On The Pegs November 2019 - Volume 4 - Issue 11 | Page 82

On The Pegs
82
STEWARD BAYLOR
“I really didn’t know where I fit in against these guys,” said Russell. “I usually
struggle at these, but I finished second in the first three tests, so I was second place
behind Grant at the halfway point. I was like, ‘man, I’m beating Stew’. I know Stew is
the master at these so I felt good. Then I got kind of smoked on the fourth test, and
then the sixth test I went through a creek really fast and my bike shut off. I sat there
turning it over for probably ten to fifteen seconds. Then I rode way over my head
after that to try to make up the time. But I’m happy to get third.”
Husqvarna/Max Motorsports/FXR’s Evan Smith battled back and forth with Gas-
Gas North America’s Thorn Devlin for fourth place. A great ride in the fifth test
where he posted the third-fastest time was good enough to give Smith fourth over-
all ahead of Devlin by just 16 seconds.
Finishing sixth behind Devlin was Beta USA’s Mike Witkowski.
Liam Draper was seventh overall and first in the NE Pro2 class. The Tely Energy
Racing KTM rider suffered a hard crash in test two but managed to recover to claim