summer heat , it was pretty brutal trying to get back into it . I wasn ' t able to ride as aggressively as I would like to . I felt like I was going to struggle a little bit , but as the day went on , I started getting more consistent and just had a couple tests where I should have done a little bit more . And made a few , not necessarily mistakes , but just had some sections where I was kind of riding a little bit too conservative . It was definitely brutal out here , but I ' m glad to put this one behind us and focusing back in on the points .”
Toth was nursing a recent injury , as well , having suffered a groin injury the previous week at a GNCC . Despite being a bit tender , Toth won test four and was pleased to land on the podium in third .
“ The first test I just started off slow and thought I was riding okay , but too timid ,” said Toth . “ I messed up my groin and hip last week , so I haven ’ t really ridden and I was timid the first test . So , pretty stoked on just getting on the podium , actually . I struggled gripping the bike in the last test . I was just sitting down and I using all arms . I just couldn ’ t squeeze the bike like I should be able to . Overall , just stoked to survive it and get through , honestly .”
Lafferty was not nearly as happy with fourth , since he came into the Cherokee with a lot of momentum after winning the Lead Belt a month earlier . Like Grant , Lafferty also
VOL . 7 ISSUE 7- JULY 2022 // PAGE 75