Beta results from both coasts!

GNCC - Round 5: Location: Society Hill, South Carolina Round five of the GNCC saw rain arrive before the event that created a challenging course with large mud holes and ruts. The stand-out rider of the event was Rachel Gutish finishing a respectable 3rd in the WXC class and an even more impressive 4th overall in the AM race out of close to 600 riders! The other team riders had an up and down day, however all of them finished inside the top 8 in their classes. Cody Barnes: 6th - XC2 class Thorn Devlin: 8th - XC2 class Chase Colville: 4th - XC3 class Rachel Gutish: 3rd - XCW class The next event for the Beta factory East team will be round two of the NEPG (National Enduro) series this weekend. The next GNCC race is round six in Mount Morris, Pennsylvania on June 14th. Cody Barnes 250 RR Race Edition "My Beta 250 RR got me off to a great start and I was quickly able to make the pass for the lead. I lead for a bit before making a small mistake and dropping a few positions. I was able to salvage 6th place for the day but that's not where I want to be. I will be working on some things in the next two weeks and will be back to give it my all." Thorn Devlin 250 RR Race Edition "The rough course and high temperatures made for a brutal Round 5 Camp Coker GNCC. Heavy rains the week of the race made for some bottomless mud holes and soft terrain. My Beta 250 RR got a great jump; getting the holeshot and in a great position for the start of the three hour race. Unfortunately, I got stuck in a sinkhole a few miles in. I was able to fight back a few positions and salvage some points on the day. Thank you to all our sponsors for the support and keeping us seeing checkered flags!" Chase Colville 125 RR Race Edition "I started the Camp Coker GNCC off with a mid pack start before working my way up to the lead group until I unfortunately fell twice on the first lap, losing sight of the lead group. I was able to ride the rest of the race mostly mistake free and finish in 4th!" Rachel Gutish 300 RR Race Edition "I am super stoked to have earned my first GNCC podium for the Factory Beta team! It's been a long time coming, and I'm glad I was finally able to live up to the belief the team has in me and the effort we all put in. I battled with the leaders nearly all day, and was happy to come home with a podium spot, especially given that Camp Coker is a race I usually struggle at." Photo Credit: Ken Hill

WORCS - Round 3: Location: Mesquite, NV WORCS racing continued with round two in Mesquite, Nevada. With temps above 100, the race was grueling to say the least. Beta factory rider Chance Fullerton was off to a good start running in third before catching a rock and breaking a bone in his foot. The young rider from Acton, California had to pull out of the race. Beta rider and Hare & Hound regular Zane Roberts used the WORCS race to train for when the NHHA returns. Roberts finished a respectable seventh place in the Pro2 class aboard his factory Beta 430 RR Race Edition. Zane Roberts: 7th - Pro2 class Chance Fullerton: DNF - Pro2 class The next event for the Beta factory West team will be round four of the WORCS series June 14th in Wickenburg, Arizona.

Beta Team Back to Business!

GNCC - Round 4: Location: Washington, Georgia Round four of the GNCC (Grand National Cross Country) series was held this past weekend in Georgia. The GNCC "Safe to Race" task force laid out guidelines for all racers to insure everyone's safety. Conditions were hot and dusty for the riders. Beta USA's factory team took safe measures as well with the technicians setting up on Friday and staying away from the event until the race day on Sunday.

Beta USA Factory team riders endured the conditions finishing as follows:

Cody Barnes: 5th - XC2 class; Thorn Devlin: 6th - XC2 class; Chase Colville: 5th - XC3 class; Rachel Gutish: 4th - XCW class

The GNCC series resumes May 30th in South Carolina. The team also will be attending Round two of the NEPG (National Enduro) series the following weekend on June 7th.

Cody Barnes 250 RR Race Edition "I got off to a decent start and went into the first woods section 2nd. With the tempers high and no rain in several days the track was very dusty making it almost impossible at times to see. I felt good early on and was running a comfortable pace however around the 5th lap I started having problems with hydration. I thought I had been consuming enough water throughout the race but with the hot weather I didn't drink enough and it made the last 2 laps very difficult. Very frustrated with myself for allowing this to happen when my Beta USA 250 RR was running awesome and I was in a good position to possibly get my first podium. I finished 5th in XC2 and 12th overall."

Thorn Devlin 250 RR Race Edition "It was very refreshing to get back to the track and continue racing. My Beta 250 RR had me off to a great start and ran strong, keeping me there until the checkered. I'm pleased with my finish as we made great progress and furthered our race craft."

Chase Colville 125 RR Race Edition "I started the day with a good start and worked my way into 2nd in the beginning stages of the race, unfortunately I started to cramp from dehydration and dropped back to 5th. My Beta 125 RR performed outstanding the whole three hours not giving me a single problem in the very dusty conditions."

Rachel Gutish 300 RR Race Edition "I still wasn't where I wanted to be at the Bulldog GNCC, but I'm closer than I've been all year. I finished fourth in WXC after successfully running with the front pack and at times leading during the first two laps. I had a minor crash on the second lap and lost sight of the leaders. Without being able to see them, I struggled to run their pace. The bike handled perfectly and I am super happy with my setup! I just need to focus on minimizing mistakes and work on my ability to maintain a fast pace while riding alone."

Photo Credit: Ken Hill

Beta support rider Cole Conatser wins 3 in a row, Zane Roberts earns an overall podium, and GNCC results from Florida!

National Hare & Hound Series, Round 3: Location: Las Vegas, NV

Beta USA riders finished on three podiums last weekend at the Mint 400. Beta support rider Cole Conatser finished on top of the Pro 250 podium for the 3rd time in a row extending his overall points lead. Zane Roberts had a 3rd place podium finish and is now 5 points from the overall leader in the series points lead. Morgan Tanke took home a 3rd place Women's Pro podium after a long day of racing outside her comfort zone. Tanke is currently seated in 4th place for the series points standings only 4 points behind 3rd. Joe Wasson also had a good race finishing in 4th place overall and is now just two points down away from 3rd place in the series points standings.

COLE CONATSER 250 RR Race Edition "I got a great 3rd place start, and the course was the fastest race I've ever done and the longest also being 160 miles! I'm looking forward to having some more technical races coming up! Idaho looks like a blast!”

ZANE ROBERTS 430 RR Race Edition "Stoked to bring home 3rd place at the Mint 400 this weekend! Going in I knew this race would be a little out of my comfort zone, and it certainly lived up to that expectation, so I was very pleased with a podium. Overall it was a great event with a large media presence, and I'm happy to have been a part of it.”

JOE WASSON 430 RR Race Edition "The Mint 400 was a really high-speed race with a lot of sketchy sections. I had a really close call towards the beginning of the race where I decided to back it down and play it safe. Looking forward to the next round!”

MORGAN TANKE 300 RR Race Edition "I tried to pace myself from the beginning knowing it was going to be a long day and rough course. The race course was very fast, so I had to learn really quick how to get comfortable with holding it wide open. It was definitely not like an average NHHA race, and I didn't like having to go as fast as we were going, it was scary! After holding 4th for half the race I was able to get into 3rd and bring it in on the podium. I'm happy with my result and am glad I could salvage a podium at a race that was pretty much the opposite of my style.”

GNCC, Round 2: Location: Palatka, FL Cody Barnes is starting to get his groove back finishing with a 4th place XC2 finish last weekend. Barnes is currently in 4th place in the series points standings. Teammate Thorn Devlin had a 9th place finish in Florida and is currently seated in 9th place for the XC2 class points standings. Chase Colville had another great performance ending the day in 6th place in the XC3 class. Colville is currently in 5th place just 9 points behind 3rd & 4th place for the series points standings. Rachel Gutish had a tough race finishing in 7th place, and is currently in 6th place in the WXC class points standings.

CODY BARNES 250 RR Race Edition "I started the day off with a good start and was in the top 5 the first lap. After I loosened up I started putting in good laps catching up to 4th place. At the end of the 5th lap I was able to make the pass for 4th place where I finished the day. After the first round I knew what I needed to improve on and was able to work on those things. My Beta 250 RR was running awesome today and handled the big sand whoops like a dream all day.”

THORN DEVLIN 250 RR Race Edition "Wild boar was a very grueling race both physically and mentally. My Beta 250 RR got a quick jump on the start where I ran with the lead pack for the first two laps. I'm happy to leave with valuable points, knowledge, and coming into round 3 healthy.”

CHASE COLVILLE 125 RR Race Edition "I was able to get a good jump off the start, but I ended up falling in the 3rd corner putting me behind the leaders. I then struggled to get a good pace going until the 3rd lap when I started to put in better lap times moving my way back up to 6th. My Beta 125 RR was handling great all day on the rough sand whoops.”

RACHEL GUTISH 300 RR Race Edition "I did not ride up to my potential in Florida. I am disappointed with both my finish and the way I rode. I spent way too much time on the ground and was never able to find a flow. I am ready to shake this one off and move on to Georgia next weekend!”

Beta Factory riders dominate at round 2 of the AMA National Hare & Hound series!

AMA National Hare & Hound, Round 2: Location: Post, TX Beta captures two Open Pro podium spots after Joe Wasson had a redeeming race taking 1st place while Factory Teammate Zane Roberts finished in 3rd. Roberts now leads the series points standings with Wasson in a close 3rd. Beta support rider Cole Conatser improved on his series lead taking home his second Pro 250 win of the season. Factory Team rider Morgan Tanke was close to a podium finish coming in a close 4th place in the Women's Pro class.

JOE WASSON 430 RR Race Edition "The day started out great, some fresh rain made for some intense battles. The top 4 swapped positions for the first half of the race, but it ultimately came down to another rider and myself battling for 75 miles. After finishing 5 seconds apart I came away with the win! Awesome race to say the least!”

COLE CONATSER 250 RR Race Edition "I ended round 2 in Post, Texas with a 1st place Pro 250 victory. I had a great race, and started way closer to the front. The course was awesome and it really fit my style of riding. I just had a really good time racing! Looking forward to the Mint 400 in Vegas next! Hope to keep the momentum going into round 3!”

ZANE ROBERTS 430 RR Race Edition "I had a great weekend in Texas for the second round of the NHHA series. I got off to a pretty mediocre start, but I charged hard and caught the top guys pretty quickly. From there it became a gnarly battle between the 4 of us for the lead for probably close to 30 miles. Unfortunately a fellow racer went down in front of me, and I had to stop to to make sure he was okay, and I kind of lost touch with the lead two who checked out on the final part of loop two. Overall I'm stoked to get a podium and can't wait to race again!”

MORGAN TANKE 250 RR Race Edition "The Texas NHHA course was definitely not like any other Hare and Hound. Tight single track and hundreds of turns made for a long day on the bike. I got a great start but had a hard time getting into a good race pace. I rode smooth all day, but it just wasn't enough, and ended up 4th on the day.”

GNCC Series, Round 1: Location: Union, SC Cody Barnes had his debut in the XC2 class, and after battling with 1st round jitters was able to take home a solid 6th place finish. Factory teammate Thorn Devlin wasn't too far behind taking home a 9th place finish in the XC2 class. Newly signed Chase Colville also put forth a solid performance finishing in 6th place in the XC3 class, while Factory Teammate Rachel Gutish took home a 5th place finish in the WXC class.

CODY BARNES 250 RR Race Edition "With this round being my very first race in the XC2 class at a GNCC I was a bit nervous. I got off to a good start, and was with the front pack for most the first lap. The first two laps I rode pretty tight and that cost me some positions and time. I found my groove and was able to make some good laps at the end of the race. I finished 6th in the XC2 class and 13th overall. My Beta 250 RR was handling the rough track super well and was running awesome! I now know what I need to work on for the next round to be up there and not lose that front pack. Looking forward to giving it another shot here in two weeks!”

THORN DEVLIN 250 RR Race Edition "With only a handful of GNCC's raced in my career, it is a solid start and I am confident we will be with the lead pack as I build confidence on the 3 hour race pace. Thank you to the entire Factory Beta USA team for the hard work and the opportunity.”

CHASE COLVILLE 125 RR Race Edition "I started off with a dead last start, and was able to work my way to the front of the pack on the first lap. I made the pass for the lead on the second lap, but unfortunately was taken out by a lapper. The rest of the day was a struggle for me although my Beta 125 RR handled the rough track and tree roots awesome. I couldn't ask for a better bike!”

RACHEL GUTISH 300 RR Race Edition "The race started off well - I entered the woods in fourth and was able to move up to third by the end of lap one. I was riding a consistent pace and was able to hang with the lead pack pretty easily though laps one and two. The 300's power was incredible, it never felt like I was having to ride hard to keep that pace. Unfortunately on the third lap a C rider I was lapping cut over on me. I hit him, then clipped a tree and went over the bars. I hit my head pretty hard and sustained a mild concussion. I was able to hang onto a fifth place despite a headache and dizziness, so I am grateful, but also disappointed that the race turned out this way after such a promising start. I plan to take most of next week off, but should be good to compete by next weekend.”

Zane Roberts with a Pro 250 win, Joe Wasson wraps up 2nd overall, and Mike Witkowski grabs second in XC2!

National Hare & Hound Round 9 Overview:

Location: Lucerne Valley, CA

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

-Beta Support rider Zane Roberts finished out the season with a win after sustaining a broken scapula only a few races prior to the event. Roberts ended the season 11 points behind the Pro 250 leader in 2nd place.

-Joe Wasson also finished out the season on the podium with a 2nd place Overall finish. Wasson battled the entire season for the lead while finishing just 15 points behind the OA leader.

-Chance Fullerton had a great performance at the final round finishing just shy of the Overall podium in 4th place. Fullerton's ability to adapt to the bigger Beta 430 RR Race Edition throughout the season, and his determination, showed in his results as he finished in 4th place Overall.

-Morgan Tanke had some bad luck in the final round resulting in a DNF. However, Tanke had a strong season with one win in the Women's Pro class and five 2nd place podiums resulting in a 2nd place finish for the 2019 National Hare & Hound series.

ZANE ROBERTS

Bike: 250 RR

"I was finally able to get things back on track this weekend at the final round of the National Hare & Hound series. I had some bad luck the past few races, so I was very happy to take a convincing win and end the season on a high note! I can't thank the whole Beta USA crew enough for helping make this a great season, and I'm excited for next year!"

JOE WASSON

Bike: 430 RR

"Round 9 was an awesome race! I knew going into it some miracles were going to have to happen for me to get the championship, but I still had a positive mindset! I got lined up on the start line and when the banner dropped we were off. 44 miles of virgin single track, rocks, and sand washes made for an awesome course. I was running third and made the pass for 2nd in the second loop. I could see the leaders dust, but I would have had to hang it all out there to get the win. It wasn't worth it because I still wouldn't have won the championship seeing how the points leader would have still been second, so I rode a smart race and had a blast!!!"

CHANCE FULLERTON

Bike: 430 RR

"The final round of National Hare & Hound went pretty well! After a horrible start, I charged to the front and ran 4th all day. I just couldn't make it to the lead group, but for my first year on a big bike I'll take it. I ended up only a couple points shy of 3rd in the championship! All in all I'm impressed with my overall riding. I can't wait to see how much more I have to improve. Thank you to everyone for the 2019 series!"

MORGAN TANKE

Bike: 250 RR

"Sunday was a tough day for me. I got off to a good start and was riding well. The course was very rocky and technical which I liked. I passed for second early into the first loop and held it going into loop 2. The technical sections of loop 2 gave me some breathing room between myself and the 3rd place rider and I was feeling good. Unfortunately my good day made a turn for the worse with about a mile to go. My motor seized up and I was dead in my tracks. After pushing my bike through the sand for a bit another racer came to the rescue and towed me to the finish, which unknowingly disqualified me due to a technicality. I'm extremely bummed that it ended up that way, but lucky I still managed a 2nd place in the championship for the team and I. I'm disappointed that my season ended this way, but I'm happy with how my first full season of desert racing went. I'm proud of what I've learned and accomplished and am excited for next year."

GNCC Round 12 Overview:

Location: Beckley, WV

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

-Mike Witkowski battled for the XC2 class lead for most of the day and ended taking home a 2nd place finish. Witkowski is currently in 3rd place for the series points standings 4 points behind 2nd place.

-Rachel Gutish finished just shy of the WXC podium in 4th place and is currently in 9th place for the series points standings.

MIKE WITKOWSKI

Bike: 250 RR

"The Mountaineer GNCC terrain was very rocky and hilly. The week prior I had rode at my local sand track getting my fitness up to par, but I didn't exactly have rocks to practice so I just went at it the best I could with a good mindset toward the race. My Beta 250 RR got off to a great start. I went into the woods in second, but quickly passed for first and tried to check out. Unfortunately, I didn't have all the hot lines picked out and was quickly passed. I sat back and learned from the leader taking in all the good lines. About three laps in, I found myself in contention for the win again. I took a pit stop on lap three and the leader didn't gas, so I had about 30 seconds to make up. I had a really good lap and kept the gap manageable until a lapped rider cleaned me out on a downhill. Ultimately it was a bad lap that caused the leader to break away even more. I settled for 2nd place and 9th overall for the day's end result. I think without that major crash, and a few mistakes, I could have cleaned up and would have been in the hunt for a win. We have one more race at the Ironman GNCC to make it happen!"

RACHEL GUTISH

Bike: 200 RR

"I got off to an excellent start at my last round of GNCC this season. I entered the woods in about fourth place, and by a few miles in had moved up into second. About three miles from the barrels I passed for the lead, and maintained it for several miles before dropping back into second. Lappers are a thing I have always struggled with, and as soon as we got into the thick of them on the third lap, I started to have quite a few problems. I dropped down into fourth place and was unable to make up any of the time I lost. With that being said, this is still the most competitive I have felt at a GNCC since I was injured. I have high hopes for next season! I am also looking forward to the rest of the EnduroCross series, where I am still in contention for the series title."

Photo by Kato

Barnes finishes on top of the XC3 podium at round 5 of the GNCC series, Gerston and Tremaine compete at Stix and Stones Extreme Enduro.

GNCC Round 8 Overview:

Location: Snowshoe, WV

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

Cody Barnes had another great race placing his Beta 125 RR Race Edition on top of the XC3 class podium at last weekend's round 8 of the GNCC series. Barnes is currently leading the series points standings by 13 points.

Mike Witkowski was riding great until he encountered some mechanical issues mid race, he was still able to get back out and salvage a 13th place finish. Witkowski is currently seated in 2nd place in the series points standings.

Rachel Gutish is back after a serious elbow injury. Gutish finished just off the podium in 4th place aboard her new Beta 200 RR race bike.

The next event for all three riders will be at the 6th round of the Sprint Enduro Series on July, 13th in Fairmount City, PA.

CODY BARNES

Bike: 125 RR Race Edition

"Snowshoe isn't really one of my best events, but leading up to the race I prepped really well with the help of Alex Teagarden who let me stay with him and practice in the rocks! I started quite a few rows behind my other competitors, because I wasn't in the top 20 overall in points. I knew that this race was all about time. On the first lap I was able to put my head down and latch onto some fast XC2 riders in front of me. I ran a good lap catching up to first place in my class who started on row 4 and I started on row 11. I knew I was already winning with the adjusted time and had to plan my next move. I followed for a little while until he made a mistake and I passed him. After that I put my head down and rode a pretty mistake free race! My Beta 125 RR handled the rocks awesome today! It made my job a lot easier, and I was able to come out with the win in XC3 and 14th overall which is my best overall of the year."

MIKE WITKOWSKI

Bike: 250 RR Race Edition

"The Snow Shoe GNCC is one of the best races on the circuit. With tons of fans and good tough racing. It's one you usually don't wanna miss. I started out good by hole-shoting my row and leading a bit which was cool verse some good competition. I was just getting my flow together on lap two and figuring out the track when I encountered a mechanical issue. When this happened I was at the bottom of the mountain. I had to ride 3 miles up the road to the pit. So fast forward 45 mins or more and the bike was fixed. I was so far down at that point, but I got back on the bike and finished the race. That's why we race, you never know what will happen. We won't give up till it's over with! Big thanks to everyone for getting me back on the track and working hard. I still have 4 more GNCC races to redeem myself and prove I belong on the podium every weekend."

RACHEL GUTISH

Bike: 200 RR

"Snowshoe is the gnarliest GNCC of the year, and I was definitely nervous about it being my first race back after elbow surgery and being on a brand-new bike on top of that! But, the bike performed like a champ and my elbow mostly held together. I'm definitely not satisfied with a fourth place finish, but I'm happy I was at least competitive for most of the race"

Stix & Stones Extreme Enduro Overview:

Location: Kellogg, ID

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

Max Gerston finished just shy of the podium in 4th place aboard his Beta 300 RR at the Extreme Enduro event.

Gerston next event will be at the Tough Like RORR Extreme Enduro event on July, 6th in Tamaqua, PA and Ty Tremaine will be competing in the next 2 rounds of EnduroCross.

MAX GERSTON

Bike: 300 RR

"The Stix and Stones Extreme Enduro was an awesome event. It had a ton of cool forest sections along with shale mountains and wet creeks to ride up. My 300 RR was working amazing and felt planted to the ground even in the nastiest of sections. I battled for the lead the majority of the race and a small mistake costed me big time. I came in a close 4th place. I really wanted a podium spot, but this race was a huge confidence builder for extreme races in the future. I can't wait till the next race!"

TY TREMAINE

Bike: 300 RR

"Day one @stixstonesoffroad is done and dusted. Had a ton of fun and my @betausa worked awesome. Ready for the big day tomorrow, this place is gnarly!!! Day two was the long race, 25 miles, allegedly impossible according to the promoters but I managed to make it through each section. My goal before the race was to finish top 5 but halfway through I changed that to just finishing. Very proud to cross the line in 8th of 9 finishers out of the over 400 who started the race."

Beta grabs 2 podiums in GNCC opener!

Grand National Cross Country Series Round 1 Overview:

Location: Palatka, FL

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

Mike Witkowski grabbed the holeshot and finished round 1 on the XC2 Class podium in 3rd place.

Cody Barnes finished round 1 on the XC3 Class podium in 2nd place.

The next race for both riders will be at the 2nd round of the Grand National Cross Country Series on March 16th-17th in Washington, GA.

MIKE WITKOWSKI

Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition

"The Wild Boar GNCC is always tough on the body and bikes as it is always hot and sandy with deep sand whoops. My Beta 250 RR got off to an awesome start grabbing the XC2 holeshot and getting me into the lead. I was feeling so good all day. I should've pushed harder toward the beginning of the day because the last couple laps I still had a lot left in the tank. I was happy with the winter prep I put in and my fitness. The bike soaked up the big sand whoops really well which I was happy about. All in all, it was a great weekend for Beta! Thank you Beta Racing and everyone for all the hard work. Glad it's paying off!"

CODY BARNES

Bike: Beta 125 RR Race Edition

"I got off to a good start and was sitting in 3rd and then moved into the 1st place spot at the beginning of the second lap. Then I was able to pull a small gap. As I went to pit for gas on the beginning of the third lap I noticed my radiator began leaking. Everyone gave a helping hand to replace the busted radiator. I lost a lot of time from the pit stop and dropped down several spots. By the end of the third lap I was able to make it back to 4th. I knew I was in podium contention, so I put my head down and pushed as hard as I could and was able to make it to the second place spot on the podium. My Beta 125 RR was running awesome all day! I'm happy with how I rode, I just had some things that were out of my control. Looking forward to next weekend."

Photos by Ken Hill

GNCC Round 11 Overview!

Location: Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania

Beta Factory Race Team Results

-Newly signed Cody Barnes raced his Beta 125 RR for the first time this season in a GNCC event. Barnes placed 4th at round 11 and is currently in 4th place in the XC3 class points standings.

-Mike Witkowski finished in 5th place aboard his 250 RR Race Edition, and is currently in 9th place in the XC2 class points standings.

The next event for the Beta USA Factory Team will be at the 12th round of the Grand National Cross Country Series in Clairsville, Ohio on October 13th. For more information on the GNCC series go to: https://gnccracing.com/

CODY BARNES

Bike: Beta 125 RR

"I started off with a second place start and was able to get in the lead within the first 3 corners. I lead the whole first lap and was feeling awesome on my Beta 125 RR. I was battling for first place during the second lap, but sadly on the 3rd lap after I made the pass for the lead I made a mistake. I ended up taking a bad crash on a straightaway and ended up hurting my right shoulder. By the time I got going again I was battling for third. I tried to keep pace to salvage a podium position but with my shoulder hurting I was making a lot of mistakes. I was forced to back down my pace to prevent any other injuries due to crashes. I ended up finishing 4th for the day."

MIKE WITKOWSKI

Beta 250 RR Race Edition

"The Mason Dixon GNCC track got a lot of rain during the week which made for a tough race. My Beta 250 RR handled the track with comfort all day. I ran 4th in the XC2 class most of the race until about two laps to go. I gave it 100% and didn't leave anything off the track. Some minor mistakes pushed me back to 5th in class for the day and 12th overall. One of my best rides this year. I really wanna get on the podium, I know we will get there before the year ends."

Photo by Ken Hill

Beta race team updates!

The 2018 EnduroCross season is in full swing (here in Reno this week!), and we also have GNCC and National Enduro series (NEPG) news.

EnduroCross Round 2 Overview:

Location: Costa Mesa, California

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

•Beta Chile rider Benjamin Herrera finished in 6th place during his second EnduroCross event ever at the stadium packed round 2! Herrera is currently in 8th place right behind Beta USA support rider Ty Cullins in the series standings.

•Morgan Tanke placed 3rd at round 2 and is currently in 3rd place for the series points standings.

•Mason Ottersberg Placed 15th at the event and is currently in 13th place in the series standings.

The next event for all three racers will be at the 3rd round of EnduroCross in Reno, Nevada on September 22nd. For more information on the EnduroCross series go to: https://www.endurocross.com/

BENJAMIN HERRERA

Beta Chile Factory Racer

Bike: Beta 300 RR Race Edition

"I am very happy with the result of the race, I was running up front with the speeds of first place which gives me even more confidence. I felt comfortable on the Beta 300RR Race Edition, and I can be even better because I know of all my mistakes and will correct them. The Beta USA team supported me a lot. We did the set-up of the bike very well in practice. I am very grateful for Rodney, Jason, Ryan, and Bryce for the support and help during the race! I loved the bike and the team! I can't wait to ride in the next round!"

MORGAN TANKE

Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition

"I was feeling really good coming into round 2. I really liked the track but unfortunately injured my ankle in practice. I was in a lot of pain before the main event but knew I needed to go out there and do my best. I was able to salvage a good result for the team out of a not so good day."

MASON OTTERSBERG

Beta 430RR Race Edition

"Going into round 2 I had a lot better mindset for the outcome of the night I wanted. I really felt at ease knowing I was setting times comparable to the top 6-7 guys. Unfortunately I made small mistakes that costed me a transfer spot in the heat after running fourth and fighting for third finishing in 8th. Going into my LCQ I ended up getting the hole shot and leading the first few laps until I dropped into second. From there I was fighting for 2nd all the way down to the finish line. Thank you to all of our sponsors and team for the opportunity to represent ourselves in front of all those people and show what Beta motorcycles is all about! "

Beta USA is happy to announce its latest addition to the Factory Race team; the talented young rider Cody Barnes. Barnes will be racing in the XC3 class of the GNCC series aboard a Beta 125 RR and the National Enduro series(NEPG) aboard a 250 RR in the Pro 2 class.

RODNEY SMITH

Beta USA Race Team Manager

"I'm very excited to sign Cody to our Factory team! He has been riding and developing our new 125 RR most of this year and now for the 2nd half of the season he feels he is ready to race the 125 RR! Barnes will finish out the rest of this year on the Factory Team in the remaining GNCC events. I'm Looking forward to seeing his full potential!"

CODY BARNES

Bike: Beta 125 RR & 250 RR Race Edition

"I am very excited to have this opportunity with Beta USA! I am looking forward to the rest of this year and next years race seasons. I believe that I will be able to put in very good results in these last 4 rounds of the GNCC series this year with how I am feeling on and off the bike. I expect myself to be on the podium in XC3 at every round and hopefully on the center of the podium. I feel awesome on the bike and think that is not only helping me with my riding but also my confidence level."

Photo by Diahann Tanke

Mason Ottersberg and Max Gerston at the 3rd round of the Western Hare Scrambles series; Jordan Ashburn, Mike Witkowski, and Rachel Gutish at the 3rd round of the GNCC series!

West Hare Scramble Round 3 Overview
Location: Ocotillo, California
Course Conditions: Sunny skies with loamy soil from rain the day before
Beta Factory Race Team Results: 
-Mason Ottersberg placed 4th at round 3 of the WHS series aboard his 430RR Race Edition. 
-Max Gerston caught a cold the night before the West Hare Scramble event and was unable to race at 100%, but still managed to gain some points for the series totals. 

The next race event for Max Gerston will be at the 4th round of the AMA West Hare Scramble. For more information about the WHS go to: westharescramble.com

MASON OTTERSBERG
Series: West Hare Scramble
Bike: Beta 430 RR Race Edition
"On Wednesday morning I decided last minute to go race in Gorman after seeing pictures on social media about the upcoming rain. I was honestly just looking to show up to get some race seat time, and see where I stacked up. After struggling to find a flow from a dead last start, I was able to basically come from 16th all the way up to 4th place by the end of the 8 laps."

MAX GERSTON
Series: West Hare Scramble
Bike: Beta 390 RR Race Edition
"Gorman didn't exactly go as planned. I was hit with some sort of flu the day before with gnarly stomach pains. The next day it was all I could do to get geared up for the race. I was able to race the first two laps, but then I was hit with stomach pains super hard. I raced another few laps so I could at least card a finish. As of now I plan on resting up in preparation for the race in Idaho next weekend."

GNCC Round 3 Overview
Location: Washington, Georgia
Course Conditions: Scattered showers with occasional mud pits and loamy soil.
Beta Factory Race Team Results:
-Jordan Ashburn placed 6th in the XC1 class at round 3 of the GNCC and is currently in 12th place overall. 
-Mike Witkowski finished in 17th in the XC2 class after a freak mechanical issue forced him to pit for a repair. 
-Rachel Gutish placed 3rd in the WXC class at round 3 of the GNCC and is currently sitting in 3rd place for the season standings.

The next race for Ashburn, Witkowski, and Gutish will be Round 4 of the GNCC on April 7th in Morganton, North Carolina. For more information on the GNCC series go to: gnccracing.com

JORDAN ASHBURN
Series: GNCC
Bike: Beta 430 RR Race Edition
"The General GNCC started off pretty well for me. I was able to make a pass for 4th going into the 3rd lap. The track was very rough and had tons of lines. There were lots of lapped riders as well. I found myself in 5th place on the 4th lap just 21 seconds from the leader. We were all really close all day but the leaders were able to sneak away the last two laps. I finished 6th place for the day. I'm definitely gonna build on this and reach that podium!"

MIKE WITKOWSKI
Series: GNCC
Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition
"I got off to a near holeshot on my Beta 250 RR. I went into the woods 2nd. Then a little bit later my bike started to bog. I was trying to figure out the problem but couldn't diagnose it. Once I got back to the pits and we got the bike fixed I was about an hour down from the lead group and dead last overall. I charged on and didn't give up. I came back to 17th in my class."

RACHEL GUTISH
Series: GNCC
Bike: Beta 350 RR Race Edition
"I am happy to have repeated last round's performance, earning another WXC podium finish for Beta. I have always enjoyed The General, and I'm glad that the series returned to the property and reestablished the round. Despite a bad start and some issues throughout the day, I was able to quickly recover to a 4th place finish by the end of the first lap. From there I continued to charge and on the final lap moved into 3rd place. The course was a blast and I am looking forward to the next round in a few weeks!"

Photos by Kato and Ken Hill

Fullerton and Tanke take 1st in their classes at the 2nd round of the National Hare and Hound series!

National Hare & Hound Round 2 Overview
Location: Ocotillo, California
Course Conditions: Dry and dusty desert terrain.
Beta Factory Race Team Results: 
-Chance Fullerton placed 1st in the Pro 250 class at round 2, and after his second place finish in round 1 he is currently leading the Pro 250 class with by nine points. 
-Morgan Tanke is back racing after an injury earlier this year. Tanke placed 1st in the Women's Open A class and is currently tied for 1st place in the series standings. 
-Joe Wasson placed 9th in the Pro class at the event aboard his Beta 430 RR while riding with stiches from a freak accident the week before. Wasson is currently seated in 6th place in the Pro class and overall in the series standings.

The next race event for all three riders will be at the 3rd round of the National Hare and Hound series. For more information about the NHHA go to: nationalhareandhound.com

CHANCE FULLERTON
Series: National Hare & Hound
Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition
"My race went well this past weekend running top 5 overall most of the race. I ended up getting lost for awhile and finishing 8th overall and first Pro 250 Class. I can't thank everyone enough who helped me get comfortable on the bike, and I plan on being on the top spot a lot more."

MORGAN TANKE
Series: National Hare & Hound
Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition
"I had a great time at the 2nd round of the National Hare and Hound series. The dust was really bad for the first 30 miles and it was super fast which I don't have much experience in. After a speedy pit stop I went on to the second loop and that's where it got more technical. I was able to keep a good pace for the rest of the race and took home the win! It feels great to be back racing after an injury!"

JOE WASSON
Series: National Hare & Hound
Bike: Beta 430 RR Race Edition
"Did some bomb run practice Saturday morning, had a good line, but unfortunately didn't get the jump. I was about 20th off the start and made a lot of passes in the first 20 miles. Then there were some very high speed whoops for a long ways and I wasn't able to run the top pace. I came in the pits in 11th and was able to make one more pass. I was starting to catch the riders in front of me but ran out of time and I ended up in 10th overall."

Jordan Ashburn finishes 9th at the 1st round of the GNCC series.

GNCC Round 1 Overview
Location: Union, South Carolina
Course Conditions: Scattered Showers with occasional mud pits and loamy soil.
Beta Factory Race Team Results:
-Jordan Ashburn placed 9th in the XC1 class at round 1 of the GNCC and is currently sitting in 4th place overall in the Kenda Full Gas Sprint Endruo series. 
-Mike Witkowski received a DNF after a crash early in the race resulting in an injured shoulder. Witkowski's next race will be at round 2 of the NEPG series.

The next race event for Jordan Ashburn will be Round 2 of the GNCC on March 10th in Palatka, Florida. For more information about the GNCC series go to: gnccracing.com

Mike Witkowski's next race event will be Round 2 of the NEPG on March 4th in Forest Hill, Louisiana. For more information about the NEPG series go to: nationalenduro.com

JORDAN ASHBURN
Series: GNCC
Bike: Beta 430 RR Race Edition
"The start of the season was a little "rough" with nearly 1000 bikes racing the track was brutal. I started out the first lap in 7th not getting a good jump off the line. I struggled battling the changing track conditions lap after lap. I was able to hang in there until lap 3 when I fell going around a mud hole. Then I lost sight of the group ahead. I ended up 9th in XC1, and I'm ready for them at the next round."

MIKE WITKOWSKI
Series: GNCC
Bike: Beta 250 RR Race Edition
"The GNCC started out well with me going into the woods in about 4th place. I quickly hopped into the lead about a half a mile in the race. I ran in the lead for 2-3 miles before picking a bad line and getting passed by a couple riders. Then halfway through the 2nd lap I made a rider error and went down really hard. I got the bike up and running with thanks to a fellow Beta racer that stopped to help me. But it was to great of discomfort to proceed on with the race. I am dealing with great soreness and discomfort but nothing is broken."

Photos by Kato

Morgan Tanke takes 2nd place in round 5 of Endurocross!

The fifth round of EnduroCross took place last weekend in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Morgan Tanke had another great weekend on-board her Beta XTrainer placing 2nd place in the Women's Class main event. Tanke now sits in 3rd place for the series overall points standings. 

Max Gerston placed 8th in the main event. Gerston is currently in 10th place in the overall standings for the Super Enduro Cross Class. Gerston is currently 7 points from 9th place and 9 points from being in 7th place overall.

Ty Cullins ran into some problems early on, but later finished the main event in 9th place. Cullins is currently placed in 11th, only eight points behind Gerston.

Round 6 of the EnduroCross series will take place in Boise, Idaho on November 4th. For more information on the series go to: endurocross.com

Morgan Tanke:
"Stoked to grab another podium this season! I struggled a bit in practice but I was able to shake it off in the main. I rode good, consistent laps with minimal mistakes to get a 2nd place finish. The track had two technical rock sections that I really liked and getting through them clean each lap played a big role in my end finish."

MAX GERSTON:
"Scottsdale Endurocross was good and bad. I finally started to feel a little stronger since my injuries about a month ago. However, I made it hard on myself in the main with a last place start and a crash in the sand section when coming together with a competitor. I was able to fight back to 8th in the main. Looking for a strong ride in Boise."

Ty Cullins:
"The night started out pretty slow when a crash in the qualifier sent me to the LCQ. I was able to get the win in the LCQ and go to the main where I ran a strong pace for the whole 14 laps and kept the mistakes to a minimum. I came away with a 9th place finish."

Jordan Ashburn finished 8th overall in the GNCC series!

The last race of the GNCC series took place last weekend in Crawfordsville, Indiana. This 13 race series ended with a bang as racers competed for final positioning.

The weather at the event was cold and wet, which provided optimum traction for riders in some areas of the course. However, some steep hill climb sections became a problem as riders fought to find traction.

Jordan Ashburn ended the day in 8th place aboard his Beta 300 RR, which put him in 9th place overall for the XC1 class. 

Jordan Ashburn:
"Got a great start at the final GNCC this past weekend. The track made for some intense battles it was very fast and open. I was battling for a top 5 position for 3 laps but when I came into the the pits I got passed, everyone was really close. I made a few mistakes and allowed the group to get away from me. I found that making up time was very difficult. I ended up 8th in XC1. "

Photo by D Tanke

MAX GERSTON LEADS THE WEST HARE SCRAMBLE SERIES WITH ONLY ONE RACE TO GO!

Round 9 of the Kenda West Hare Scramble Series took place last weekend in Truckee, California. This high altitude race was dry and dusty with perfect temperatures throughout the day. The course was riddled with rocks and technical sections, but also contained wide open and tight woods sections.

Max Gerston was racing while still trying to recover from his injuries related to a crash during a practice session. Gerston managed to pull off a 2nd place finish, only six seconds behind 1st place. Max's finish demonstrates his determination to win the series, while overcoming pain and the brutal conditions of racing. 

The last round of of the W.H.S. Series will be held in Wilseyville, California on November 18th. For more information on the series go to: westharescramble.com

Max Gerston: "The Donner Hare Scramble was insanely dusty and the course was rocky and technical. I was able to get out in the lead about halfway through the first lap and was in pain but able to go on for a second            
overall."

JORDAN ASHBURN FINISHES 10TH IN ROUND 12 OF THE GNCC SERIES

Jordan Ashburn placed 10th in the 12th round of the GNCC Series. The event took place last weekend in St. Clairville, Ohio. The conditions were a little wet with some sections containing standing water and mud.

Ashburn was up front battling for the lead for a while until he landed in a mud pit that threw him off his Beta 300 RR 2-Stroke. The crash caused Ashburn to fly head-over-heels into the mud, while the mud created a suction that trapped the bike. After some help from a few spectators, Jordan was able to get the bike out of the mud-pit and upright. Ashburn fought his way through the rest of the race finishing in the top 10.

Jordan is in 10th place in the overall points standings for the series, with only one race to go he is one point away from a 9th place finish for the 2017 series.

The last round of the GNCC Series will take place on October 28th in Crawfordsville, Indiana. For more information on the series go to: gnccracing.com

Jordan Ashburn: "I was really excited going into the weekend seeing that there was no dust in sight. I got a great start and was challenging for the lead for the first couple laps. I found myself in a great position until I reached the creek jump. I miscalculated by jumping just a bit too far to the left causing my front wheel to disappear as I landed in the mud. I struggled to get my bike out losing 5 mins or so. I was able to get out finally riding with some really
sore legs from going over the bars. It was a frustrating weekend knowing I had the speed to possibly win the race. We will push for a strong finish in the last round!"

Photo by Kato

Morgan Tanke takes 4th place in Reno!

Morgan Tanke grabbed 4th place aboard her 2017 Beta XTrainer at Round 2 of the Enduro Cross Series in Reno. The event lasted way into the late hours of Saturday night, and competition picked up as racers battled for positioning. Tanke's solid finish placed her in fourth for the overall points standings in the series. 

Ty Cullins won his qualifier round and was off to a great start, but in the main event he got stuck in a first turn pile-up which set him back. Cullins placed 9th in the main event, which landed him in 10th place for the overall points standings for the season. 

Max Gerston is injured but hopes to return for the next round in Denver.

Round 3 of the Enduro Cross series will be held on September 30th in Denver, Colorado at the National Western Complex. For more information about the series go to endurocross.com

Morgan Tanke commented:
"Reno didn't really go the way that I was planning. My XTrainer got me off to a good start and everything was looking good until the rock section where my bike got buried in the gaps. I finally got out of the rock section only to do the same thing the next lap. I'm ready to put in some more work this week and turn things around in Denver!"

Ty Cullins commented:
"The track was pretty fast and more of a moto style, which isn't really my style but I was able to make it work and get the win in my qualifier. In the main I had a decent start but went down with a couple other riders in one of the first corners and had to play catch-up for the rest of the race. I battled my way back up to 9th by the end, my results are getting better and I'm looking to improve on them even more this weekend in Denver."

Injuries for Beta Riders at Round 11 of the GNCC
The last GNCC event in Masontown, WV was dusty to say the least. Beta rider Jordan Ashburn was having trouble finding his groove early on, and as he was starting to settle in a few mishap's took him out for the day. 

Asburn was unable to finish the race due to some minor injuries, but is okay and will be competing in the next event. As a result Ashburn now sits in 8th place for the overall series points standings in the XC1 Open Pro Class.

Nick Davis also found himself in trouble after losing visibility in the dust and hitting a rock that made him go down. Davis ended up dislocating his shoulder when he landed and took a DNF, but he is looking forward to competing in Ohio. 

Round 12 of the GNCC will take place in St. Clairsville, OH on October 7th and 8th. For more information on the GNCC Series go to gnccracing.com

Jordan Ashburn Commented:
"Well, I'm bummed today didn't turn out too well. I got a bad start and it was a super dust bowl. Lots of silt with rocks and super fast fields. I was chasing 6th for a lap and a half and couldn't get close enough to make a pass. I ended up crashing in a rocky field and landing flat on my back in a bunch of rocks. One hit me right at the top of my hip and I have a baseball-like knot. I tried to finish out the race but I wasn't able to."

Nick Davis Commented:
"Not a good weekend for me. Got off to a good start and was running fourth in the dust, but unfortunately couldn't see very well and lost the front end on a rock. When I came down I dislocated my shoulder and that was the end of my day."

Photo by Adam Booth

Max Gerston Takes the Lead in the West Hare Scramble Series!

The 8th round of the West Hare Scramble Series took place in Jericho, Utah last Saturday. The conditions varied throughout the day. Riders faced hot humid weather, which created a course that had some packed ground that offered traction and dry sections that made it hard for the riders to see at times.

Max Gerston finished on the podium in 3th place aboard his 2018 390 RR, which put him first in the points chase. Gerston now has a six point lead with only two races left this year. The next West Hare Scramble will be held in Truckee, California on the 7th and 8th of October.

Max Gerston Commented:
'The Jericho, Utah Western Hare Scramble was nasty. High speed whoops, silt beds, and dangerous dust was the theme of the race. I stayed focused for the 100 mile beat down and was able to come out with a 3rd. I still have the points lead and look forward to the last couple rounds that are supposed to be a little more technical."

Ashburn Finishes in 5th
Round 10 on the GNCC Series took place last weekend in New Berlin, New York. The track conditions were great, and the riders battled to earn points with only three races left in the series. Ashburn was able to lead a couple laps, but after some mishaps he finished in 5th place, and is in 7th place overall for the series.

The next GNCC race will be in Mason Town, West Virginia on September 23rd.

Jordan Ashburn commented:
"I got off to one of my best starts of the year running up front for a good while. Then I made a mistake and got stuck on a hill needing some assistance to pull up to the top. I got back rolling and ended up falling and twisting my hand guard in the same lap. So I had to stop in the pits to knock it down. Then I was able to regather and have a good last few laps."

Photo by Kato

Max Gerston Takes his 1st win at Mt. Baker West Hare Scramble!

Last weekend was packed with action in the West Hare Scramble. Max Gerston took his first ever victory allowing him to take the series points lead.

A small heat wave hit Bellingham, WA on Saturday with highs reaching over 90 degrees. The heated air helped dry up the weathered ridden track that was impacted by a storm the previous week. The mixture of heat and wet ground made for a grueling race that lasted over two and a half hours.

Max held the lead the entire race, putting a two minute gap between him and second place finisher Joey Fiasconaro by the third lap. Max later told us "After a bad start, I was able to set a good pace and put some distance between me and my competitors as I knew they would be charging hard."

After the race Max said,  "It feels good to get that monkey off my back and I want to keep the ball rolling for the rest of the year."

About 2,800 miles away in Snowshoe, West Virginia a battle for the 8th round of GNCC took place. The track conditions at the event were almost perfect with a rain storm that past through a week before the race, and the temperature at around 75 degrees. However, there were some sections thick with mud that made the track a little brutal to ride.

Jordan Ashburn stated,"I started in the second row 10 secs behind the first row. I made a couple mistakes the first lap picking bad lines. I worked all day trying to recover from that, and I feel like I could have been on the podium. "Jordan ended up finishing in fourth place in the XC1 class coming from 10th place in lap one.

With the points he earned from getting 4th place at Snowshoe, Jordan is seated 5th place in the overall points standing, which is only 3 points ahead of 6th place Trevor Bollinger. With such a tight points gap the next few races will be exciting to watch as the season end closes in.

At the same event Beta USA rider Nick Davis placed 8th, while his teammate Drew Higgins placed 12th in the XC2 250 Pro class. Nick was running in 5th place when his rear brake pedal snapped off making him stop for a quick pit. "The team got it changed fast and got me back out there. I came from 12th and ended up in 8th, and just made the top 20 over all."

Photo by Kato

Beta race team news!

Jordan Ashburn takes 1st place at Full Gas Sprint Enduro!
The races in Uhrichsville, Ohio last weekend started off with almost perfect weather conditions. Competition was fierce and the pace of each race amplified by each day. The gap between 1st place rider Jordan Ashburn and 2nd place rider Steward Baylor narrowed as the weather conditions worsened. 

Rider Jordan Ashburn stated; "My goal for the weekend was to put my head down and minimize mistakes. I couldn't have done it without all the support from my team."

Nick Davis Takes 1st place in the 4th Round of the East Hare Scramble Championship Series, while Kyle McDonal took 2nd!
Nick Davis pulls off a win after returning from a recent leg injury. His conditioning and practice seems to be paying off, while he prepares to return back to the GNCC series.
Kyle McDonal ends the race in second place, but is leading the AMA East Hare Scramble Championship Series in points. 

Justin Wallis Takes 8th place in the WORCS Race event at Glen Helen Raceway.
The scorching heat wave was expected to be too much for the riders last weekend at Glen Helen. The races had to be rescheduled for an earlier time than originally anticipated, while shortening the race time to an hour and a half. 
Wallis is currently sitting in 9th place overall for the WORCS Pro MC series.

Beta USA's Rodney Smith has been promoted to head up the Beta USA race department. The AMA Hall of Famer and five-time GNCC champion has been working for Beta for the last 12 months as a rider coach and now will take over as the race team manager. 

Beta USA's President Tim Pilg comments, "It has been a huge benefit to our team ever since Rodney came aboard full time last season. His approach to racing matches our goals for the team so it made perfect sense to have him take over the team manager position."

Smith is looking forward to developing the team and more, "I'm very excited to have this opportunity to run the Beta USA race team! I've been working & coaching the riders this year and now Beta has asked me to manage the team. I'm very excited to bring my experience I've learned over the years as a racer and champion as well as being inducted in the AMA hall of fame! I've had the chance to see & learn from my past managers, including Mike Webb, and now I'm looking forward to being able run my own team & to further give our racers the knowledge & experience to win some more championships for my riders, Beta, & myself."

Beta's GNCC pilot Jordan Ashburn had this to say, "Being able to work with Rodney Smith is a true privilege. He is a former GNCC champion with lots of knowledge. I'm really excited for him to take charge of the Beta race team and help us achieve our goals."

Smith will also work with EnduroX rider's Max Gerston, Ty Cullins, and Morgan Tanke as the EnduroX season begins in Las Vegas on August 19th along with the other team members.

Photo by Shan Moore

Gerston podiums in last weekend's AMA WHS (West Hare Scramble) Championship!

Beta USA's Max Gerston finished 3rd in last weekend's AMA WHS (West Hare Scramble) Championship held in Redding, California proving the talented racer from Arizona is a contender for the title. The event had rain before the start which eliminated the dust and greeted riders with almost perfect conditions. Gerston is looking very comfortable on his 390 RR and is currently second in points.

Gerston describes his race, "I had a great time at the Shasta Dam Hare Scramble. There was a lot of different terrain and my Beta 390 was the perfect fit for the job. The course was a 20 mile loop with everything from fast roads with huge water bars to virgin technical single track. It was a little fast for my liking but I still had a blast and ended up with a solid 3rd place finish, Braaap!"

The Beta GNCC team was at round four of the popular series held in Morganton, North Carolina. XC1 racer Jordan Ashburn was in 10th after the first lap and continued to make a charge to the front however with the pace of the top five, Ashburn ran out of time and finished the three hour race in 6th.

Ashburn had this to say, "Steel creek is a super tough track with huge braking bumps and steep hills. I didn't get the best start to the race. I came around the first lap in 10th place. I managed to make some passes over the next few laps and got to 6th. I was able to end the day in 6th place and get some good overall points."

Teammate and XC2 specialist Nick Davis made his GNCC return after his dislocated leg at the opening round. Davis got the holeshot of the XC2 start and ran as high as second in the race however faded to an eventual 8th place at the finish. Not a bad result considering the extent of his injury. 

Davis had this to say, ""My Beta 250 RR got me off to an awesome start by grabbing the hole shot. From then on I ran with the lead pack for the first hour and a half then my leg got weak. I started having to sit a lot and hold on really tight with my hands. Which then resulted in my hands blistering very severely. But all in all for being about 70 percent and haven't ridden in weeks I will take the finish that we got. Lets bring on the next one!" 

Davis' teammate Drew Higgins also had a decent finish with a solid seventh at the line. Higgins had filled in for Davis, however team coach Rodney Smith was impressed with his performance and made the call to keep him in the series. 

Higgins comments, "The race yesterday was held in the mountains of North Carolina, it was a race that I was looking forward to. My race started off good, I was about 6th or 7th heading into the woods. Not too long after entering the woods, I began to get super pumped up from my under gloves. I started to ride really tight and not flowing through any of the bumps and going the speed I needed to go. I dropped back to 9th for the majority of the race, and on the last two laps I made a hard charge and caught 6th. Wishing I could have made the pass, but had to settle for a 7th. My last two laps were my best feeling laps, after I finally got rid of the arm pump and started riding like myself. No excuses, the bike worked awesome. Wishing I would have been able to charge right from the beginning and go with the fast guys. But I know what to do next time for my hands, and I learned a lot today with race strategy and as a team we learned a lot about fuel mileage. My shoulder and back are feeling really good, so I'm ready to get home and get back to riding and get ready for round 5 in South Carolina!"

Max Gerston will race the Glen Helen 2-Stroke World Championships this weekend aboard a special 300 RR set up for moto. The race will be a nice cross trainer for the EnduroX season coming up in August.

Photo by Kato

Jordan Ashburn continues his podium streak!

Beta USA's Jordan Ashburn finished third overall for the weekend at round three of the Full Gas Sprint Enduro series held in Abingdon, Virginia. Ashburn raced his 430 RR in the slick conditions to finish only eleven seconds behind second place. 

Ashburn describes his race, "Saturday started pretty slow, I had to be pretty cautious in the muddy conditions. The enduro test was pretty slick. I was able to finish the day with a 3rd place going into Sunday and almost steal a test win. Going into Sunday I was close to second. I battled times all day back and forth and ended up a mere 11 secs from 2nd overall. I'm looking to keep building steam and working hard!"

Out in the West, Beta factory rider Justin Wallis finished 7th at round six of the WORCS championship held in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. The race is very unique in that the track design races inside the arena and stretches out to the parking lot. Wallis struggled to find his speed during the event and is looking forward to round seven in Hurricane, Utah in three weeks.

The Beta factory Trial team competed in rounds 1 & 2 in Amarillo, Texas this past weekend and will do battle at rounds 3 & 4 in Sedan, Kansas this weekend. Look for a full race report next week! 

This weekend the Factory Off Road Team's schedule is round four of the of the GNCC held in Morganton, South Carolina with rider Jordan Ashburn (XC1). Teammate Nick Davis (XC2) is returning after healing from his injury. Drew Higgins will join Davis in the highly contested XC2 class as well. 

In the West, Max Gerston will be racing in round four of the West Hare Scramble Championship held in Redding, California.

Photo by Shan Moore

Four Riders, Four Different Venues

Beta USA's team competed in four different events this past weekend. USA Factory rider Max Gerston and Beta support rider Kyle McDonal both finished second place at the AMA National Hare Scrambles East and West championships respectively while Morgan Tanke finished 6th in the Ironman (Ironwoman!) class at the Glen Helen 6-hour endurance race. Drew Higgins finished 12th at round 2 of the AMA National Enduro series held in Florida.

Max Gerston explains his race, "I got off to a crummy start but was able to make some quick passes on the motocross track and worked my way into second quickly. The course was fast, slick, and flowy which perfectly suited the Beta 390. Once I learned the course I was able to put down some better lap times but it wasn't enough to get the win. I am happy to finally get the ball rolling in the series and carry this momentum into the following rounds. I had a lot of fun and ended up second place."

Drew Higgins had an off day overall, "The day started off pretty good for the first test as I ended up 9th. Second test was amazing, the trail flowed and the markings were really good. The third test was a struggle for me, many of us got lost, and I ended up getting turned around on the trail and rode the same part of it twice. I figured they would throw it out so I kept pushing the rest of the day knowing my day wasn't over. The fourth and fifth test were similar in terrain, and the sixth was very tight. I felt good in the tight stuff and could pick up a few seconds for my overall finish. The end result was 12th on the day, and I'm ready to improve on that result at the next round."

Kyle McDonal comments, "The race was a lot of fun, I definitely had to take my time through some sections and pick good lines. I made the pass for second about three quarters of the way through the first lap and Wally (Palmer) had a good lead already. He was riding too good for me to make up any time on him. Overall it was a good race for points at only the 2nd round of the championship. I feel really good about the race and can't wait to show my progress in the upcoming races."

Morgan Tanke had a fun yet enduring race, "Racing for 6 hours straight is no joke! The first half of the race seemed to go by pretty quickly but the 4th hour started to take its toll on me when the track was deteriorating. I was able to ride a steady pace and regain some energy to put on a charge at the end. Finally the end was near with an hour to go, I picked the pace back up and finished strong beating out 18 other riders!"

This weekend the Factory Team's schedule is round three of the GNCC held in Sparta, Georgia with riders Jordan Ashburn (XC1) and Drew Higgins (XC2) filling in for injured Nick Davis. In the West, Justin Wallis will be racing in the round six of the WORCS series held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Photo by Kato