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COPYRIGHT 2005 Ehlert Publishing Group
Simply put, riders swarmed Loretta Lynn's ranch. Almost 1,000 race entries made the final round of the Moose/ITP GNC motocross series resemble a busy ant colony exiting its ant hill. As the 20th anniversary celebration of ATV GNC racing at Lorettas, riders came out to show their support for a series that has undergone serious growth this season with a record 965 race entries.
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And in those 20 years, racer numbers have dwindled and become reinvigorated. The fan's support has mimicked the renewed interest in the sport of ATV racing, as a large contingent looked on at the season-ending event. Rows of fans four to five deep were there to catch a glimpse of the final pro motocross race of the year--even though the series had already crowned its champion.
The summer heat didn't make it easy on racers though, as hot and sticky temperatures had riders wilting underneath their helmets and motocross gear. Fans even struggled to withstand the heat, searching for the valuable shade alongside the track all-the-while sipping on the beverage of their choice to stay hydrated.
With the record race entries, amateur rider's motos were chopped to three laps, but thanks to the heat, most didn't seem to mind. Also, double gate drops were used to tighten up the two race days.
One pro rider proved he's used to the demanding Tennessee heat, as native Joe Byrd ran his string to three consecutive overalls at Lorettas. Byrd looked unstoppable as he beat the stifling weather and tiring Pro class, vaulting out to two consecutive holeshots. And he did it after wadding in practice near the finish line, leaving Byrd wounded with a line of stitches on his forehead.
The only real drama left for the final pro round was to be decided between Suzuki riders Jeremiah Jones and Doug Gust--tied for second in the season standings. Both were in search of runner-up honors to John Natalie. Gust and Jones...
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