Walker Fowler Extends His Win Streak

Race Report by Walker Fowler Racing

Three-in-a-Row!

SPARTA, Ga. (March 31, 2017) – After an impressive first two rounds, Walker Fowler headed into the Maxxis Cannonball GNCC this past weekend, March 25, looking to keep the momentum rolling. With just a few days until the third round of the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series, Fowler came down with a sinus infection.

The two-time champ wasn’t too concerned as he arrived in Sparta, Georgia, as he’s fully aware of what it takes to be on top. Once the green flag waved, Fowler’s Yamaha machine fired right up, but the DayQuil medicine slowed his reaction time. After a delay in letting out his clutch, Fowler headed into the woods in a top-five position.

By the time they checked through timing and scoring for the first time, Fowler had worked his way into third. Lap two provided Fowler with the biggest setbacks, where one of his biggest competitors was able to get around him and put the pressure on the frontrunners. Fowler suffered from a few different run-ins with trees, one of which bent his left front brake rotor, ultimately resulting in no front brakes for the rest of the race.

With two laps remaining, Fowler continued to sit content in fourth until the end of lap three when he began to make up time of the podium contenders. After keeping an eye on an alternate route across a small creek, Fowler found the courage and took the leap, which resulted in making up two positions.

Shortly after the passes, Fowler reset his focus on the race and set his eyes on chasing down Brycen Neal who was in the lead. Chris Borich continued to hang with Fowler, which provided the extra push he needed to quicken his pace. Fowler dismissed the pressure from third, and as they approached the creek section for the very last time Fowler committed to the same line he found success with last time. This line would once again be a game-changer for Fowler, where he was able to take over the lead.

With only two miles remaining until the finish line, Fowler focused on riding a flawless race. Before long, he was on his own as he approached the last few turns. With another win on his resume, Fowler now has 22-point lead in the championship chase.

“It was not a pretty win, but a win is a win. It felt good to battle the best racers in our series and come out on top,” said Fowler.

Fowler will resume racing next weekend, April 8, at the FMF Steele Creek GNCC in Morganton, North Carolina. Fowler took home gold at last year’s event, and will look to repeat his success and earn his fourth straight win of the year.