“ Grant has always been strong here ,” said Steward . “ I think I ’ ve only won this race one time in ten years . It ’ s one of my favorite tracks but I just can ’ t seem to put it together . But hats off to him . He rode flawless all day . It was everything I had in that last test . I was like , I definitely crushed him , but then we came in like two tenths apart . I got the edge on him in the last two , but it was absolutely everything I could . It was a good day for points . It ’ s putting me back closer to where I want to be .”
Thad DuVall made his return to racing after sitting out the past seven months due to injury , and the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider surprised himself and others with a solid third-place finish .
“ I was still pretty timid with my knee and still don ’ t have a lot of time on the bike ,” said DuVall . “ I just started out the day with a fourth in the first test and just kind of got better as the day went on . I Just got more comfortable on the bike as the day progressed . I ’ m super excited to be back . I don ’ t think I ’ ve been that nervous for a race in a couple years . I felt like I was going to puke before I even started . So , to have that jitters again , it ’ s fun . I really enjoy it .”
After winning the previous round in Missouri , XC Gear / Enduro Engineering / Husqvarna ’ s Ryder Lafferty followed up with a fourth in Indiana .
“ I just I couldn ’ t stay off the ground ,” said Lafferty . “ I had a couple mistakes that