down this hill and there was some ribbon . I should have gone around the ribbon , and I saw a puddle but it didn ’ t look that deep , but my bike sank up to the seat . So I couldn ’ t get out . Luckily , a lady jumped off her bike and pulled up my bike to get me out . So , that killed me ; I lost anywhere between 45 to a minute roughly . After that , I just tried to put my head down .”
Despite struggling in the first two tests , Rockstar Energy Husqvarna ’ s Trevor Bollinger still managed a sixth overall finish .
“ I ’ m a GNCC guy , so I ’ m used to just following the trail and I got turned around a few times and lost too much time in the beginning ,” said Bollinger . “ After that , I think I had a good third , fourth , fifth test . Just kind of an off day . I was pretty timid today and I wasn ’ t real comfortable . You ’ ve got to take what you can get on days like this .”
Beta USA ’ s Evan Smith came in 34 seconds behind Bollinger for seventh .
BEN NELKO - NE PRO2
“ It was pretty scary today , honestly ,” said Smith . “ It was really fast and a lot of hidden rocks and root . Obviously , it was easy to go down . Unfortunately , a couple guys did . I just tried to keep it on two and not ride above my head and didn ’ t fall down all day ."
VOL . 7 ISSUE 6 - JUNE 2022 // PAGE 147