JG Off Road Team Fights Through Tough Titan GNCC

Lafayette, TN (September 26, 2010) -- After walking the track at this weekend’s dry MotorcycleUSA.com Titan GNCC in Lafayette, TN, the GEICO/JG Off Road/ Monster Energy Kawasaki team and team co-manager JT Bennett knew it wasn’t going to be quite their cup of tea. But when the dust settled, the team walked away healthy and with some good finishes.

After last year’s mudfest at the Titan, the crew was hoping for at least a little bit of rain to settle a thick covering of dust on the rocky and rooty track, but the day dawned bright, dry and in the low 70s. Womens rider Ashley Crouch grabbed a well-deserved third place after starting the race without goggles. Still, Crouch went into the woods in 4th and then passed Shelby Rolen to move into third. Crouch fell behind a bit when she stopped to grab the forgotten goggles, but was able to move back up through the pack. Crouch then overcame a challenge from LeeAnn Bange and swapped places with Mandi Mastin until Mastin moved ahead to finish second and Crouch third with KTM’s Maria Forsberg in first.

“I have been wanting a better finish and I finally got one today,” Crouch said. “I feel really good about my race and it makes me more confident for the next one.”

Team co-manager JT Bennett threw a leg over his 125 to finish sixth overall out of almost 300 riders in the AM race. Bennett was the first rider around the first turn, but took the turn hot and two riders were able to get ahead of him on the holeshot line. Bennett battled in a freight train and swapped back and forth to finished sixth for the day.

“It was my first time on the 125 in a harescramble in about a year and a half,” Bennett said. “ I was really happy with my start, but the guys were eating me up in the fields and on the fast stuff. In the end, I just didn’t have my guard up and fourth place was right there. I ended up a little tired but all in all, it wasn’t too bad of a day.”

Watkins had a rough time on the XC2 startline when he couldn’t get his bike started, but luckily a pileup on the first turn helped him work his way up through the pack to 4th until a mid-race challenge from KTM’s Steward Baylor Jr., dropped him to 5th for the day.

“I was having the hardest time with the rocks on the track,” Watkins said. “I was by myself the whole day pretty much. But, for the conditions and the way I was riding, I should be happy with what I got.”

Jimmy Jarrett had a fast start on the line to finish the first lap in second but took a shot to his shoulder early on in the race. Jarrett held on until the 5th lap, and then decided to opt out to perserve his shoulder for the rest of the season. Jarrett finished 15th in the standings for the day.

“On the first lap I hit a hole that I couldn’t see and wasn’t ready for,” Jarrett said. “It just took it out of me. I tried to stay with the rest of the guys but then I got caught and passed by a few more guys. I got down to 16th or 17th and wasn’t doing any better, so I decided to pull out.”

“Unfortunately, the skies didn’t open for us,” Bennett said. “We’ve always had a great success with the whole team when it’s a little slimy. But the team stayed positive throughout the day. Ashley had a really great race but Jimmy’s shoulder gave him some struggles and Scott pounded it out today. Everyone’s healthy right now and we’ll be back in St. Clairsville, maybe we’ll get some rain and some podiums there!”

Jarrett and Watkins would like to thank their sponsors GEICO, JG Off Road, Pirelli, Silkolene, EBC Brakes, Tsubaki, Ride PG, Moose, Pro Moto Billet, CV4, Monster Energy Kawasaki, Smith G2, IMS, FMF, Sidi, Renthal and No-Toil.

Watkins would like to thank his additional sponsors Shoei, Smith Optics, G2, Enduro Engineering, BRP and Sidi Boots.

Jarrett would also like to thank individual sponsors Arai, Cytosport and OGIO.

Crouch would like to thank sponsors JG OFF Road, GEICO, Silkolene, Fasstway, Rekluse, Spruill Honda Kawasaki, Scott Goggles, Vee Rubber, Ohlins, PMP Sprockets, Tucker Rocky, One Industries and OGIO.

The team travels next to the ITP Powerline Park GNCC on October 9-10 in St. Clairsville.

For more information, log on to www.jgoffroad.com.

About JG Off Road
JG Off-Road Racing is owned by JT and Gretchen Bennett. JT started out as a privateer rider, working hard to build his racing career and is a former multi-time AWRCS Champion, GNCC Amateur Class Champion and ISDE competitor. After 17 years of racing, the Bennett's decided to start their own team as a chance to stay involved in racing and give back to the sport. JG Off Road started in 2009 and strives to provide strong results in all aspects of racing. Bennett has built a solid partnership with GEICO Powersports to give the team a winning outlook and a hard to beat attitude.