LYNNVILLE, IN

Lynnville Park in Indiana played host to round four of the MSXC Youth Winter Series, sponsored by Pirelli, Maxxis, Answer, MSR and Pro Taper. The old coal strip mines have been around a long time, and many a racer has survived the normally frigid temperatures at this event for precious points and bragging rights in their class. This time the weather did not leave the young riders with frozen fingers and toes. With temperatures in the 50s, Andrew Clark (32, left) took his shot at the Stripper.

KTM rider Tanner McCoy grabbed the MSXC holeshot, with Clark and Dalton Riddle close behind. Clark passed McCoy on lap one, but the battle had just begun. On laps two through four, Clark held the lead, but McCoy was ready to capitalize on any mistake Clark might make. Riddle, the round-three winner, was also in the mix and hoping to get his second win in a row.

When lap five came around, McCoy had slipped past Clark and seemed to be in command for the win. The Stripper, though, is not an easy course on which to keep a lead, as there are not many places to get around slower riders. This keeps the racing tight, and the outcome is usually up in the air until the last few turns.

As McCoy and Clark emerged from the woods, Clark was now in the lead, and there were only a few tight grass-track turns left to decide who would be victorious in round four. McCoy dived inside Clark in sight of the checkered flag and slid out, leaving Clark all alone for his second win of the season.

"Man, that was close!" Clark said. "I knew he was right there and trying to pass me at the finish. Then all of a sudden, I did not hear him anymore. The track was whooped out, but I am glad I won."

McCoy picked his bike up and rode to a second-place finish. Matthew Bell slipped in for third on his Yamaha, and Riddle came in fourth.

In the 85cc Junior A class, three fellow Indiana racers looked right at home on their native soil. Boonville native Brandon Gourley grabbed the MSXC holeshot, with two more Indiana racers, Jake Froman and Austin Lee, hot on his heels. It looked like it would be an all-hometown podium until round-two winner Colin Brasher of Princeton, Kentucky, began his charge toward the front. On the last lap, Brasher set his sights on Froman and pushed past him at the finish with only three seconds to spare.

"Man, that track was whooped out, and there were not many places to pass," Gourley commented after the race.

KTM ace Lee finished a hard-fought second. Brasher came in third, with Froman rounding out the top four.

For more information the MSXC series, go to www.msxcracing.com.

Results

P/W (4-6): 1. Dylan Proffitt (Cob); 2. Chase Hale (Yamaha); 3. Caleb Echols (KTM); 4. Conner Trice (Honda); 5. Spencer Louden (KTM).

P/W (7-8): 1. Daniel Spurgeon (Cob); 2. Cole Echols (KTM) 3. Nathan McCoy (KTM); 4. Ty Gallimore (Cob); 5. Garrett Elrod (KTM).

MINI A: 1. Brett Gourley (KTM); 2. Sam Thurman (KTM); 3. Cory Jordan (KTM); 4. Ben Jones (Kawasaki); 5. Kalab Hagan (KTM).

MINI B: 1. Matthew Harris (KTM); 2. Zach Kirckoff (Kawasaki); 3. Landon Morrison (Suzuki); 4. Jaron Wood (KTM); 5. Leighton Title (KTM).

JR A: 1. Brandon Gourley (Yamaha); 2. Austin Lee (KTM); 3. Colin Brasher (Honda); 4. Jake Froman (Kawasaki); 5. Lance Hoover (KTM).

JR B: 1. Andrew Clark (KTM); 2. Tanner McCoy (KTM); 3. Matthew Bell (Yamaha); 4. Dalton Riddle (Suzuki); 5. Cole Kirchoff (Yamaha).