BAYLOR BACK
ON TRACK
Words by Steph Vetterly Photos by Shan Moore
MARCH 14TH , 2021
After coming back from injury and having a rough time with mechanical issues in round 2 , AmPro Yamaha ' s Steward Baylor was done playing around . When it was time for The General GNCC in Washington , Georgia at Aonia Pass MX , Baylor pulled ahead early for the lead , and didn ' t let off the gas until he saw the checkered flag , finishing a full 60 + seconds ahead of round 2 winner FMF KTM ' s Ben Kelley .
“ We had issues in Florida . That was a bit of a struggle for me . So , I knew today I had to make a statement ,” said Steward . “ Coming from the back of the pack to leading by 20 seconds on the first lap , I think that ’ s the statement made . If I can win the next six , I ’ ll be right back in the points lead .”
Such a drive towards a top podium finish meant that there was no catching the blue bike . But while Baylor pulled away , the back-toback weekend races took their toll on some other riders , like Kelley .
“ Today we were solid . I ’ m pumped on it ,” said Kelley . “ I was definitely beat down from Florida ; one-week turnaround is tough . I had two crashes on the third lap and that kind of zapped a little energy . Just washed the front twice . These hardpack , flat-tracky conditions are not my strong suit . To get a second is good for me when I don ’ t love the track .”
Kelley was able to fight off teammate Josh Toth , coming across the finish line 28 seconds ahead , with Toth finishing third and taking his first overall podium of the year .
KLM GasGas ' s Grant Baylor matched his fourth-place finish from the second round , in spite of taking a hard fall on the first lap .
ON THE PEGS // PAGE 54