Trail Rider Magazine

May/June 2014 37 MUDFEST! April 27, 2014 Round 2 J Day Off Road Davenport Trucking GP. T he second round of the Wide Open J Day Offroad Series moved west to Greenfield, Massachu- setts for the Davenport Trucking Grand Prix. The series has vis- ited Greenfield in the past but this was an all new venue, with less rocks and more loam than previous venues. A steady rain the day before and into the overnight hours turned all that loam into a mid-spring mud bath with bike-swallowing ruts. The course wove through New Eng- land farmlands and rooty single- track that culminated with an endurocross-like KTM Extreme section. After the hard fought battles at the first round, the in- tensity would be ratcheted up to deal with the flying mud, lappers, and ruts. Unfortunately, the rain wasn't done, and began falling again after the mini class moto. By the time the C class finished up, the course had deteriorated into an official survival run. When the green flag dropped on the pro moto, it was Jason Connell grabbing the holeshot (and the only one without mud spackled goggles) with 25 other pro riders in pursuit. Connell's lead was short lived as Robby Marshall was on a mission after a tough loss the week before. With lap one in the books, Marshall was out front with Connell just two seconds behind and Jake Abbott clinging to third. Right on Abbott's heels were Josh Cenamo and Nick Batten with reigning series champion Johnny Girroir close behind. By the end of lap three Marshall began to put distance between himself and the rest of the field. Connell would eventually lose second place to Nick Bat- ten while Johnny Girroir closed in. Halfway through the moto, second through sixth place were still slugging it out for the final two podium positions. With time wind- ing down, Girroir would move past Batten on the last lap for second place. Girroir's pass on Batten was short lived as he tucked his front end and went over the bars in a fast field section. With Batten alone in second place, the battle for third saw Connell with a narrow lead over Ab- bott and NETRA Hare Scramble champ Jason Klammer . With the checkered flag out, Robby Marshall would cross the finish line almost a minute and a half in front of Bat- ten. In the battle for third place, Connell would hold off Abbott and Klammer for the final podium position. Se- ries champ Johnny Girroir would cross the finish line in 6th place followed by Kyle Hangos. With the deteriorat- ing track conditions wreaking havoc on the riders and terrain, the second motos were cancelled. The series resumes action on May 18th at the Barnes Way GP. Story by Kevin Hubbard, Photos by Art Pepin Jimmy Decos takes in the J Day Series when his schedule allows. Art Pepin Photo

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