The Monster Energy FAR (Fred
Andrews Racing) Pro Circuit Kawasaki Off-Road Team wrapped up
competition this past week in Millfield, Ohio, running the annual John
Penton round of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCCs).
Leading the charge for the Monster Energy FAR team was again Scott
Watkins. Watkins, who finished 5th in the XC2 class at the last GNCC
round (Loretta Lynn’s, Tenn.) improved his position this past week
with a hard-fought 4th in the hot and dusty conditions in Ohio.
Starting in 3rd place and poised to make the podium, Watkins went down
on the second lap and barely got back up in the top ten (8th), with
Monster Energy FAR teammate Cole Calkins hot on his tail.
“It was bad out there, hot and dusty, and that mistake on the second
lap cost me the race,” said Watkins. “It was really hard to see
with all that dust, which made passing even that much more
difficult.”
Calkins was working his way up towards the top five himself when he
suffered a nightmare of a crash, getting ripped off his bike by a tree
branch he wasn’t able to see because of the dust.
“I got going behind Scott (Watkins) and we started to pass riders
and the dust got really thick, making it very tough to see,” said
Calkins. “All of a sudden something hit me in the helmet and made me
crash. When I got up I saw a low-hanging tree branch and that was it
for me.”
Calkins did manage to stay in the top ten overall, finishing 9th.
In the premier XC1 class, Monster Energy FAR was led by Jesse Robinson
with a 9th place overall finish. Robinson got out well and had moved
up to 6th place when a crash after the two-lap board came up relegated
him back to 9th.
“After the crash I wasn’t able to see with all the dust,” said
Robinson. “I didn’t want to take any chances, so we’ll re-group
and work hard the next three weeks for when the GNCCs return to action
in Kentucky.”.
Noteworthy: Monster Energy FAR’s PA
Allen is out for the next 2 rounds with back problems.
Next up for the Monster Energy FAR Pro Circuit Kawasaki Off-Road is
the Weekend Warrior Sparts, June 9-10, in Sparta, Ky.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it off-road, FMX, skate,
motocross, surf, snow, BMX – name it – the athletes are rockin’
Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the types
– Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault and the
new Monster/fruit juice hybrid called “Khaos.” Fred Andrews and
his boyz dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterenergy.com.