enough to net his third podium of the year . “ Yeah , I struggled in the beginning , but once I figured out how to ride those deep ruts I felt good , but I felt confident when I got back up from that tip over that I could get ( Toth ) and was able to do it .”
In the XC2 class , the Australian invasion is starting to become more solidified . As the riders fired off the line , it was RPM KTM ’ s Gus Riordan taking the holeshot with New Zealand import Liam Draper sliding into second aboard his Tely Energy Racing KTM , and fellow Aussie , Lyndon Snodgrass aboard his Babbitt ’ s Online / Monster Energy Kawasaki right behind as they headed into the woods . Riordan and Snodgrass would swap the lead the first couple of laps , with Draper not too far behind . A mad dash would ensue behind them all race long as Evan Smith on his Liqui-Moly Factory Beta would be in a heated battle with Steel City Men ’ s Clinic Honda ’ s Ben Nelko , Trail Jester KTM ’ s Simon Johnson , teammate Jonathon Johnson , Coastal Husqvarna ’ s Ryder Lafferty , Phoenix Racing Honda ’ s Cody Barnes , and early points leader Mike Witkowski aboard his AmPro Yamaha . By the halfway point of the race , points leader Snodgrass would have Riordan on his back wheel , as they started to gap the rest of the field . Draper was still in third as Witkowski would move into fourth after a poor start , with Smith still in the top five . With two laps to go , Witkowski would be forced to start nursing the bike as mechanical issues
VOL . 7 ISSUE 6 - JUNE 2022 // PAGE 161