2013 Steele Creek GNCC Series Results
Racing before his home crowd at Steele Creek GNCC in Morganton, N.C., Factory FMF/KTM rider Charlie Mullins not only took the XC1 Pro Class win, he also gained the points lead in the overall championship standings after three rounds.
The win was Mullins second this season, and he took the Steele Creek GNCC Victory ahead of teammate Kailub Russell – the former points leader – and KTM’s Chris Bach.
It was a tough race for Mullins, who began in 16th and had to work his way to the front. But by the end of the first lap, Mullins was in the lead, just ahead of Russell.
Like in previous rounds, the two KTM riders battled intensely, swapping the lead a few times in the first four laps. On the fourth lap, the riders began pitting, and KTM says this is when Russell began to feel the side effects from a cold he had been fighting earlier in the week.
Once Russell slowed his pace, Mullins was able to climb to a big lead and went on to take the win by two and a half minutes over Russell. Luckily, Russell had pulled a sizeable gap over the third place rider before the halfway point and he was still able to maintain second position. The third place ride went to fellow KTM rider Chris Bach to make it an all KTM podium sweep, KTM reports.
Charlie Mullins (Factory FMF/KTM GNCC) says: “It feels great to get a win here today. I always like this course and today it was exceptionally good. The rain prior to the race made the track conditions perfect and I felt really good all day. I am glad to head to the next round with the points lead.”
In the GNCC XC2 Pro Lites class, KTM support rider Jason Thomas put in an impressive ride leading the race until the final few corners. He was able to finish in 2nd position just ahead of the 3rd place KTM ride of Grant Baylor, KTM says.
The GNCC Women’s class was once again dominated by reigning champion, Maria Forsberg. The 4X GNCC Champion, started inside the top five and moved into the lead early in the race and never looked back. She took the win over RPM/KTM rider Kacy Martinez and the 3rd place ride of Jessica Patterson, KTM says.
The next GNCC Series event will get underway at Union, S.C., April 20-21, 2013
2013 Steele Creek GNCC Overall Results (XC1 and XC2 Combined):
- Charlie Mullins – KTM
- Kailub Russell – KTM
- Chris Bach – KTM
- Aaron Plessinger
- Jason Thomas – KTM
- Jordan Ashburn
- Grant Baylor – KTM
- Andrew Delong
- Rory Mead – KTM
- Nick Fahringer
2013 Steele Creek GNCC Overall Results Women’s Class:
- Maria Forsberg – KTM
- Kacy Martinez – KTM
- Jessica Patterson
- Becca Sheets
- Ashley Copeland
- Mandi Mastin – KTM
- Allie Spurgeon – KTM
- Emily Raines
- Shelby Rolen
- Hannah Otto – KTM
Overall Point Standings GNCC XC1 Pro:
- Charlie Mullins – 85
- Kailub Russell – 80
- Chris Bach – 52
Overall Point Standings GNCC XC2 Pro Lites:
- Andrew Delong – 78
- Jason Thomas – 66
- Grant Baylor – 62
Overall Point Standings GNCC Women’s Class:
- Maria Forsberg – 58
- Kacy Martinez – 57
- Jessica Patterson – 56