Rachael Archer shares her thoughts on racing GNCC WXC Pro 2024 with new team, new bike, for the new season. The defending Women’s Grand National Cross Country Champion of 2023 and 2022, embarks on the next chapter of her racing career, albeit in different colours, yet with the same resolve to achieve the highest possible results.
From taking 9 wins and 3 seconds over 12 Rounds in 2023, Rachael enters her 6th GNCC WXC with no-hold-bars approach, a mind-set which has accompanied the 21 year old through-out her formative years.
And, there were plenty of hard won victories to park in the memory bank – from experiencing all learning curves of racing unfamiliar GNCC tracks, to living, training, and racing many, many miles away from hone in NZ, to pushing outside her comfort zone, working with Team and crew from one season to the next.
If one particular character trait stands out, it is Rachael’s ability to trust her own judgement when decisions need to made. Progression in a racing career remains one of the most challenging aspects to perfect, for all gendered athletes – what makes a difference, is knowing when to act, for what purpose, and reason.
The switch to race with Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team for GNCC WXC 2024 season would not have been taken lightly. Rachael remains steadfast on goals to be achieved, and even when opportunities arise which push the envelope that bit further, an open mind remains essential when making key decisions which will affect the upward trajectory of Rachael’s racing career.
So, how has the settling period developed with new bike, new team, with the Opening Round of GNCC WXC in Big Buck this coming weekend?
Rachael: ‘The new team is proving to be a success thus far – I’ve just finished the first National Enduro last weekend – taking the win by 1.24 min. My mechanic Trent Wood is solely my mechanic and we have been working really hard with testing to be the best prepared we can be at Round 1 GNCC.
We spent 2 days sun up to sun down suspension testing to get a base dirt setting and base sand settings. We’ve been testing tyres and parts most days to get me as comfortable as possible. My biggest focus has been seat time and getting comfortable which seems to be paying off as I feel very comfortable and confident going into Round 1, GNCC. I have a good group of people behind me this year who all have a lot of experience. Steward Baylor and Thad Duvall are my team mates this year and we all work really well together. It’s great to be able to work together and bounce ideas off of each other to get a better feel for things on the kawi.
Overall I’m excited for the season and I think it will be a great year’.
For certain, chasing long-term goals in Motorsport is no easy feat, sustaining successful results even more so – for Rachael Archer, it is all a matter of perspective. The Kiwi knows what she wants, knows how to get it, and knows the taste of victory when it comes.
GNCC WXC Opening Round Big Buck February 17 – 18. Header photo Rachael Archer Image: @tshep704 Graphics: MXLink
Words: Sharon Cox.
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