2 podiums in a row for ellis
Strong Starts, Strong Runs and Strong 3rd Place Finish for Ellis

MAY 28, 2005
GNC National Round 8
Muddy Creek

• Baker Scores 8th in Both Pro Am Production and Pro Am Unlimited
• Ellis Rides Hard and Nails a Solid 3rd - with 3-3 Motos

Race Report by: Chris Conrady
Photos: Chuck DeBault, John Pellan
It's been a less than perfect year so far for Team Alba and Kory Ellis. In his first year as a Team Alba/ Factory Yamaha rider, his results haven't reflected all the extra effort that has gone into the team or the extra training by Ellis. But what it does reflect is the extra tough competition this year. Race participation is up 20% over last year - there are more riders, more fans and the top pro teams have geared up. Anyone that's been to a race this year, knows that the action is intense and the competition is fierce. This year Ellis has been battling gremlins - but has given two incredibly strong performances over the last two races for two podium finishes in the most competitive Pro GNC field ever.

Ok, yea, that's a pretty bold statement, " the most competitive field ever" but think about it. Last year, Digger Doug Gust dominated the series - and has yet to win an event this year. And, aside from the top two, the top 6 or 7 riders are very close in points. This is the kind of competition you expect at the top level of the sport.

Kory Ellis is not taking a bad start to the season lying down. In fact, if anything it's made him more pumped up. And the results of his new angst are beginning to show - first with a strong, up front run at Red Bud for a podium finish. Then here at Muddy Creek with another up-front run and another podium finish.

Muddy Creek
Ellis doesn't typically like Muddy Creek. Although he finished 4th there last year, he's had bad luck prior, and to top it off, has an allergy problem with the area. So it's not one of his favorite tracks.

But like I said, he's on a bit of a roll right now. He's been working on his starts and the team has been working out the bugs to become more competitive.

Moto 1
Moto one got off to a good start for Ellis. He went into turn one in about 5th place in a solid pack of riders. By the end of lap two, he had worked his way into 3rd and began distancing himself from the field, hunting down Natalie and Gust. Although there was some dicing at the back of the pack, and Gust and Natalie swapped positions in the fight for the lead, Ellis held on to this position and finished 3rd.

Moto 2
It appears that Ellis has been putting a bit more thought into his gate selection, and this time it definitely paid off. Ellis chose a nice outside gate which set him up perfectly - not for the hole-shot, but set him up perfectly to miss the carnage right out of the gate. Dustin Wimmer got thrown in turn one, then Gust and Little and another rider tangled. Ellis was able to choose the right line to avoid the trouble continuing his charge up to the front. Jones was in the lead, but was quickly overtaken by Natalie - who checked in and checked out. Ellis made his way to third where he finished behind Natalie and Jones. Perhaps the most impressive finish was that of Doug Gust - who, even after an early tangle and a serious run-in with a track obstacle, managed to finish 4th - giving him 2nd overall for the day. Natalie's 2-1 finish gave him first and Ellis' 3-3 finish was more than good enough for 3rd overall.

Pro Am Sage Baker
Sage Baker when asked about Muddy Creek said "The weekend sucked!" Mid-pack 8th place finishes in both the Pro-Am Production and Pro-Am Unlimited had Sage exclaiming about a race weekend that he was glad was behind him. Running in 4th and 6th place respectively in the series, Sage knows he can finish better and noted that he just had an off day. Having a tough time dialing in the set-up for the track and just having a tough time getting the rhythm of the track were the two main reasons he noted for finishing where he did. On a positive note, however, he notes that he's been working on his starts and is getting better runs off the line. Also, he's been working on dialing in his motor and noted that a recent jetting change was just the ticket - commenting that the motor was faster and running better than ever. Sage is looking forward to Mt. Morris and feels that things are looking pretty good for a strong finish.

For his Freshman year in the nationals, Sage is usually a top five finisher. It's definitely been a learning experience for him and he's proving regularly that he is a force to be reckoned with. He rides and trains almost every day - constantly looking for new places to ride as he tours around the country in his hauler. Keep an eye on Sage Baker - we're sure you'll be seeing more of him soon.

Podium
For the second race in a row, Kory Ellis got to enjoy the spoils of the podium with his hard fought 3rd place finish. He is stoked about his strong performance at Muddy Creek and looks forward to one of his favorite tracks, GNC 9's Mount Morris.

Additional Race Info at ATVriders.com
Additional Race Report at ATVSCENE.COM
Official Results at: ATVA Online