After a successful holeshot and a grueling day fighting for the top spot, Zakowski Motorsports/Can-am X-Team rider Zac Zakowski finished 2^nd in the 4×4 Open class.  Along with the successful in-class finish, Zac also places 13^th overall in a field of over 300 riders.  After a long day in the North Carolina Hills, the family-run, Zakowski Motorsports Team and their rider, Zac Zakowski, felt they had an extremely successful weekend.

Zac Zakowski: Well, this week we were off to the never-ending hills of North Carolina.  During the off week we successfully found our electrical problem from the past round and got some decent testing in with some new parts.  After looking at the weather for NC, we were all excited to finally head down to a nice climate.

Waking up that morning, I instantly felt good about the race.  I felt “in the zone”, I wasn’t nervous at all.  I felt ready and confidant pulling up to the starting line.  I was ready to stop playing follow the leader, lead the pack, and prove I can do it.  We started on row 3, in a field of over 300 riders.  While watching the first two rows leave, my heart didn’t skip a beat.  I was ready to go.

The green flew and I pushed the starter and throttle as hard as I could, hearing my Ron Woods Exhaust roar to life.  Cecco nudged me to the first corner but I kept it pinned and overtook him to the second, successfully taking my first holeshot in GNCC.  I was first into the woods and not about to let anyone take that away from me.  I flew up the NC hills wide open, with my GBC Tires just tearing up the hill.  It has been awhile since I felt that comfortable with my suspension setup.  I was going through woops wide-open and clearing doubles left and right.  I put about 30 seconds on 2^nd and 3^rd on the first lap.

I couldn’t believe it!  I was doing it!  I was leading the top riders in 4×4 racing along with the two best-known veterans.  I felt great, I set my bike into cruise control and tried to stay smooth.  I was having a blast dodging through trees, creeks, and logs.  I held a solid lead for the first two and a half laps until Buckhannon caught up to me toward the end of the third lap, I took a bad line and he got by me right before the finish.  I knew it was fine and I could catch him.

I took a sip of water and put my head down to charge forward.  I stayed right on him trying multiple lines in a passing attempt.  The woods in North Carolina were so tight that half the track was just follow-the-leader until an opening.  We raced hard all the way to the finish, picking off lappers as we went along.  I fell back slightly in the wild race to the finish.  Amongst all the chaos, I was just unable catch Brian to take the win.

This weekend marked a huge turning point in my career.  Although I didn’t take home the win, we are all still 100% happy with the results.  Things couldn’t have gone any better for the Zakowski Motorsports Team.  We have overcome our problems from the last race and our bad luck.  I am ready to take my program to the next level and have a successful sophomore year of racing.  I would once again like to say thanks to everyone who is helping us this year and a big thanks to my grandpa for watching over me this weekend.  We’ll get one yet!