Round 3 GNC-MX Nationals
Photos by Digital 219
Doug Gust Takes Win at Gatorback MX
March 23, 2006 – Doug Gust (#55), riding the new Suzuki LT450R, claimed a convincing victory in ATVA ITP/Moose Grand National Championship Motorcross Series racing at Gatorback Cycle Park in Gainesville, Florida March 11-12.
While everyone up North was experiencing cold winds and snow-covered race tracks, Gatorback was warm and sunny.
Last year at Gatorback, John Natalie (#13) broke from the field to lead by 20-plus seconds over the rest of the Pro racers but had yet to win a race in 2006 going into Gatorback, which was the third round of the series.
Many were wondering if Natalie would repeat his Gatorback win.
As the ATVs came to life in the first moto, 20 Pro ATV racers charged to take the lead. In the first corner it was Natalie on the inside and Joe Byrd (#7) on the outside, side by side going for the lead.
Natalie backed off just a little to make the turn and that was all the little
break Byrd needed to take the lead.
Following the front runners were Gust, Tim Farr (#4), Joe Haavisto (#75) and Jason Luburgh (#8).
Natalie soon made his move and passed Byrd for first place. Byrd developed problems with his rear shock, which moved him deep back in the pack.
Keith Little (#12) rode two laps on a flat tire while his mechanic ran back to the trailer for a spare tire and tools. As Little pulled into the mechanics' area, every mechanic available jumped in to help change the right rear tire in record time.
At the finish for the first moto it was Natalie, Gust, Haavisto, Luburgh and Travis Spader (#30).
The second moto was red flagged before one lap was completed when Don Leisner (#411) went down hard.
The restart was a carbon copy of the first moto, with Natalie and Byrd battling
for the lead.
Byrd took the lead again, with Natalie in second. Farr was in third, Matt White (#32) fourth and Gust fifth.
Lap after lap, Byrd and Natalie would go side by side, with the crowd cheering as their favorite would take the lead, even if it was only temporarily.
Gust wasn't going to settle for fifth place, though. He picked off rider after rider, moving up to challenge Natalie.
With the crowd going crazy, Gust passed Natalie to get in the second spot behind Byrd.
Charging out of the Gatorpit up to the finish line jump, Byrd and Gust were side
by side. In previous races, many racers broke axles launching off the finish
line jump. With this in mind Byrd backed off just a little, but not Gust.
Hard on the gas, Gust launched from the finish line like a Saturn rocket, looking down on Byrd as he went flying overhead.
Everyone watching held their breath wondering what the landing would hold. Gust landed with ease and went on to open up a substantial lead.
On the podium, it was Gust in the first-place position, Natalie in second and
Haavisto making his first appearance this year on the podium in the third spot.
Now the points chase is even tighter in the series. Byrd currently has 76 points, but Natalie is only one point behind with 75, and Gust ready to strike with 63 points.