That I could see on my iPhone weather app wasn’t good: five days of dark clouds and lightning bolts in Springville, Indiana, right where I was headed to compete in my first GNCC event. I was disappointed, but not altogether dejected, because I was slated to ride the new 2015 Yamaha YZ250FX in the Limestone 100. Late last year, Yamaha’s YZ250FX was met with rave reviews. It’s built with Grand National Cross Country competition in mind. These races, held primarily in the eastern part of the US, are two to three hours in length, and they’re held on some of the most unforgiving terrain you’ll ever encounter on a dirt bike—exposed roots, rocks, ruts, mud, and more ruts. The 250FX is a hybrid of the YZ250F and WR250F; it has the agile handling and snappy power of the YZ and the off-road capability of the WR. In other words, it’s perfect for GNCC. Aside from a few tweaks to the fork and shock settings, the 250FX chassis and suspension are that of the YZ. The engine is where the WR influence is most apparent. The FX shares the WR’s alternator, clutch, six-speed gearbox, and the always-important electric starter. The additional sixth gear makes traversing a wider range of terrain possible, while the clutch provides a lighter pull and enhanced durability for extreme abuse in off-road conditions. Off-road-specific suspension settings complement the chassis, and the bike is equipped with an 18-inch rear wheel. 
GETTING PREPPED Yamaha invited Cycle World to participate in the Limestone 100 on a new 250FX. Upon touching down in Indianapolis, we were met by Yamaha’s media relations manager Marcus DeMichele and racer Phillip Lash. On the drive to our hotel near the track, I couldn’t help but notice the rolling green hills and dense forests lining the interstate. As a California boy, I’m used to dusty sunbaked landscapes, not lush vegetation and muddy forests. I knew it would be a brutally challenging race on Sunday. That night, there was a presentation and dinner with our race hosts, the N-Fab/AmPro/Yamaha team, which is managed by multitime GNCC champion Randy Hawkins. We laughed, ate, and picked Randy’s brain about tips and what to expect. On the schedule for the first full day of our trip was a test session at a private track, where we’d get to shake down the 250FX with the full support of the team to assist in setting up our bikes. We were greeted by the immaculately prepped YZ250FXs at the private track. We were also, however, greeted by a steady rain that soaked the 5-mile off-road loop and motocross track. If it weren’t for the rain, most of us would’ve ridden until the sun went down. But I don’t get many opportunities to ride someone else’s bike in mud, so I decided to stay out in the rain for as long as possible. After thoroughly drenching myself, and scaring myself a couple of times, I returned to the truck with a bike packed with mud. Due to the wet conditions, I made no changes to the setup. I was as ready as I was ever going to be for my first GNCC race. 
RACE DAY I awoke on race day to clear and sunny skies. It was muddy at the track, and I couldn’t wait for noon to arrive, which is when we could watch the pros make it look easy. For the most part, I felt ready, so I began prepping my goggles and gear for the race. I could feel butterflies as I pulled on my boots, filled my back canteen, and buckled my helmet. Although I grew up racing, it was never in an event like this. I rolled up to the line feeling anxious, but before I knew it the green flag waved. Thanks in part to the electric starter, I was headed into the wet woods in roughly fourth place, but after only a few miles, my position in class didn’t even matter. I was dodging downed riders, bobbing and weaving among sapling trees, and paddling my feet through 2-foot-deep ruts. All the while, I was amazed at how well the 250FX performed. The power delivery and plush suspension made the bike easy to ride. I could put it just about anywhere I wanted—even if where I chose to put the bike wasn’t the best choice! 
Once, after making a couple of passes, I approached a massive mud hole with several possible line selections. My inner monologue went something like this: “You idiot, don’t take that line. No, take it. That line’s the quickest.” At that point, my front wheel dropped in and I was stuck. Try as I might, I couldn’t free the 250FX from the suction of the deep mud, and I was forced to hike out to the pits and find someone to help me remove the poor Yamaha. After roughly 30 minutes of my bike being stuck up to the seat, I was able to get it free with the help of a kind spectator and continue on my way. Exhausted, I tried to not think about how tired I was and focus instead on taking the checkered flag. The Limestone 100 course was nothing short of a huge challenge. For a Californian groomed in dry desert with rocky hard-packed trails, Indiana was as foreign to me as water in the Sahara. In spite of that, I knew I had to make it to the finish for the story, let alone my pride. With that as my motivation, I eventually took the checkered flag. After four laps and 40 miles of brutal terrain, I finished 10th in class after being dead last on the first lap. All said and done, as much as I wanted to quit during the race, I would go do it all over again. It was a weekend I’ll never forget. The mostly stock Yamaha YZ250FX performed remarkably well in the tough, unforgiving conditions. Like GNCC racing, the new YZ250FX is anything but ordinary. 
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