March 22, GNCC National, North Carolina

I knew I was a lot more prepared heading in to rnd 3 of the GNCC series in North Carolina. I had two more weeks on the bike to get my suspension sorted out, and just adapt to the bike. The Thursday before Drew Smith got my suspension back that he revalved. I knew I needed to try it out, because the stock stuff I had been ridding was as firm as I could get it. So I put Drew's WER setup on and it was a lot better for my riding style. I only got about two hours on the suspension, but even with this little time on this stuff I still new it was better setup for me to race on then the previous stuff.

The race started out well, I got a mid pack start, made a few passes in the fields before we headed off into the woods. It seemed like a mine field in the woods, riders were down every where. I ended up going over this ridge, further on the inside Jimmy Jarrett jumped right in front of me and came to a stop, and I couldn't slow down soon enough so I ended up plowing into the side of him. Then the next thing I knew we had a big bottle neck of riders trying to get by.

I got going again trying to shake off all that action, and started to get in my groove. About 2 miles in to the first lap we made it to the big mud-hole where all the spectators were. I saw a good line and headed for it, but the next thing I knew I had slid down into this deep mud and it just seemed to swallow my bike. My bike was berried about halfway under the mud. Luckily a guy jumped in and helped me dig the bike out. By the time I got going again it seemed like all the XC2 riders had gone by me. Once I was out of that mess I just tried to charge back up from my troubles on the first lap.

I was very happy the way my next 5 laps went. I was feeling like I was in my grove again, and that I was very smooth. The bikes power delivery was really nice I could leave it in 3rd gear and flow through some of the faster trails with ease. I did feel that I needed a little more time testing my new shock, I had my rebound to slow, and it was causing my rear end to pack as I would exit rutted bumpy corners.

Then just before the last lap I chose another bad line and got my bike stuck again, this time I had to get it out on my own. I just seemed to burn all my energy out, and had very little left after that. I had a rough last lap, just trying to get to the finish.

This race was definitely better for me, I showed some good speed, the bike was setup up pretty good, and I have to just get another two more weeks of hard training and riding and come back to South Carolina ready to go.