Shane Watts

Fun Mart Cycle/Maxxis/ktmhutt.com team rider Shane Watts made the pilgrimage to the country of Honduras to take victory in Rd. 2 of the Central American Enduro Championship held over the past weekend.

In dominating fashion Watts was able to distance himself from the best enduro pilots in Central America with a convincing victory. The race was held in perfect conditions, and was situated in the beautiful region known as “The Valley of the Angels”. Whilst there, Watts also conducted one of his 2-day Dirt Wise riding schools on the days preceding the event.

“What a magnificent country, and the people were so unreal. The race was no walk in the park for me as the locals really get on the gas. I actually had the two guys that got second and third in the race attend my Dirt Wise school so I definitely knew of how capable they were with the speed and skills. I certainly hope that I can get back down there again for another race soon, and to conduct another Dirt Wise school so as to hopefully raise their level of skill and competition.”

Since the start of July, Watts has conducted 6 of his Dirt Wise schools, with great attendance, and has a further 20 schools planned for the remainder of 2007, along with competing in the final five races of the GNCC. Please check www.shanewatts.com for continual announcements on the upcoming schools.

GNCC Rd. 6 Millfield, OH

Fun Mart Cycles/Maxxis/cyclehutt.com team rider Shane Watts endured a tough day at Rd. 6 of the 2007 GNCC series held in dry and dusty conditions at Millfield, Ohio over the past weekend.

Entering the race with a severe bout of the flu, Watts was reduced to having to make his best attempt at trying to salvage some Championship points on a day where he was far below being able to perform at his best. Following a decent start Watts was relegated to the rear of the field when another rider collided with the rear of his YZ250 whilst he was stopped in the bottleneck that formed in the second corner. Once mobile again Watts struggled with being able to push anywhere near his normal pace due to a head full of congestion that not only affected his breathing but also more importantly his balance, and perception of the upcoming trail.

“I felt so crappy, and everything in my head was real fuzzy. All of that congestion just had me to the point where I couldn’t think clearly, and thus I wasn’t able to push myself to a fast pace. By the time I got to the start of the last lap I was way outside of the top twenty points paying positions, and drained of energy, that we decided it was best that I leave it at that and head back to the trailer to start preparations on being 100% ready for the next round in 4 weeks.”

Shane Watts is supported by the following companies; Fun Mart Cycles, Maxxis tires, cyclehutt.com, Yamaha, Progrip goggles and grips, Spectro oils, Shift apparel, GPR stabilizers, DeCal Works graphics, Dirt Tricks sprockets, Race Tech suspension, Bullet Proof Designs radiator protection, Springfield Armory, Flexx handlebars, Synergy seals, Cycra plastic, Clarke fuel tanks, Alpinestars, FMF, and E-line guards.

GNCC Rd. 5 Loretta Lynn's, Tennessee

Fun Mart Cycles/Maxxis/cyclehutt.com racer Shane Watts performed strongly at Round 5 of the GNCC series held at the famed Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Tennessee over the past weekend.

Quite warm conditions greeted the racers as they roosted off the line, with Watts again snagging an excellent start on his Yamaha YZ250 to be in the lead pack of riders as they headed into the trees. From there Watts followed fellow Aussie Glenn Kearney for the first lap, then slipped into the lead for the next lap and a half. By then David Knight came charging past, apparently on a mission, so Watts easily picked up the pace and tagged along with Knight for the next two and half laps as they distanced themselves from the rest of the field. At the start of the sixth and penultimate lap Watts pitted for a quick splash of fuel and charged after Knight again so as to catch him and be ready for a showdown on the 7^th and final lap with the Manx man. Unfortunately in his haste to get back with Knight, Watts suffered a major crash which took him out of the running for the race victory, and relegated him to a fifth place finish.

“Having the chance to ride the Yamaha a few more times since the last GNCC let me set the bike up more to my liking and let me feel more prepared to take the victory again. Definitely the first five laps of this race shows the potential that I have to win with the YZ250 so it was disappointing to have that crash. It was spectacular, as I bounced off 3 consecutive trees before looping it out as the Yamaha actually rode up the trunk of the last tree. The front end got pretty tweaked so I had to stop several times to try and straighten things out.” “I was happy with how easy it was to run David’s hectic pace especially seeing I had to continually catch back up to him after losing some distance due to lapped riders. What I was amazed with was the way he passed the lapped riders.

“Overall though I had a strong ride and think that I proved that myself and the Yamaha are a great match, and will be shooting for the podium at the next round on May 13.”

GNCC Rd. 4 South Carolina

Fun Mart Cycles/Maxxis/cyclehutt.com sponsored Offroad racer Shane Watts finished a disappointing 8^th place at Rd. 4 of the GNCC Championship held in South Carolina over the past weekend.

The big news surrounding Watts for this race was his first appearance on his newly acquired machinery, a Yamaha YZ250. Having gained a fourth placed start, Watts quickly moved into second and held that position for the first half a lap, but then dropped back again to fourth for the first half of the 7 lap, 3 hour race. From there Watts again dropped several more positions during the remainder of the race to finally end up in 8^th.

“That was a decent finish considering it being my first time out on the Yamaha, however I’m still pretty disappointed with my result. I was concentrating too much on making sure that I finished the race and not DNF, otherwise everyone would have been really questioning my decision to race the YZ250. I just rode way too cautiously, especially in the second half of the race, and failed to attack the course like I should have to gain a far better result. I’m actually really surprised with how awesome the Yamaha performed and how it handled the tricky conditions, so I’m just disappointed in myself for approaching the race with the wrong mindset. I totally missed this golden opportunity to get an excellent result and move into the points lead. That won’t happen next time!”

The next GNCC race for Shane Watts is on April 29, and he is supported by the following companies; Fun Mart Cycles, Maxxis tires, ktmhutt.com, Yamaha, Progrip goggles and grips, Spectro oils, Shift apparel, GPR stabilizers, DeCal Works graphics, Dirt Tricks sprockets, Race Tech suspension, Bullet Proof Designs radiator protection, Springfield Armory, Flexx handlebars, Synergy seals, Cycra plastic, Clarke fuel tanks, Alpinestars, FMF, and E-line guards.

GNCC Rd. 3 Steele Creek, NC

Team Fun Mart Cycles/Maxxis/ktmhutt.com offroad racer Shane Watts scored another impressive result in the 2007 GNCC Championship with a well earned 3^rd place finish at Rd.3 held in unusually warm conditions at the Steele Creek, North Carolina venue over the weekend, March 25.

Watts again got off to a decent start and entered the trees in 5^th position, and then started working his way past his competitors, finally passing David Knight for the lead half way through the first lap. From there Watts was able to easily distance himself from the chasing pack until a wrong turn near the end of lap 1 reduced all of the lead that he had built. Having then lead lap two the heat and demanding course took their toll on Watts who was by then fairly exhausted. For the remainder of the race Watts just cruised around the track focusing on riding smooth line and exerting as little amount of energy as possible. Amazingly this resulted in another podium finish and a great representation for the companies that support him.

“I definitely went out too hard early in the race and paid for it later. Again I was surprised at how slow I was able to ride yet be able to just stay in contention with the race leaders until the end. To only be 100 meters behind the first two guys at the finish has me in hindsight, kicking myself a little for not summoning just that little bit more energy to make the charge for the victory, but then I remember the blurred vision and other effects of exhaustion I was experiencing during that last lap. Just that thought is enough to make me content with not only finishing the race but also making the podium. Now I have some time to improve on my fitness level and to concentrate on a slightly different race plan for Rd. 4.”

The next GNCC race for Shane Watts is on April 15, and he is strongly supported by the following companies; Fun Mart Cycles, Maxxis tires, ktmhutt.com, Progrip goggles and grips, Spectro oils, Shift apparel, GPR stabilizers, DeCal Works graphics, Dirt Tricks sprockets, Race Tech suspension, Bullet Proof Designs radiator protection, Flexx handlebars, Synergy seals, Cycra plastic, Clarke fuel tanks, Alpinestars, FMF, and E-line guards.

GNCC Rd. 2 Washington, GA

Team Fun Mart Cycles/Maxxis/ktmhutt.com Offroad racer Shane Watts fought through some difficult times at Rd. 2 of 2007 GNCC series held in perfect conditions at Washington, GA over the weekend, to salvage a decent finish and add to his points count for the Championship.

Following an 8^th placed start Watts quickly worked his way through the pack to be challenging with Glenn Kearney for the early lead. Disaster struck at the 3 mile marker when unexplainably the rear brake line on Watts’ bike fractured, resulting in a loss of brake fluid and subsequently no rear brakes for the remainder of the opening 12 mile lap. Once the first lap was completed Watts stopped in the pits to replace the complete rear brake system, which took just over three minutes to undertake before rejoining the race deep in the pack, outside of the top 50. From there Watts just railed through the pack riding at a pace that was 30 seconds a lap faster than the lead riders and had moved up into 6^th place overall by mid way through the fifth of seven laps. Again disaster struck as the rear brakes failed for a second time. This time however there was no chance of fixing them thus Watts had to ride the remaining two and a half laps with no rear brakes at all. Amazingly only 3 riders were able to move ahead of him in the final results, relegating Watts to 9^th overall for the day.

“For being so unlucky today, I got really lucky to get the result that I did. We salvaged that 9^th because we were prepared, unlike in previous years where this probably would have resulted in a DNF, or zero points from a poor finish. I’m stoked that we were able to pull that off, to ride without rear brakes for exactly half distance of the 3 hour race, plus have a 3 minute pit stop to replace the brake system, yet to finish within 6 minutes of the winner. Without these problems today it would have been easily a second placed finish for us at the minimum which would have been a great back-up from my victory at Rd. 1 in Florida. Currently we sit second in the points chase for the Championship and are ready to move back into the lead following Rd. 3 to be held in North Carolina on March 25. Following my excellent start to the 2007 season, we asked KTM to review their commitment to my race program, and again they have stated that they will provide ZERO support for my racing.”

Shane Watts is supported by the following companies; Fun Mart Cycles, Maxxis tires, ktmhutt.com, Progrip goggles and grips, Spectro oils, Shift apparel, GPR stabilizers, DeCal Works graphics, Dirt Tricks sprockets, Race Tech suspension, Bullet Proof Designs radiator protection, Flexx handlebars, Synergy seals, Cycra plastic, Clarke fuel tanks, Alpinestars, FMF, and E-line guards

GNCC Rd. 1 Vero Beach, FL

Team Fun Mart Cycles/Maxxis/ktmhutt.com rider Shane Watts opened 2007 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series with a dominating win at Rd. 1, held in the deep sands and palmetto roots of Florida on March 6.

Coming into the event as a total under dog, despite strong results in the off-season races, Watts completely blew the field apart by charging to a 2 minute victory over David Knight and Garrett Edminsten, re-affirming himself as a serious Championship threat to all of his competitors.

“What an excellent start to the season,” Watts exclaimed following the race. “I got a decent start, and then pulled some nice lines in the first few corners which placed me in 3^rd going into the first tree section. Not long after that I moved into the lead and just rode a steady pace. I was stoked with how I was able to significantly gap the field during the second half of the 3 hour race. For 2007 I have had to purchase my bikes and parts, so my motivation was high to take the victory for all of those enthusiasts out there who are in the same position as myself. I’ve always had a strong fan base of supporters cheering me on, but this year it seems to have grown 10 fold, so this victory was for them.”

“Of course now I wouldn’t be in the position of being able to race if it wasn’t for the sensational support of the following companies; Fun Mart Cycles, Maxxis tires, ktmhutt.com, Progrip goggles and grips, Spectro oils, Shift apparel, GPR stabilizers, DeCal Works graphics, Dirt Tricks sprockets, Race Tech suspension, Bullet Proof Designs radiator protection, Flexx handlebars, Synergy seals, Cycra plastic, Clarke fuel tanks, Alpinestars, FMF, and E-line guards.”

2006 Results

National Hare Scramble Rd. 12 – New Jersey Oct. 15

Team KTMHutt.com/Maxxis/M2R Offroad racer Shane Watts piloted KTM’s new 250XC-F-W to it’s maiden National offroad race victory on American soil with a dominant display at the final round of the National Hare Scramble Championship, held in perfect conditions on the rough and sandy New Jersey course.

With a second placed start Watts was able to move into the lead towards the end of the first lap and then never look back as he continued to distance himself from the remainder of the field for the duration of the race, finishing with a comfortable margin over second placed Nathan Kanney, who was charging real hard.

“Well, it took all year but I was finally able to get a National victory! I’m pretty stoked about that, but more so with the fact that I can’t believe how awesome the KTM 250XC-F was in that rough, power sapping sand out there. The bike was flawless as it tracked perfectly straight through the chop, and the power was extraordinary. Those 450’s had nothing on my machine!”

National Hare Scramble Rd. 12

Shane Watts (KTM)
Nathan Kanney (YAM)
Ryan Rodgers (YAM)
Justin Williamson (YAM)

GNCC Rd. 12 – St. Clairesville, Ohio Oct. 8

Team KTMHutt.com/Maxxis/M2R rider Shane Watts rode hard for a strong 7^th place finish at the second last GNCC of the 2007 season.

Held in perfect conditions on a more faster and flowing course than usual, Watts launched his KTM 250XC-F-W from the start in a decent 10^th place and then started his charge forward to an eventual race high 2^nd position at the end of lap 2 when he pitted, despite having a small crash in the initial stages of the first lap that ripped the roll-off system completely off his Progrip goggles. Following the early pit stop for new goggles and fuel Watts then rode hard for the remainder of the race but never was able to get back into the lead pack.

“I had a great pace going early on there but once I pitted and lost the lead group I just couldn’t get back on them. Each time that I’d get real close I’d get dogged bad by a lapper and lose the advantage that I had just caught up. And then late in the race when I was freight-training with Knighter and Juha I got wiped out by a lapper on a nasty hillclimb and lost a minute there, and a heap of momentum. I ended up having a great battle with Kanney for the whole of the last lap but just wasn’t able to get back by him before the checkers.”

GNCC Rd. 12

Barry Hawk
Glenn Kearney
Charlie Mullins
David Knight
Juha Salminen
Nate Kanney
Shane Watts

GNCC Rd. 11 – Unadilla, New York Sep. 24 2006

Team KTMHutt.com/M2R/Maxxis sponsored Offroad racer Shane Watts endured a difficult weekend at Rd. 11 of the GNCC series, conducted in atrocious conditions at the famed Unadilla Motocross venue in up-state New York.

Heavy rain in the lead-up to the race turned the course into a boggy mess that turned out to be one of the most physically challenging events in recent history. Watts eventually crossed the finish line as the 13^th rider in the Pro class and 26^th Overall.

"They were some of the worst conditions we have ever experienced at a GNCC. It really wasn't all that slippery out there, however the trail was littered with heaps of bike swallowing bog-holes. Halfway around the second last lap I had to stop for a 15 minute break because my legs and abs were locked solid from cramps. That's what you get from having to hold your legs up high whilst charging through footpeg-deep trenches for mile after continuous mile!"

“These conditions actually provided a great testing arena for the KTM 250 XC-F I plan on racing all of next year. This race was excellent in regard to us evaluating the performance of the machine and diagnosing any issues it may present in such conditions. It was definitely a positive weekend.”

GNCC Rd. 10 – Yadkinville, NC – Sep 10

KTMHutt.com/M2R/Maxxis sponsored Offroad racer Shane Watts raced to a magnificent 4^th place finish at Rd. 10 of the GNCC, held in perfect conditions at Yadkinville, North Carolina over the weekend (Sep 10).

Competing on KTM’s new offroad specific 250XC-F four stroke Watts got off to a mid-pack start, which wasn’t the ideal scenario considering the course provided very few passing opportunities in it’s layout. From there Watts just began working his way forward through the strong field of Pro rider’s, eventually getting into 4^th not far after the midway point of the race. With clear track in front of him Watts was then able to give chase to the three leading riders who were just over a minute ahead. Watts gained significant time on third placed Barry Hawk, but with a lap to go Watts began cramping and having trouble with severe fatigue. That put an end to any further progression with the spirited charge but he was still able to finish off the final lap with out losing any positions.

“Everyone was going fast out there today! Unfortunately I was stuck back in the pack for the first few laps and wasn’t able to work my way through. I definitely used a lot of energy trying to make some passes though. I was feeling real good on the XC-F so I really wanted to get through the pack and try to ride up front with those other couple of guys. Overall though I was extremely happy with how things went today. That new KTM is excellent, and my fitness is actually a little bit better than where I thought it was. With 2 more weeks until the next GNCC I’ll be able finish off getting my stamina to where it should be, so as I can be strong for the entire race and go for a podium finish. I’m looking forward to that!”

GNCC Rd. 10 – Yadkinville, NC

Juha Salminen (KTM)
Glenn Kearney (SUZ)
Barry Hawk (YAM)
Shane Watts (KTM)
Fred Andrews (KAW)

GNCC Round 8 June 11-Sparta, KY
KTMHutt.com/M2R/Maxxis sponsored offroad racer Shane Watts scored a disappointing DNF at Rd. 8 of the GNCC, held in Sparta , Kentucky over the past weekend (June 11).

Overnight rains turned the hard pack clay soil into one of the slipperiest courses ever in GNCC history, as evidenced by only 30 riders out of 230 in the morning two hour amateur race being able to complete a single lap in the time limit.

Conditions were slightly better for the afternoon Pro race, but again following a 3 kick start Watts began the race at the rear of the field. From there Watts was able to charge up into the top 10 within the first mile and continue to slowly move forward past his competition. Disater struck though at the 5 mile mark when a tree vine was able to snag his KTM's rear brake assembly and unknowingly break the brakepad pin. This resulted in the rear brake pads falling out and a very slow completion of the lap in the hilly and treacherous conditions. By the time they were able to replace the whole brake system in the pits Watts was over a lap down, so he rejoined the race in behind compatriot Aussie Glenn Kearney and rode for nearly two laps with him. Nearing the end of lap four Watts was noticing a change of performance in his 125SX engine, so following another visit to the pits it was determined that a massive hole in the left radiator had drained all of the coolant from his machine. With only a lap of the race remaining it was decided to retire the bike and to start looking forward to Watts' next race, which will be Australian 4-Day National Enduro Championship, which will be held just south of Sydney on July 6-9.

“Having that DNF was a big disappointment. I was actually feeling really good out there in the mud, and I know a major part of that was due to the new Maxxis SM tires that I was running. That's all I have been using lately. In conditions that range from loam right through to sand and mud I have supreme confidence with the SM's. Without a doubt the Maxxis SM's are the new Michelins of offroading! So, the brake deal was freaky and the hole in the radiator was just one of those things. It just says something about the strength of a KTM engine for it to be able to run at race pace in those conditions for nearly an hour with no coolant in the donk.”

ISDE Qualifier - Idaho
KTMHutt.com/M2R/Maxxis Offroad racer Shane Watts placed a solid 6 th place overall at the recent Idaho City 2-Day ISDE Qualifier, held near Boise, Idaho on June 3-4.

A twelve hour heavy downpour of rain on the Friday evening ensured that there was absolutely perfect traction all weekend with the decomposed granite soil that is prominent in this area. With the race being held at high elevation (8000 feet) Watts was at a distinct increased power disadvantage, riding his KTM 200XC against the big bore 4-strokes of his main competitors, especially seeing as most of the special test were of fast fire road origin.

Coupled with a few crashes in the special tests on Watts was placed a lowly 9 th at the completion of Day 1, but rebounded with a stronger performance on Day 2 with a 4 th overall finish.

“I had always heard how unreal this race was but had never had the opportunity to come and race it, so this year I decided it was time to make it happen, and what a year to come and visit! It was looking all dry, dusty, and crappy before the race but then that massive traction storm came through and it turned the place into moto-heaven. Talk about an unreal place to ride, and have a race. I so totally thoroughly enjoyed the race. It would be easy to just cross this race off my list of “to do” things in life and being happy to remember the great time at that race!”

ISDE Qualifier Idaho , June 3-4

1. David Pearson
2. Destry Abbott
3. Ricky Dietrich
4. Kellon Walch
5. Nathan Woods
6. Shane Watts
7. Pat Garrahan

Funky Chicken National Hare Scramble
Mother Nature, again, failed to cooperate with KTMHutt.com/M2R/Maxxis sponsored rider Shane Watts in Elkton, OR this weekend at the Funky Chicken National Hare Scramble. Slippery conditions and several mistakes on his 200 EXC left Watts with a 5th place overall finish. With more power off the start, Watts was in second behind Nate Kanney, before quickly taking the lead and holding it for the majority of the first lap. Having clipped a tree and suffering a slow speed crash Watts then found himself in a very unusual predictament; his KTM’s handlebars had wedged itself down the inside of his left boot whilst he was still standing. The worst thing was that he was pinned in a straddling position with his upper body behind the right side handlebar and his right leg was in front of the front number plate and fender. After having to remove his boot to get out of the situation, Watts then charged hard back up to third position, closing in on the leaders when he had the first of many major crashes. From there it was all down hill, literally, as the course featured several super slippery and scary downhills that even had the Pro riders bailing off their bikes to avoid trees and going over the edge.

“I was just disappointed that conditions weren’t better because this is my favorite track, and this is the last year for the Funky Chicken at the Big K, so I wanted to finish with a bang. There were some very big hair-raising moments out there, and the handlebar deal was out of this world. What a way to remember this race!”

1. Robbie Jenks
2. Nate Kanney
3. Patrick Garrahan
4. Danny Ferguson
5. Shane Watts
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May 21 GNCC Rd. 7 Millfield, Ohio
The sun was finally raining down on KTMHutt.com/M2R/Maxxis sponsored rider Shane Watts who finished an impressive 5th overall at Round 7 of the GNCC series, held in Millfield, Ohio. Conditions were just as expected after the previous week’s rain and the mid-morning drizzle: slick and muddy in the woods and dusty concrete on the moto track. Despite his stated dislike for those kinds of conditions, and his last place start, Wattsy charged his KTM 125 through the pack the whole race. By the end of the 5th and final lap, he was competing tire to tire with Fred Andrews and the Kiwi Paul Whibley. With one mile to go, all three riders ended up stuck in a rut, side by side, so whoever got out of their predicament first would roost onto the checkers with the higher finish. With the ample power and light weight of the KTM, Watts was able to get the upper hand and take a fine fifth place finish.

“Talk about an interesting and exciting finish to the race. Both of those guys are strong in those conditions so I’m stoked to have been able to catch and pass both of them on the last lap. I felt real ordinary out there on the first lap but just kept plugging away and trying to ride smooth and consistent. There were some many “hidden treasures” out there that could put you down in an instant. Luckily I only had a few small crashes in the middle part of the race.

Watts’ next race will be the much-loved Funky Chicken National Hare Scramble held in Elkton, OR May 28th.

GNCC Rd. 7 – Millfield, Ohio
1. Barry Hawk
2. Juha Salminen
3. Charlie Mullens
4. Jimmy Jarrett
5. Shane Watts
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May 14 OMA Nationals Rd. 4 Rio Grande, Ohio
KTMHutt.com/M2R/Maxxis Offroad racer Shane Watts finished Rd. 4 of the OMA Nationals with disappointing DNF after roosting through some of Ohio’s slimeiest muck for over 2 hours.

Following slow start on the KTM 125SX where Watts lost for a significant amount of time to the lead pack as he gradually worked his way through the pack of slower riders in front of him. Towards the end of the third lap of the 10 lap race Watts came across fellow Pro class racer Doug Blackwell sprawled out on the track following a major crash. With Blackwell not in a good way, and unable to move, Watts stayed with the injured rider until medical help arrived several minutes later. From there Watts again had to re-pass all of the slower riders from earlier in the race and move back into the top 10. With less than 2 laps remaining Watts was forced to DNF when he broke the rear brake master cylinder off his machine bringing to an end a disappointing day at the track.

“Sure now, it pretty much sucks when you get a bad start in these conditions especially when there are a bunch of slower riders in front of you and the fast guys are at the front pulling away fast, but it’s not as if I’m going to start aggressively slamming my way past these guys with some nice “take-out” maneuvers. Instead I’ll just take my time and let my experience get me past them and up near the front. I just hope that Doug can make a full and quick recovery.”
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May 7 GNCC Rd. 6 Seymour, Missouri
KTMHutt.com/M2R/Maxxis sponsored Offroad racer Shane Watts charged through the mud and slop for a creditable 8th place finish at Round 6 of the GNCC series, held in Seymour, Missouri over the weekend (May 7).

Following something like 7 inches of rain in the days leading up to the race Watts was intent on scoring a strong finish in the very trying conditions, especially seeing that in the recent past these types of conditions usually resulted in a DNF. Following a steady start where Watts concentrated on staying out of the roost by letting the rest of the Pro class go for the first few miles, and then taking it easy until the end of the second lap when his slight arm pump and serious hand numbness had dissipated. From there Watts was able to start riding much more aggressively, moving forward through standing until he was solidly inside the top 10. Unfortunately Watts was unable to capitalize on this strong ride during the last two laps and gain a few more positions due to getting tired and making too many mistakes.

“For these conditions I was pretty happy with my result. I was riding strong in the middle portion of the race but following a few crashes and having a derailed chain I started to tire and lost my momentum. Either way, my 8th place was far better than the DNF’s that were common place for me in the mud.”

Shane’s next race will be Rd. 4 of the OMA Nationals in Ohio this coming weekend.

GNCC Rd. 6 Missouri
1. J. Salminen
2. B. Hawk
3. C. Mullins
4. J. Jarrett
5. P. Whibley
6. J. Williamson
7. N. Kanney
8. S. Watts
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Apr 30 OMA Nationals Rd. 3 Judah, Indiana
KTMHutt.com/M2R/Maxxis Offroad racer Shane Watts scored a disappointing DNF at Round 3 of the OMA Nationals, held in muddy conditions at Judah, Indiana over the past weekend (April 30).

“I had a bad jump off the start on my KTM 125SX but had worked my way through to about 6th at the end of the grass track section, only to then get stuck behind a crashed rider not long after entering the trees. This put me at the back of the field and a long way behind the leaders by the time I had made my way around the other slower riders, plus I was absolutely covered in muck. By the start of the second lap I was able to get into a groove and start riding fast, making time on the guys in front of me. By the fourth lap I had passed and moved clear of Whibley as I continued my charge forward, but unfortunately I was halted by a nasty gully crossing. After having the front end tuck on me I was thrown backwards into the creek bed and smacked the back of my head on a nice size boulder. It might be hard to believe but the boulder proved to be harder than my head! With a fuzzy feeling head I completed the lap and decided to call it a day. This was disappointing because I had done a heap of riding and training in the previous week with Glenn Kearney, so I was feeling good and riding real strong, probably the best I have felt all year.”

OMA Nationals Rd. 3
1. J. Jarrett
2. C. Mullins
3. P. Whibley
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Apr 22 GNCC Rd. 5 Hurrican Mills, Tennessee
KTMHutt.com/M2R/Maxxis sponsored Offroad racer Shane Watts scored his best result of the year so far with an impressive fourth place finish at Rd. 5 of the GNCC at the Loretta Lynn’s Dude Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee over the weekend.

Having switched back to the KTM 125SX machine for this event, Watts rode a strong race following a slow start and continually moved forward throughout the demanding three hour event.

“It was time to get back on the 125SX, especially seeing as I’m still having so much trouble with my hands not being strong enough to hang on, and going numb for the first two laps of the event. At least with the 125 I can keep a decent speed going until the numbness subsides enough to pick the pace up.”

“I was definitely happy with my end result, especially seeing as a lot of the other top competitors DNFed with exhaustion. Even though I just rode a steady pace for the whole race my lap times were real close to that of the leaders. That makes me feel good, and confident for even better results in the future. Now that we are on the road I’ll have a lot more time to concentrate on improving my fitness level which will hopefully get me in battling for the lead.”

For more info on Shane, please see shanewatts.com

GNCC Rd. 5 Hurricane Mills, TN
1. Juha Salminen
2. Barry Hawk
3. Glenn Kearney
4. Shane Watts
5. Fred Andrews
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Apr 9 GNCC Rd. 4 Cross Anchor, South Carolina
KTMHutt.com/M2R/Maxxis sponsored Offroad racer Shane Watts enjoyed a strong ride to finish 9th at Round 4 of the GNCC held in Cross Anchor, South Carolina, over the past weekend (April 9).

Conducted in dry and dusty conditions Watts bobbled off the start and entered the first corner in last position, but pulled a sweet inside line and was already up to 7th by the exit of the second corner. Getting caught up in a crash in the 5th corner then relegated Watts back towards the rear of the field, so after a cautious first lap Watts then put his head down and started the long charge forward.

“With all the recent riding that I have been able to do I’m starting to regain my strength on the bike again so I was feeling good out there. Ninth doesn’t sound like that good of a result but I was happy that I was able to ride strong for the complete race. This gives me great confidence to really wind it back now, so with more training in the next two weeks I’m really looking forward to the next race. In South Carolina I wasn’t all that far behind the guys in front of me, so now it’s time to go after the leaders!” Top

Apr 2 - OMA Nationals Rd. 2 Decatur, Arkansas
KTMHutt.com/M2R/Maxxis Offroad racer Shane Watts salvaged fourth place despite running out of fuel at Round 2 of the OMA Nationals held in Decatur, Arkansas over the weekend.

Conducted in perfect conditions following an overnight rain storm, Watts began the 7 lap, 2.5 hour race with a great jump out of the hole on his 200XC to claim the $1000 holeshot award. Watts was able to slowly ease away from the field until he was joined by Jarrett at the front, where they both traded the lead, and continued to gap their competition. The scene was getting set for a last lap showdown until Watts ran out of fuel with a lap and a half to go. Fortunately Watts was able to get enough fuel for the next 5 miles of that lap from amatuer racer and KTM rider, Bill Yocum, even though it was “straight” fuel from Yocum’s 4 stroke! Watts then nursed the his KTM to the completion of that lap, then topped off with enough pre-mix to make a final lap charge back past some rivals to take fourth overall.

“Yeah, I was pretty disappointed about running out of fuel. That’s the second time it’s happened to me this year and each time it’s been on a different bike, but with the same problem of the carby floats starting to leak during the middle of the race. Other than that I was happy with the way things went for me during the race. I haven’t been feeling physically very strong on the bike lately so I just rode a consistent pace at the front, and with Jarrett we were able to get a huge lead over the other Pro riders. Now that my other commitments are starting to ease up, I can dedicate a lot more time to my training program, and get myself back to the point of being able to charge for the whole race and take a convincing victory.”

“The way I rode at the OMA National definitely isn’t up to my potential but it is a dramatic improvement over the way I rode at Round 3 of the GNCC the previous weekend. At that race I just couldn’t pull it together and all I managed to do was drift backwards in the placings, way outside the top 20 and to a final DNF on lap 6.

Watts will next race this weekend (April 9) at Round 4 of the GNCC in South Carolina.

OMA Nationals – Round 2 Decatur, Arkansas
1. Jimmy Jarrett
2. Justin Williamson
3. Jason Thomas
4. Shane Watts

Following Round’s 1 and 2 of the 2006 GNCC Championship, held within 5 days of each other, KTMHutt.com/M2R/Maxxis Offroad racer Shane Watts sits in seventh position in the points standings. Top

Mar 12 - GNCC Rd. 2 Aonia Pass, Georgia
At Round 2 in the Georgia red clay, Watts again jumped out of the hole superbly on his KTM 200XC with another 5th place start and then quickly moved into 2nd hot on the heals of Salminen again. Half way through the first lap Watts bobbled in on of the few big bogholes and got buried to the cases. After a Herculean effort Watts was able to quickly free the bike and complete the lap in 4th position. From there Watts began to fade back through the field with fatigue, eventually finishing out the race in 7th.

“In Georgia I was real happy with my speed on the bike. I was able to ride fast, and it felt good. I don’t know why I faded so bad because I’ve been doing quite a bit of riding lately. Things have been real hectic around here in the last few weeks and I haven’t been able to do much off-bike training, so I don’t know what happened, but I know I shouldn’t have been panting and going backwards after just one lap. I definitely need to work on this during this two week break and come out swinging at Round 3 in North Carolina, and give those other guys a run for the whole race”.

Round 3 of the GNCC will be March 26 in Morganton, North Carolina. Top

GNCC Rd. 1 Deleon Springs, Florida
Round 1 in the sands of Florida proved a difficult race for Watts, who was one of the pre-race favourites to contest for the victory. After a great start Watts soon settled into second position with a good pace, just off that of leader Salminen’s pace, and both were easily pulling away from the field. However though, near the completion of lap two Watts tagged a massive tree root the wrong way and went flipping down the track. The crash resulted in a broken clutch perch, although Watts was able to limp back to the pits still in second place. Following a lengthy pit stop where the broken clutch was unable to be adequately fixed Watts was forced to make another lap of the treacherously whopped out deep sand course before being able to pit again to fix the clutch. From there Watts battled through cramps for a lap but then started picking the pace up again on the fifth and penultimate lap. Again disaster struck as Watts ran out of fuel a few miles from the pit area. After scagging some fuel from a course worker, Watts made the pit and then put on a strong charge during the final lap to pick off a few rivals and cross the finish in 12th.

“Talk about being disappointed. Those problems made me miss a pretty much certain podium, although I was happy with the way I rode. Sand is my strong point so it sucks for me that this is the only sand race on the schedule for the year.” Top

Feb 25 OMA Nationals Rd. 1 Scipio, Oklahoma
KTMHutt.com/Maxxis/M2R team rider Shane Watts began the 2006 U.S. Offroad season with a strong second place finish at Round 1 of the OMA Nationals, held in dusty conditions near Scipio, Oklahoma over the weekend (Feb 25).

Following a mid pack start in the 18 rider strong Pro class, Watts slowly worked his way through to the lead group of 3 riders by the end of the third 20 minute lap. Within a few miles Watts had blasted through to the lead and began pulling away. For the last portion of the race Watts experienced a few problems that hindered his pace, and this coupled with the need to make a precautionary extra fuel stop at the start of the last lap, relegated Watts to the runner-up position.

“With all things considered I’m really happy with the way things worked out for the weekend. I really don’t like to race in those kind of rocky conditions, so I was extremely surprised at how fast I was riding compared to the other guys, seeing as I wasn’t even charging at 100%.”

“It’s going to be a long season so I haven’t done a heap of preparation yet so as to limit the chances of getting burnt out, like what happened to me last year at this time. I’m definately looking forward to getting stronger as the season progresses.”

Watts will next race at Rd. 1 of the GNCC Series held in Florida on March 7.

Rd. 1 OMA Nationals Oklahoma
1. Jimmy Jarrett (Suz)
2. Shane Watts (KTM)
3. Justin Williamson (YAM). Top