Round 8 GNC-MX Nationals
Photos by Digital 219
Jeremiah Jones Dominates at Tennessee MX Clash
May 31, 2006 – Despite slow starts, Team Yoshimura Suzuki factory pilot Jeremiah Jones (#2) won both motos in ATVA ITP/Moose Grand National Championship Motocross action in Blountville, Tennessee, May 27-28.
His teammate, Doug Gust (#55), notched second-place finishes in both motos to give Suzuki a 1-2 sweep. Joe Byrd (#7) aboard a Honda finished third both times.
"Jeremiah is just `on' right now," said Team Yoshimura Suzuki manager Wayne Hinson.
"The day could have only been better if both of them won,"
Hinson said. "But somebody's got to get first and somebody's got to get second.
As it turned out, Doug gained a lot of points and Jeremiah keeps inching
closer.''
In the first moto
(above), Harold Goodman (#708) and Keith Little (#12)
jumped out in front, followed by Travis Spader (#30) and Jeremy Lawson (#16).
Gust and Jones were running fifth and sixth in the first lap.
But by the third lap, Jones worked his way to the lead and started to pull away. John Natalie (#13) got into the second spot. But halfway through the race, Gust passed Natalie and held on to second to the end.
In the second moto
(right), Jones got into the lead by the end of the
second lap. Gust got into second.
The rest of the race saw Jones checking out.
"Harold Goodman got the holeshot," Jones said. "I picked him off in about a lap and a half over in the whoop section. It was pretty much clear sailing from there."
Jones built a big lead by the halfway point in the race. Gust remained in second while Byrd and Natalie tangled, with Natalie flipping.
Jones finished with a big lead over gust, while Gust had a big lead over third-place finisher Byrd.
Jones was really happy to finally share the podium with his
teammate.
"It was really great to be up there with Doug," he said. "I've been waiting for this all season."
Gust agreed.
"Jeremiah was on a mission today. If it isn't me, I'm really glad to see him win it."