SAULSBURY, TN

Round seven of the Pirelli/Answer/MSR/Pro Taper/Maxxis-sponsored Mid-South Youth Cross Country Series was held at the Saulsbury Farm, located on the border of Tennessee and Mississippi. After three inches of rain two nights before the race, most of the racers thought this was going to be a "mudder" for sure. With temperatures in the high 50s, the ground was also thawing from a deep freeze a few days before. All this, coupled with a fresh track, would mean ruts big enough to swallow an 85, let alone a 65cc machine. Then the storms moved in on Saturday night, with thunder, lightning and high winds, and tornado warnings were in effect. The RVs were swaying back and forth, preventing a good night's sleep for those staying at the Farm. When Sunday morning dawned, the water level had risen substantially, and seemed to be lapping at the steps of most of the campers.

Hunter Hutchinson (007, above) seemed to like the watery conditions. Off the start, the KTM rider went into the woods in second, behind Tanner McCoy, who got the holeshot. McCoy was passed by Andrew Clark and Yamaha rider Kelly Adkins on lap one. Adkins pushed into the early lead but got stuck in a rut. Hutchinson got by Adkins, and as they finished their brutal first lap, Hutchinson was in the lead, followed by Adkins, McCoy and Clark. Adkins was only three seconds behind, and the battle was on!

"Kelly and I battled a lot on the second lap and raced together until we both got stuck in the same mudhole," Hutchinson said. "I got out first and was able to gain some time on him."

Clark had a very good second lap and found his way around both Adkins and McCoy and then set his sights on Hutchinson. Hutchinson and Clark are from the same town and go to school together, so they fought the rest of the race for Monday-morning bench-racing bragging rights.

Clark struggled on lap one, crashing twice in the mud.

"After the second lap," Clark said after the race, "I tried to not get stuck anywhere and just ride smart. It was awful out there, and the ruts were deep."

When the checkered flag fell, Hutchinson was the fifth different winner in seven rounds, and the points race for the championship could go any of six different ways right now. Clark has a slim lead over McCoy, round-six winner Blake Rinsch, Adkins, Dalton Riddle, and the rest of the Junior B class. Clark's race strategy paid off with a solid second-place finish on the day.

Clark did give school bragging rights to the Go-Pro/ RMW Machine-works backed Hutchinson, though - until the next race. Hopefully they will finish their homework and get their gear and bikes ready for round eight on February 21 in Camden, Tennessee.

For more information on the MSXC Youth Cross Country Series, go to msxcracing.com.

Results

P/W (4-6): 1. Dylan Proffitt (Cob).

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

MINI A: 1. Brett Gourley (KTM); 2. Sam Thurman (KTM); 3. Ben Jones (Kawasaki).

MINI B: 1. Zach Kirchoff (Kawasaki); 2. Landon Morrison (Suzuki); 3. Matthew Harris (KTM); 4. Leighton Tittle (KTM); 5. Wesley Hardin (Kawasaki).

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

JR B: 1. Hunter Hutchinson (KTM); 2. Andrew Clark (KTM); 3. Kelly Adkins (Yamaha); 4. Tanner McCoy (KTM); 5. Blake Rinsch (KTM).