Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1522963
July 2024 11 A er the muddy Blackwater event of 2022, the Kansas DOT decided a er last year that there was too much erosion there, so the organizers had to go a couple hundred yards past the highway before turning the course uphill. It was an abrupt 90-degree right turn up a steep rocky ledge that, early in the race looked more in mida ng than it really was. Hit it with authority, let the bike work under you, and that was it. The pros never slowed down. Experienced riders took it easy but had no troubles, but when the C riders got there the bo leneck started with loop outs and bikes tumbling back down into other riders. A couple of sweepers had posi oned themselves there early on in an cipa on of trouble, but quickly the radio call went out for more help, and the half dozen sweepers that responded earned their pay helping riders up the hill. Of course, the pros and A's just pinned it, wound their way past (or over!) downed bikes, and kept on motoring lap a er lap. Out in my high-speed zone, the organizers had ribboned out a couple of chicanes to slow riders coming into a couple of hazardous spots that caused crashes and injuries the year before. One in par cular was a blind drop into a rocky down- hill. Last year the racers came flying into it a er a half-mile top gear pasture blast. The burned-in line was pre y much the only safe line as there were substan al and unforgiving rocks to either side of it. Several riders went le or right just a foot or two and paid dearly, a couple of them ending their day with a ride out of there in a side- by-side to a wai ng ambulance. This year, a bright orange construc on fencing chicane slowed riders down, but I s ll posi oned myself next to the only good line poin ng the hazard out to the riders for the first lap or two un l everyone got the message. The extra cau on paid off and the only issues in my zone were mechanical. Score one for the good guys. Nick Brawner made it a three-peat, WFO on the Gas Gas all day with a 9-minute lead over the rest of the field a er 100 miles. Andrew Judy, fourth overall, put his Beta on the second step of the Pro podium with Riley Johnson, KTM, rounding out the Pros. Second overall shows Lane Morrison on a KTM riding in the Team division, but unfortunately I can't see who his teammate was. Third overall was also a team effort, showing Jerry Hamilton, also on a KTM. Eric Williams, KTM, topped the A class followed by Ryan Moranz on a Honda and Andrew Dampler on a Kawasaki.