Pics: Paige Rice-Gomez & JRodsphotoshop • Story: Brian Fell
 I have been wanting to post this for what seems like forever... I have been slacking, I know, but I’m getting caught up, so here it is... Our Grands recap!
Over Labor Day weekend, the 2009 NBL National season came to a close. As usual the Grand Nationals were held in beautiful Louisville, KY. The weather was pretty good as far as I can remember and the race action was awesome. The NBL held a last chance Pro race on Friday night in conjunction with the UGP Open series finals. There was around 28 motos or so and the race went pretty smooth. It’s hard to remember exactly because I was helping out with the go211.com webcast and time just flies when you are having fun! Petey... Taco and I need a Powerbar bottle!
The MCS Factory Team was in full effect at the Grands. We had the whole
crew there along with the new guy, Andres Jiminez. Everybody did good
in their motos. I think Kipper laid it down in one of his races, but he
was OK. All of the guys came in prepared for the season finale.
Everyone had a shot at that coveted number one plate...
Jiminez looked good in his motos finishing with a 2-4-1, but couldn’t
get it together enough to make it into the main event. That’s OK, he’s
the “new guy!” Being the Olympian that he is, I’m sure he will bounce
back this year... Well, he better! LOL!
Tucker Rice had a good weekend
in class with a 1-1-1 with a fourth in the main and #4 on the year.
Tuckers  cruiser wasn’t as spectacular with a 2-1-2 and a 6th in the
main, getting the #7 plate. Being 11 years old means you are in the lower age bracket of that class, but he did make both bikes so no
worries!
Bryan Kipp had a stacked moto, I believe the two guys in his moto got first and second in the main. Bryan went 3-5-3 and didn’t make
it into the final after he crashed in his semi. He would get the #10
plate for the season.
Cory Watts was looking like the man to beat with
a 1-1-1 in his motos, but come semi time he proved that hitting the
gate and trying to come back from 12th is a huge task, he would be
sitting in the sky box with us watching his main. Hopefully that #3
plate serves as some motivation, I have faith in him!
 Petey Peters had
some wind taken out of
his sails when he found out he wasn’t capped
like he thought he was. He would finish 4th for the weekend with a
2-5-2 in his motos, he will be running the #7 National plate this year.
Raul Gomez, the back bone of the MCS squad. What can you say? He has
been training his arse off and it shows! Raul would again do battle
with Shawn Diprete. These guys are awesome to watch race! They ride
super hard, but give each other the respect that a seasoned veteran
should. Raul would go 2-1-1 in 20” and win the main, taking the title!
In cruiser, Raul won all his motos and had to settle for third in the
main, along with a #3 plate for the year. It’s all good though, that
skinny digit in class makes it a great weekend for Gomer!
All in all, the weekend was awesome. Sure we could have had a few more
trophies to get broken in the trailer on the way home, but the guys did
good. Everyone represented well and we are a couple steps closer to
being what I know we can be. I can’t wait for Christmas to get here...
Over and out!
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