Round 10 GNC-MX Nationals
Photos by Digital 219
Keith Little is on Fire!
July 7, 2006 – The crowd went wild as local favorite Keith Little (#12) of Russellville, Alabama, put his Lonestar Racing, Honda TRX450R out front during round 10 of the ATVA ITP/Moose Racing National Motocross Series in Pell City, Alabama, July 1-2.
New
to the 2006 series, Mill Creek Motocross is a big hit with racers and fans
alike. It features a very ATV-friendly track, 40 hook-ups for RVs, a wash
station, bathrooms with a shower and good spectator viewing.
July in Alabama is always going to be hot, and hot it was. But that didn't stop the spectators as they filled every grandstand, the infield, and lined the fence for the first Pro moto.
At the first turn it was Harold Goodman (#708) of Romulus, Michigan, putting his Honda TRX450R out front. Travis Spader (#30) of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, followed in second. Jeremy Lawson (#16) of Battletown, Kentucky, held third, Josh Cramer (#270) of North Stonington, Connecticut, was in fourth and Jeremiah Jones (#2) of Bowling Green, Kentucky, rounded out the top five.
With Goodman out front, Jones, and Little who was in sixth, started their charge to catch the leader.
Jones
quickly caught Goodman and was able to make an inside pass, just past the
halfway point in the race.
Jones then had an unbelievable lead as Little moved up to challenge Goodman in second. With one lap to go, in front of the grandstands full of cheering fans, Little out jumped Goodman to move into second.
At the checkered flag for the first moto it was Jones, Little, Goodman, Doug Gust (#55) of Salem, Wisconsin, and Dustin Wimmer (#191) of Center Valley, Pennsylvania.
The locals went crazy when the gate dropped for the second moto as Little led the charge into turn one. Very close behind was the Team Suzuki/Yoshimura duo of Gust and Jones, followed by Lawson and Goodman.
With Little out front, Jones tried to pass Gust on the outside and went off the track down a loose embankment, only to reenter the track next to last.
Little’s lead was short lived as Gust made the pass to take over first. With Gust’s fourth place finish in the first moto, all Little had to do to win the overall was hold onto second place.
As the score keepers recorded each lap, it was easy to see that Jones was on
a mission. Each lap he would gain one or two positions. But would there be
enough time to work his way up and pass Little?
As the laps came to a close it was Gust (right)with a commanding lead, Little in second and Joe Byrd (#7) of Union City, Tennessee, in third. Jones moved all the way up to fourth place.
With
the points from both motos combined, it was Little (right) first overall, Gust
second and Jones third.
With just four rounds left, Byrd currently leads the series, follow by Gust, Natalie, Jones and Little.