ATV Pilot Niclas Granlund Checks In
Niclas Granlund Recaps 2007 Stateline Supermoto Challenge
The third annual Supermoto Challenge was a great event with over 30 pro riders, 45 amateur, and 22 stock amatures.
Thursday started with my Supermoto school with riders from all skill levels. Everyone had a great time and learned great skills. The riders that were in my school took the 2 top positions in the Open Amateur class (1st Cody Mitchell) and (2nd Russel MC Worther) Russel also got 2nd in the stock amateur class. I also had a two pro riders that finished 5th and 8th.
Friday- Team Race
I teamed up with Jason Anderson again for the team race. We started on the fifth row with 17 teams ahead of us. So we had some work to do including a 2nd turn major pile up. My ACE Racing team mates Shaun Moore and Cody Mitchell had a good lead and we were slowly making up time with each lap when Shaun got stuck with some lappers. With three laps to go in the first session we took the lead. I handed off the lead to Jason and we rode solid to take the win with Darryl Rath and Frankie Batista taking second and my teammates Shaun Moore and Cody Mitchell taking third.
Saturday- Qualifiers
For the first race we drew numbers and I started on the third row outside. Coming around the first turn in 10th place I knew I had a long way to go in only 4 laps. Passing two or three riders per lap I was working my way to the front. With Frankie setting a good pace I was catching him but I ran out of time so I finished 2nd.
For the second race the front row consisted of Jason Anderson, Frankie Batista, Darryl Rath and myself. I got a decent start and tucked in behind Frankie who got the hole shot. Half way thru the dirt section I made a move going up the step on step off jump and passed Frankie for the lead. I held strong and finished 1st which set me up with a pole position for the main event.
Sunday- Main
Sunday morning I was looking forward to a great sunny day with my quad set up for dry conditions. And the an hour or so before our race the clouds came and it started to rain. But, it did not look like it was going to last so do I take the chance and go out with a dry set up or switch to a rain set up. Luckily, the rain stopped and the track dryed out. So my initial set up was good to go.
I headed to the line for my pole position starting spot on the front row . As the green flag dropped I got a great jump, shifted into 2nd gear and thought it would carry me to the first turn. As I was hitting the rev limiter I realized the first turn was further than I thought. I could see Frankie coming in strong from the outside. But as he overshot the first turn I held a tight line and secure the lead. For the next five or six laps I made no mistakes and rode a perfect race. Now we began to catch the lappers and as we all know that can be skecthy. But I made some smart moves and picked my way through the lappers with no problems. I held my postion with no mistakes to take the win.
Final results
Pro Main
1st Niclas Granlund
2nd Darryl Rath
3rd Frankie Batista
4th Jason Anderson
5th Kenny Pacheco
I would like to thank NGR, Fox Shox, CT Racing, ACE Racing, Threadz, DWT, Hinson, Lonestar, Laegers, AC racing, Quad Tech, Skat Trak, Blingstar, FASST, Streamline, Velocity, Maxxis, NMotion, Torco,
