Irvine, Calif. – Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Andrew Matusek and Scott Watkins finished out the GNCC season in top-five form at the Ironman in Crawfordsville, Ind. Matusek earned his fourth top-five performance of the year in fourth, while round 12 winner Watkins finished with his seventh top-five of the year in fifth. Despite injuries standing in their way, Watkins finished an impressive fourth overall on the year and Matusek sixth.

After a season of ups and downs, Matusek made the last race count. He got a decent start and continued to pass people until the end, finishing fourth.

“My start was pretty good, but on the first lap, I crashed and got lost,” said Matusek. “I was about 10th when I came around the first time and worked my way up. Then just after the pit I got Scotty (Watkins). I battled on the last lap to make my way up to finish fourth.”

Watkins’ final race didn’t start as planned, but he still managed to come away with a top-five finish.

“I got close to a last-place start,” said Watkins. “I was really happy with the track. It was rough and tacky. After my bad start, I pushed it hard to make up for it and I think I got more tired than usual at the end. I’m happy considering the start and I ended the year fourth overall.

Watkins’ season started on the sidelines after he broke his wrist just days before the first race. He ended up missing four races, but came back to finish no worse than sixth at the remaining nine races.

“The season didn’t exactly start like I had wanted,” said Watkins. “I tried not to come back too early and not be 100 percent. I feel that I could have been up there if I was able to ride all the rounds, but I can’t complain with the way everything turned out.”

AMA Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC)
Ironman – Crawfordsville, Ind.
October 26, 2008

XC2 Pro Lites Class Results
1. Kailub Russell, Kingston, Ohio, KTM
2. Cory Buttrick, Logan, Ohio, KTM
3. Jason Thomas, United Kingdom, Yamaha
4. ANDREW MATUSEK, FAYETTEVILLE, GA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
5. SCOTT WATKINGS, LEETONIA, OHIO, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
6. Jake Korn, Brookline, N.H., KTM
7. Johnny Barber, Rome, Ga., Yamaha
8. Ryan Echols, Fairmont, W.Va., Honda
9. David Snyder, Navarre, Ohio, Yamaha
10. Andy Shea, Oxford, Ohio, KTM

XC2 Pro Lites Class Standings
1. Thad Duvall, Williamstown, W.Va., Yamaha, 289
2. Dustin Gibson, Cumberland Furnace, Tenn., Yamaha, 232
3. Kailub Russell, Kingston, Ohio, KTM, 230
4. SCOTT WATKINGS, LEETONIA, OHIO, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 174
5. Justin Williamson, Sanford, Fla., KTM, 162
6. ANDREW MATUSEK, FAYETTEVILLE, GA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 160
7. Brian Lawson, Yamaha, 145
8. Eric Bailey, King George, Va., KTM, 139
9. Josh Weisenfels, Fort Smith, Ark., Yamaha, 138
10. Johnny Barber, Rome, Ga., Yamaha, 126