Rachael Archer has achieved success racing GNCC Women Championship Series in America, finishing 3rd Overall at John Penton Round in Ohio at the weekend.
Having gained the opportunity to race debut year in WXC 13 Round Series under AmPro Yamaha Race Team, Rachael has already confirmed her place in the Grand National Cross-Country Series Women’s class- a remarkable achievement given the 17 year old was still at school in NZ last year.
Rachael says: ‘So far I have raced all 6 GNCC’S this year in Pro WXC, placings as follows: 8th, 5th, 4th, 4th, 3rd, 3rd . I am currently 4th Overall in the Championship with 7 rounds to go. I have 107 points, currently 18 points behind 3rd place holder – Mackenzie Tricker (Australian)’.
With learning curves aplenty racing seasoned Women Enduro and Cross-Country riders, Racheal is more than happy to up her game every Round, as well as take on board challenges that occur during the gruelling 1.50-2.00 hour races.
#650: ‘I got off to a bit of a rough start to the season- at the first Round in Florida I was battling for 3rd place when I ran out of gas 2 miles from the finish- as there was a mis-calculation with fuel consumption with the deep Florida sand!’
‘Round 2 was a big learning curve and I discovered then I had to be a bit more aggressive with the lap riders and making calculated risks to do better’.
‘Steele Creek Round 3, I had been training really hard and was on my way to the podium when a lapper took me out and crushed my front brake line with 3 laps to go, settling for 4th place with no front brake!’
‘Round 4 Camp Coker, back in South Carolina sand, I rode my butt off and battled with Mackenzie Tricker the whole race. Unfortunately Mackenzie’s 4 years experience got the better of me and it didn’t help that I collided with a lap rider and crushed my hand!’
By WXC Round 5: X Factor in Indiana, Rachael and Mum- Lynn celebrated success with #650 first podium 3rd Overall. Proud, elated and happy to finally gain rewards for the all hard work put in back in NZ and now in States, Rachael holds the moment as super special.
#650: Round 5 X Factor I finally started to get the hang of things and manage to get my first GNCC podium- all with mum to see. This was a special moment. I was super stoked mum was there’.
Round 6 John Penton Round last weekend, Rachael capped off another 3rd podium, dealing with more challenges placed in front of her- testing physical, technical and mental endurance.
‘Round 6 this past weekend, was one of the most physically demanding tracks I have ever ridden. I had an average heart rate of 187 bpm for 1:51 hours and once again managed to get another podium finish which I was stoked with!’
Based in South Carolina in home town of Travelers Rest, Rachael has settled in, making most of area’s friendly, homely town, where number of the sports riders reside with tracks close-by.
#650: ‘I am riding for AmPro Yamaha Race Team aboard a YZ 250FX!’
‘A typical week’s training consists of motos in the morning and off bike training in the afternoon, whether it be road cycling, mountain biking, swimming, rowing, running, or strength and conditioning at the gym with Geoff Fryer. There are quite a few Pro racers that live around South Carolina so there is never a shortage of training partners and people to push me!’
With GNCC tracks ‘normally around 10-12 miles long with a mixture of fast flowing and tight single trail’, Rachael has made incredible progress in just 5 months of racing WXC Series Rounds 1- 6 with 7 Rounds to go.
#650: ‘I have lived here for almost 5 months now and have learnt a lot! It is amazing to see the progress I have made with my racing and it is really rewarding to see my hard work paying off’.
Gaining extra race-time, Rachael has been competing in America’s National Enduro Series Women’s Elite class as well as GNCC, currently standing 3rd Overall having raced Rounds 2 and 3.
#650: ‘The enduros is a 9 Round Series and there has been 3 Rounds. However, I missed the first Round because of visa trouble at the beginning of the year. The last 2 rounds I placed 4th and 3rd’.
With Rachael enjoying her debut year racing GNCC WXC Championship, all the while supported by great Race Team: AmPro Yamaha, Dad-Kevin and Mum-Lynn are equally proud to be part of Rachael’s journey entering Women’s Pro-career racing in America.
And what lies ahead for this young, inspiring Kiwi who only 7 months ago was sitting NCEA levels at Cambridge St Peters High School?
#650: ‘I have 3 more GNCCs before summer break when I can go home for a month and see my family. Then I will be back over to race the final 4 Rounds’.
‘My focus for the up-coming races is to minimize mistakes so I can run up front in every race. I set myself personal goals every 2 months to keep myself in check which gives me something to work towards. I feel really good with my efforts so far this year and everything just keeps getting better, bring on 2020!’
Words: Sharon Cox.
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