July 2025 25
up riding extra laps, and while it didn't affect the
solo versus team overall standings, Lane Morrison,
Chris Hamilton, Mark Mainz and Nick Williams all
put in a herculean effort to grab P1 and P2 team
wins in horrible condi ons. The only consola on
was that the field of lappers quickly got smaller lap
by lap as riders dropped out, so there were more
line choices in the ght spots that weren't blocked
by stalled or floundering riders.
Two hundred ninety-five racers raced the modern
GP. 112 either DNF'd or took one look at condi-
ons a er the vintage race and decided to save
themselves and their bikes and take the DNS. For-
ty-three racers pulled the plug a er one lap, in-
cluding one guy who, when we signaled the race
was half over, told me, " Heck, it's taken me this
long just to do one lap. No way I'm doing anoth-
er!" Poor fella spent more me stuck or pushing
than he did on the bike. Even one lap in the mud,
ruts, water, and slop would have been more than
enough for this old guy, so there was no shame
in living to ride another day. The closest thing to
Blackwater I could imagine! One lap or 10, every-
one out there earned their finish the hard way.
-Jeff
