that included Ballance Racing/ Yamaha‘s Taylor Kiser, Warnert Can-Am‘s Adam McGill and Yamaha rider Don Ockerman. For most of the first lap the front-runners played it safe, checking out lines and waiting for someone to make a mistake. McGill got tired of the game, however, and made a move near the end of the opening lap, taking the point and leading Borich, Kiser and teammate Chris Bithell across the finish line to complete the opening lap.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki newcomer Josh Creamer took his first overall win for the team at the Ballance Moto X in Bowling Green, Ky., round two of the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV MX Championship presented by Parts Unlimited.

The Suzuki rider took the win over teammate and Defending Champion Dustin Wimmer and Joe Byrd Quad Racing School’s Joe Byrd, in optimum track and weather conditions.

“The race went really well,” says Creamer. “Practice wasn’t that great for me, we were only about top five or six in practice. Once we started racing, I got great holeshots and the Rockstar Makita Suzuki was working fantastic. It had plenty of power, and it was handling was good. The second moto we just checked out. It just worked out really well. I’d like to thank my whole team under the Rockstar Makita Suzuki tent, and Yoshimura and all the sponsors we have. Everything’s just going really well this year.”

Defending Champion Chris Borich continues to dominate the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, claiming his third win in four races at the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC in Union, SC on Saturday, April 10.

Borich’s M.O. this year has been to come from behind, and today was no different, as the Yoshimura Suzuki rider got off to a so-so start and then carved his way to the front, passing Ballance Racing/ Yamaha‘s Taylor Kiser with less than a lap to go to take the win.

“I worked hard for this one,” says Borich. “I saw the white flag and I decided it was time to go, but there was not much room for passing out there and Taylor was going really well.”

For the final two laps, Kiser and Borich were never more than a few lengths apart, and their fierce battle carried them to a healthy cushion over third place, which at first was held by FRE KTM’s Bryan Cook, and then later by Can-Am‘s Adam McGill. Kiser might have held on for the win had Borich not saved an ace up his sleeve for the final lap.

Two-time defending champion Dustin Wimmer opened the 2010 ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship season with an almost effortless campaign to the top of the podium, with 1-1 moto wins at the Millcreek Raceway in Pell City, Alabama.

“I really love this track,” says Rockstar Makita Suzuki‘s Wimmer. “Millcreek is great. I think this is my sixth-straight moto win here. I’m out here to win, what can I say?”

The day started with ominous clouds in the distance that threatened a serious downpour, and just as the Pro-Am Production gate was loaded for the first moto, the rain came down hard for several minutes. While Chase Snapp roared to a first-place finish over Honda rider Jeremy Tulenchik and Marc Winchester, the downpour turned to a light sprinkle for the first moto for the Pros.

Chris Borich claimed his second win of the 2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country season and extended his lead in the championship standings with a gritty performance at round three of the series at Steele Creek in Morganton, NC.

The Yoshimura Suzuki rider trailed Yamaha teammates Bill Ballance and Taylor Kiser on the narrow and undulating 11.2-mile circuit, the three riders running nose-to-tail for much of the race. Borich finally found his way into the lead on the final lap, beating Kiser to the finish by just over a second after two hours of racing. Ballance held on for third ahead of FRE KTM’s Bryan Cook and Yamaha rider Jeffrey Pickens.

Ballance grabbed the holeshot by narrowly edging Yamaha-mounted Don Ockerman across the holeshot stripe to start the day’s premier race. Kiser moved into formation with Ballance midway into the opening lap, and the duo extended their lead over the field until lappers held them up on lap two, allowing Borich and Can-Am‘s Adam McGill to close in.

After an exciting opening round last weekend in Florida, the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series moved north to Washington, Ga., for the Maxxis General GNCC, where Taylor Kiser took advantage of a mistake by early leader Chris Bithell to claim a solid win in the XC1 division.

Last week’s winner, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Chris Borich, finished the day in second, while ATV legend Bill Ballance rounded out the podium. After two rounds, Kiser and Borich share the lead in the series standings, with 55 points each, while Adam McGill (39), Ballance (37) and Bithell (34) round out the top five.

For the second week in a row Don Ockerman got out of the gate first, leading fellow Yamaha riders Kiser, Ballance, and Jeffrey Pickens through the first turn. However it was Can-Am’s Bithell with the lead when the front-runners came through the finish line area to complete the first lap. For the next two laps Bithell maintained a slight lead while Borich, Ballance and Kiser fought over second. That order changed drastically when Bithell hit a tree at speed, collecting both Ballance and Borich in his wake, and handing Kiser the lead. From there it was Kiser’s show, with the Floridian cruising home with an eight-second cushion over second.

The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series kicked off its 2010 schedule in grand style as riders from nearly 25 states attended the opening round at the Westgate River Ranch in Lake Wales, Fla. on Sunday, Feb. 28.

Chris Borich came into the Parts Unlimited River Ranch GNCC as the heavy favorite after dominating last year’s series, and the Yoshimura Suzuki rider backed it up by coming from behind to take a thrilling win in the XC1 final. Meanwhile, Honda-mounted Brian Wolf took the win in the highly competitive XC2 division, also turning in a come-from-behind performance.

Yamaha‘s Don Ockerman grabbed the holeshot, leading fellow Yamaha riders Taylor Kiser and Bill Ballance through the first turn to start the four-lap XC1 race. Warnert Can Am‘s Adam McGill and Borich were not far behind, with McGill taking the lead when the front-runners ducked into the woods for the first time. Kiser, Borich, and Warnert Can Am’s Chris Bithell followed McGill, running second, third and fourth at the two-mile mark.

In the final round of the 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series, the Klotz Ironman in Crawfordsville, Ind., Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chris Borich took his eighth-straight XC1 victory and his 10th of the season after taking the lead after his typical last minute campaign for the win. Yamaha’s Bill Ballance finished in second with Indiana native Ryan Lane in third.

Borich battled in third for most of the race while FRE KTM’s Adam McGill and Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser led him through one of the toughest tracks of the 13-stop GNCC tour. The track has some of the steepest hills on the circuit and rain the day prior had made it one of the muddiest, too.

“I like the last lap,” says Borich. “It was pretty tough out there but it was an awesome day. The hillclimbs were gnarly. This is one of the best tracks on the circuit and there were fans everywhere.”

Rockstar Yoshimura Suzuki’s Chris Borich may have wrapped up the 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Championship, but that obviously won’t change the way he races.

In yet another full-tilt battle for ATV supremacy, the Pennsylvanian outdueled FRE KTM’s Adam McGill to collect his seventh-straight win in the XC1 Pro class at the ITP Power Line Park GNCC in St. Clairsville, Ohio on Oct. 3. Houser Racing’s Bryan Cook took third on a track that featured perfect conditions through most of the course, but threw a few bottomless mud holes at the riders as well.

Borich’s day started poorly when he got stuck in one of those holes on the first lap.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chris Borich did what no other racer has been able to do in almost a decade. In the rain of the Moose Racing Yadkin Valley Stomp, round 11 of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, Borich was able to clinch the 2009 series after an intense battle that saw a leader change through almost every turn. Borich was able to narrowly beat FRE KTM’s Adam McGill and Nine-time Defending Champion Bill Ballance to take the overall win and the championship.

Ballance presented Borich with his new number one plate on the podium.

“When I started racing, I started out just having fun in the B class,” says Borich. “Ballance is a tough competitor. I’ve been behind him for years and I finally did it. It was a real tight tack out there and I got into seventh place. I didn’t know what to do so I just waited for someone to make a mistake.”

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chris Borich took a huge step toward securing his first Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series Championship by mounting a late-race charge to win the Can-Am GNCC at the Unadilla Valley Sports Center in upstate New York.

On the last lap, Borich sprinted away from Yamaha teammates Brandon Sommers and Bill Ballance, giving him his seventh XC1 pro class win of the season.

“I really wanted to win today, I wasn’t just coming here to score points,” says Borich, the GNCC points leader. “I had a lot of friends and family out here cheering me on. We were battling hard and everyone was riding well, but the Suzuki worked awesome. We kind of lost our way doing some suspension testing last week, but we kept our heads down, figured it out, and everything worked awesome today.”

Monster Energy Kawasaki‘s Josh Creamer bested the field at the Dirt Days National at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., the final round of the AMA ATV Motocross Championship. However, it was Dustin Wimmer of Rockstar Makita Suzuki who won the series championship.

Wimmer finished fourth overall on the day, behind Creamer, Honda’s Joe Byrd and Warnert Can-Am’s John Natalie, but it was more than enough to secure his second straight title.

“It feels great,” says Wimmer. “It was a really hard year for the team with me getting injured the fourth race in. I had to work hard and come back strong from the injury. I had a six moto win streak going up to this race. I really got back on top of things.

“At first, I didn’t think I could come back. After I raced the first race back I was like ‘this is pretty impossible if I race like this again’ but then I got some recovery time. All three of us (contenders Chad Wienen and Joe Byrd) could have won it this year. We all had our share of bad luck but we came out on top.”

Rockstar Makita Suzuki‘s Dustin Wimmer sailed to his sixth win of the year in a methodical 1-1 moto sweep at RedBud MX in Buchanan, Mich.

Wimmer has run the gamut of luck this season, starting off exceptionally well, then sitting out two races with an injury, struggling trying to mount a comeback, and then winning the last two races back. Now, Wimmer stands close to winning back-to-back championships in the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited, this one his toughest yet.

Monster Energy Kawasaki‘s Josh Creamer and Chad Wienen were close behind, keeping the Kawasaki versus Suzuki fight alive for in the Manufacturer’s Cup Championship.

In moto one, Creamer took the holeshot and led the first five laps while Harold Goodman, Wimmer and Doug Gust stayed close behind. Wienen had a rough start, starting back in ninth but in typical Wienen fashion, recovered to fourth place by the end of the moto. Wimmer passed Goodman on the 2nd lap and pressured Creamer until the 6th lap, when he took the lead for the win.

In what turned out to be one of the most exciting AMA ATV Motocross races in recent memory, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki‘s Dustin Wimmer passed a battling Joe Byrd and Josh Creamer in the last corner of the second moto to steal the overall win at Pleasure Valley Raceway, host of round nine of the 2009 ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship.

Honda‘s Byrd appeared headed to the overall via 2-1 moto scores until Monster Energy Kawasaki‘s Creamer attempted an aggressive pass in the final corner of the race, leaving the two riders tangled together and giving Wimmer a path into victory lane.

“It all happened so quick,” says Wimmer. “I was just trying to get around Josh to get some points back for second place and we came over that tabletop side by side and I guess they got tangled up and I went right around them. It happened so quick I didn’t really know what happened!”

In an unprecedented surprise, privateer Brian Wolf on a Yamaha took home the overall win at the MotorcycleUSA.com Snowshoe GNCC, round 9 of the 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, making him the first XC2 Pro-Am ATV rider ever to take a GNCC overall win.

Wolf was welcomed on the podium with wolf howls and thunderous applause by the largest podium crowd the 2009 season has seen so far.

“I’m so pumped, so excited to be here,” Wolf said as he accepted his $10,000 purse prize from MotorcycleUSA.com. “I’m really not going for the overall. I’m going for the XC2 Championship. This is just a bonus. “

Making the win even bigger, Wolf said this would be his last year competing in GNCC and when asked if he thought he would return for the next season because of his big win, Wolf still didn’t have any definite answers.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s ATV team took its third overall victory in a row after Chad Wienen’s stellar 1-1 performance at Unadilla Valley Sports Center in New Berlin, N.Y. during Round 7 of the AMA Pro ATV Motocross Championship Series.

Honda’s Josh Upperman grabbed the holeshot in the first moto, with Suzuki’s Doug Gust and Wienen close behind. Wienen got past Gust on the sixth lap and reeled in Upperman three laps later. Upperman was able to hold off Gust to finish second. Gust finished ahead of a pack of three Can-Am riders to finish third.

Honda’s Joe Byrd, who was leading the series coming into Unadilla, had a crash while he was running fourth. He managed to finish 11th in the moto. Defending champion Dustin Wimmer, who was still nursing an injured shoulder, was way back in 17th after the first lap, but he fought his way up to 10th.

In the second moto Gust got off to a great start to grab the holeshot ahead of Wienen. The Kawasaki pilot got past Gust quickly for the lead – one he would not relinquish. Gust was holding second until the final lap when Can-Am’s John Natalie passed him right before the finish.

The Wiseco John Penton GNCC, round 8 of the 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series, presented some of the tensest racing action thus far this season as Rockstar/Makita Suzuki‘s Chris Borich took the win after a neck-and-neck race with FRE KTM’s Adam McGill in dry, sunny conditions. McGill eventually broke his A-Arm and finished 13th. Yamaha‘s Taylor Kiser finished in second and Warnert Can-Am‘s Chris Bithell made his first podium appearance this year in third place.

The race began as the riders took the first turn in a roaring freight train. Kiser got off to a great start and took the holeshot. McGill, Houser Racing’s Bryan Cook, Jeff Pickens, and Bithell followed in hot pursuit. The 12-mile race track prevented most pass attempts but McGill was able to take the lead by the end of the first lap, followed by Cook, Kiser and Pickens.

Borich began making his move in the second lap after a slow start at the beginning, and was able to move up to second place, right on the heels of McGill. Cook, in one of the best races he’s had since his win at Steele Creek, fell to third but kept a close gap on the leaders. Bithell began moving up and by the end of the second lap was in fourth place.

Monster Energy Kawasaki‘s Josh Creamer and Chad Wienen took home the top two spots on the podium during round six of the AMA Pro ATV MX championship at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa..; a first since Kawasaki made its return to ATV motocross racing a few seasons ago.

Creamer took decisive victories in the first and second motos, a welcome comeback to the front after a few tough races.

“It’s been a rough two weeks,” says Creamer. “I’ve spent a lot of time working on this and I couldn’t be more happy.”

Steel City’s event featured a dry first moto and a muddy second race as afternoon thunderstorms came down.

“It was pretty unpredictable,” says Wienen. “I’m not a mud rider but the bike was working awesome.”

Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Chris Borich claimed his second-straight Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series victory after a two-hour duel with FRE KTM’s Adam McGill at the Mountain Ridge GNCC in Somerset, Pa. on May 16.

McGill finished just inches away from Borich’s back bumper, and then, for added dramatics, Borich’s engine blew as he crossed the finish. GT Thunder Yamaha’s Brandon Sommers took his third-straight podium finish with a third.

“It was so much fun, that might have been the best battle me and Adam we’ve had,” says Borich. “I got an okay start, I was hooked up with (Chris) Bithell there in third, then he made a mistake in a rock section and I went around him. They told me I was down 45 seconds to McGill, so I just decided to put the hammer down and see what we had.”

McGill had the early lead after passing Jeff Pickens, and then braced for a battle.

Race officials from the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series have announced revisions to the results based on penalties in the XC1 Pro ATV class from the Weekend Warrior Titan GNCC.

During the race, officials became aware of three riders venturing outside of the allotted 25-feet from the course marker arrows during a section of the first lap on racing. The Racer TV crew captured the section on video, and the video was studied at the track on race day. However, greater analysis was available with the equipment utilized at the Racer Productions TV studios in Morgantown, WV.

After analyzing the video and data collected from track check points, it was identified that Adam McGill, Don Ockerman and Taylor Kiser had missed a section of the course, passing competitors in the process.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chad Wienen brought home his first win of the season at his home track during round five of the AMA Pro ATV MX championship at the Sunset Ridge National in Walnut, Ill. on May 3.

Wienen went 1-1 in perfect weather conditions to move into third place for the Championship. This is the first round since series leader Dustin Wimmer has been out with an injury and he drops to second in the points behind new series leader Joe Byrd, who struggled during the day with 6-19 moto scores. Warnert Racing Can-Am’s Cody Miller nabbed second followed by Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Doug Gust in third.

“I just felt really comfortable and got great starts which helped me along the entire weekend,” says Wienen. “It was just a weekend where everything came together and I don’t think anything could have gone better for me. Having my fans cheering me on made my job a lot easier.”

Note: Several days after the XC1 Pro ATV race at the Weekend Warrior Titan GNCC it was discovered that Taylor Kiser, Adam McGill and Donald Ockerman missed a portion of the course. Kiser was penalized two positions, while McGill and Ockerman were penalized three positions. Click here for a full description, updated results and standings. What follows is the original race report filed before the infractions were made public.

Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser fought deep mud and constant position changes on his way to winning the Weekend Warrior Titan GNCC in Lafayette, Tenn. on May 2.

“I just kept telling myself to keep steady and not make any mistakes,” says Kiser. “I pushed as hard as I could push. I’m so happy it’s unbelievable.”

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chris Borich recovered after his disappointment at Loretta Lynn’s, where he broke a chain, to take second place, while Kiser’s teammate Brandon Sommers took his second podium in a row with third place.

“I just tried to ride smooth today,” says Borich. “I was pretty bummed out by the last one. This is a big confidence booster.”

Defending GNCC Champion Bill Ballance did what he does best at the Acerbis Loretta Lynn GNCC – he won. Ballance powered his Yamaha YFZ450R to his first win of the season in round five of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. on April 18.

“I’m getting better and stronger,” says Ballance. “Oh man, it puts me back in the hunt.”

Ballance, winner of the last nine GNCC Titles, started the year with two-straight Did Not Finish (DNF) scores as he struggled to recover from having three ribs surgically removed from his side.

Ballance’s teammate Brandon Sommers came in second, making it on the podium for the first time this season. FRE KTM’s Adam McGill kept his consistent season going by claiming another podium with third – his fifth podium finish in five races this season. The hard charging pack battled on the Loretta Lynn Ranch GNCC course, which featured hills, hills and more hills.

Despite a stiff challenge from a very game AMA ATV Pro Motocross field, Dustin Wimmer picked up his third victory of the season at the Trianglecycles.com ATV National at Birch Creek Motorsports in Danville, Va. on April 19.

Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Wimmer held off Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chad Wienen and Honda’s Joe Byrd for the victory via 2-1 scores in the motos.

“That was a pretty crazy moto,” says Wimmer of his intense second-moto battle with Byrd and Wienen. “The start wasn’t too bad, I got up into that first turn and there was a bunch of bumping. I got hung up a little bit and a couple people got around me but I worked my way up through and caught up to Chad. My shocks were working great so I was able to out power by him over a jump and just stick it.”

The win pushes Wimmer’s points lead up to six after Byrd had closed the gap to one point coming into the race.

Two-time AMA ATV Motocross champion Joe Byrd vaulted himself right back into the chase for the 2009 crown with a dominant double-moto sweep and overall win at round three of the season, the Bluegrass National, at Ballance MX in Bowling Green, Ky. on April 5.

The veteran Joe Byrd Quad Riding School Honda-backed rider topped Monster Energy Kawasaki’s rejuvenated Chad Wienen and defending AMA ATV MX Champion Dustin Wimmer on the podium.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Wimmer won the first two rounds of the season, but admitted the tight, technical Ballance MX track wasn’t to his liking. Byrd’s 1-1 day brings him within one point of Wimmer in the series standings.

“With Wienen and Wimmer right there it’s a great match and really a matter of who gets the best lines,” says Byrd. “These guys are always a challenge and you can never let up.”

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chris Borich became the first repeat winner of the season as he beat out some stiff competition at round three of the 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series at the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC in Union, SC on April 4. Borich’s win puts him at the top of the points standings, nine points ahead of FRE KTM’s Adam McGill.

McGill finished right behind Borich and has finished on the podium in all four races this season. McGill held the lead late in the race, but Borich made a pass on him just a few turns from the finish after two hours of racing. McGill was the first to congratulate Borich at the finish. The defending GNCC Champion, Yamaha’s Bill Ballance, was back on the podium, taking third for the second round in a row.

“I finally got a good start,” says Borich. “The bike is working awesome. We were in a train there for awhile, it was a good time, pretty much like trail riding. It was a good battle.”

Defending champion Dustin Wimmer put together two near-perfect motos to win the FMF ATV Spring National at Millcreek Raceway on March 22. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider has won the opening two rounds of the 2009 ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship presented by Parts Unlimited.

“I take everything race-by-race and try to be real consistent and be up on the podium everytime,” says Wimmer. “Consistency wins championships.”

In the first moto, rookie Nick DeNoble led the pack by grabbing the first holeshot of his career. He stayed ahead of Honda Baldwin Motorsports’ Josh Upperman and Wimmer for several turns before falling behind both riders. Wimmer took over the lead, and a charging Joe Byrd rallied from a bad start to drop Upperman to third for the moto.

Derisi Racing’s Bryan Cook fought off a pack of top contenders to win the 2009 FMF Steele Creek GNCC in Morganton, NC on March 21.

KTM’s Adam McGill, defending GNCC Champion, Yamaha’s Bill Ballance, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chris Borich and Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser battled wheel-to-wheel until the final lap, when Cook claimed first with McGill fast behind in second and Ballance in third. The leaders traded in and out of first place as the notorious Steele Creek mud hole after the concrete bridge captured more than a few riders.

“It was awesome, but nerve wracking there in the middle,” says Cook. “I had a good start but I made a mistake there at the mud hole. I thought I had thrown it away because it was so hard to pass. I was pretty confident {going into the fourth lap} but it really depended on how you caught the lappers. It was just a fun day.”