GNCC Racing

Fowler Heads into Parts Unlimited Unadilla GNCC with Eyes Set on National Championship

Fowler Heads into Parts Unlimited Unadilla GNCC with Eyes Set on National Championship

Tuesday, September 6, 2016 | 4:00 PM
by:
Tuesday, September 6, 2016 | 4:00 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Chelsea Taylor
(304) 284-0084
[email protected] 

Fowler Heads into Parts Unlimited Unadilla GNCC 
with Eyes Set on National Championship
McGill Looks to Use Snowshoe Win as Momentum for this Weekend 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va (Sept. 6, 2016) – After a three-month break the 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series, presented by Maxxis, picks back up with the remaining four rounds of the 13-race circuit. The fight for the ATV National Championship is set to continue this weekend, September 10, with the Parts Unlimited Unadilla GNCC in New Berlin, New York. 

With only a handful of rounds remaining, N-Fab/Maxxis/AmPro Yamaha/Lonestar/MXP’s Walker Fowler seems to be setting himself up to go down in history as a two-time GNCC champion. With a 23-point gap on his closest competition of CST/LSR/Induction Solutions/DeRisi/SG/Tire Blocks’ Adam McGill, Fowler needs to maintain his consistency throughout the remaining four rounds in order to once again reign victorious. McGill comes into this race after a big win at his hometown race and will use that as momentum to come out on top for the final four races. 

With a 23-point gap on the rest of the field, Walker Fowler heads into New York with his eyes set on another win along with valuable points toward the National Championship.Photo: Ken Hill
With a 23-point gap on the rest of the field, Walker Fowler heads into New York with his eyes set on another win along with valuable points toward the National Championship.Photo: Ken Hill

The battle between the duo has been nothing but exciting throughout the first nine rounds of the season, and with a three-month break it could be anyone’s turn to stand in the middle of the box after the two-hour race concludes. The Unadilla GNCC will showcase the riders who focused their summer months on training.

This weekend may serve as the perfect opportunity for Coastal Racing/MSR/Maxxis-backed Brycen Neal to put it all together and earn his first professional career win. With eight top-five finishes, including six podiums, the Ohio native sits within striking distance of Maxxis/Fly Racing/HMF/Ye Olde Cycle Barn/Suzuki’s Chris Borich in the championship points standings. Both Neal and Borich have become staples on the podium, but both lack an overall victory this season. The six-time National Champion Borich, will look to return to his winning ways this weekend, while Neal will look to capitalize the nearly full-season of training and guidance by Coastal team manager and eight-time National Champion Barry Hawk.

Chris Borich currently sits third in the championship standings, and he is hoping to earn his first victory of the season at Unadilla.Photo: Ken Hill
Chris Borich currently sits third in the championship standings, and he is hoping to earn his first victory of the season at Unadilla.Photo: Ken Hill

After dealing with health issues majority of the season, N-Fab/Maxxis/AmPro Yamaha/Lonestar/MXP’s Cole Richardson was able to turn his season around and earn his first XC1 Pro podium at the Snowshoe GNCC in June. With his fitness regime figured out, Richardson’s latest podium finish could serve as a springboard for his success in the last four rounds of the 2016 season. 

Hygear Suspension/Waynesburg Yamaha/FLY Racing/Moto-Xperts/Spider Graphix’s Greg Covert will race his home race in an attempt to extend his points lead in the XC2 Pro-Am division. However, his biggest championship rival is also a New York native and is equally knowledgeable of the conditions that will be present at Unadilla. Even though they start from the second row, Dillinger's Celtic Pub & Eatery/GBC Motorsports/Moose Racing’s Marty Christofferson and Covert are two riders to keep an eye on as they go head-to-head for the XC2 Pro-Am class win. 

Greg Covert holds the top spot in the Pro-Am class, and will look to use his home turf advantage to earn his third win at the famed
Greg Covert holds the top spot in the Pro-Am class, and will look to use his home turf advantage to earn his third win at the famed "Home of Horsepower" this weekend. Photo: Dave Smith / Race Day Pix

The 4x4 Pro class will take to the New York woods during the 10 a.m. race. Cunningham Racing/Can-Am/Spider Graphix/Gold Speed’s Kevin Cunningham has command of the lead position, but Team UXC Racing teammates and class veterans Michael Swift and Kevin Trantham will have their eye set on the top spot of the podium as well. 

Starting right behind the 4x4 Pro class is the WXC division where Ye Olde Cycle Barn/Maxxis/Fox Shocks’ Alicia McCormick leads the way in the women’s premier class. Only one point separates GBC/BNR/Spider Graphix’s Kara Merritt and Houser Racing/Maxxis/Ye Olde Cycle Barn’s Kara Frederick who sit second and third.

Alicia McCormick currently leads the ATV WXC class coming into round 10.  Photo: Ken Hill
Alicia McCormick currently leads the ATV WXC class coming into round 10.  Photo: Ken Hill

Saturday’s race schedule is as follows: Youth ATV racing begins at 8 a.m., followed by amateurs, 4x4 Pro and Women at 10 a.m., and the pros and top amateurs race at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon will also include 50cc Micro racing taking place at 4:30 p.m. 

Adult (12+) gate admission is $20 for the full weekend and $10 for kids (6-11), with kids five and under free. Gate admission includes pro pit access and pro autographs at no additional charge. Camping is reserved for racers, their families and AMA members only. There is no fan camping permitted at this event.

The No. 733 of Cole Richardson sits fifth in the championship standings in his rookie season. Photo: Ken Hill
The No. 733 of Cole Richardson sits fifth in the championship standings in his rookie season. Photo: Ken Hill

This weekend is co-sanctioned with WNYOA, a series that produces local racing events in New York, and will ultimately bring out a full slate of local racers. All local racers are invited to compete at this event, as GNCC Racing offers classes for riders of all skill and experience levels. The amateur race entry fee is $40 and riders can sign up at the track. To learn more about GNCC Racing please visit the GNCC101 webpage.

Local racers expected to compete Saturday on ATVs will be: Mikey Nickels (Super Mini 12-15 and Schoolboy Sr. 14-17), Katelyn Osburn (WXC), David Nappo (35+ C), Morgan Downing (Women Amateur), brothers Dylan (Schoolboy Sr. 14-17) and Devon Feehan (College A 16-21), Kara Frederick (WXC), Austin Conklin (50 Open Jr. 4-6), Marty Christofferson (XC2 Pro-Am), Hunter Hart (College A 16-21), brothers Greg (XC2 Pro-Am) and Steven Covert (Junior A 22+), Jake Callan (Junior B 22+), Boedy Lamoreaux (College A 16-21), Serenity Clark (50 Open Sr. 7-11), Scott Pierson (College B 16-21) and Justin Keller (College B 16-21).

Local racer, Mikey Nickels, is looking to earn his first victory this season in the Super Mini (12-15) class. Photo: Dave Smith / Race Day Pix
Local racer, Mikey Nickels, is looking to earn his first victory this season in the Super Mini (12-15) class. Photo: Dave Smith / Race Day Pix

For a complete schedule of the weekend’s activities, please visit the Parts Unlimited Unadilla GNCC event page on the series website by clicking HERE. A highlight show featuring the event will air on NBC Sports Network on Sunday, November 6 at 3:30 p.m.

Tune in to RacerTV.com on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST to catch live streaming of the Pro ATV race. For more information on GNCC LIVE visit www.racertv.com.

For more information on the series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.comor call (304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #GNCC and #GNCCLIVE. 

AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC
Snowshoe, West Virginia
Round 9 of 13
Saturday, June 25 

XC1 Pro Event Results:

  1. Adam McGill (HON)
  2. Walker Fowler (YAM)
  3. Cole Richardson (YAM)
  4. Chris Borich (SUZ)
  5. Brycen Neal (YAM)
  6. Jarrod McClure (HON)
  7. Landon Wolfe (HON)
  8. Johnny Gallagher (YAM)
  9. Jay Shadron (YAM)
  10. Josh Merritt (YAM) 

*Overall National Championship Standings:

  1. Walker Fowler (241)
  2. Adam McGill (218)
  3. Chris Borich (186)
  4. Brycen Neal (179)
  5. Cole Richardson (129)
  6. Jarrod McClure (120)
  7. Landon Wolfe (106)
  8. Greg Covert (99)
  9. Marty Christofferson (84)
  10. Jay Shadron (83)

*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2016 National Champion. 

XC2 Pro-Am Event Results:

  1. Kevin Yoho (YAM)
  2. Randy Hamilton (HON)
  3. Marty Christofferson (HON)
  4. Greg Covert (YAM)
  5. Matthew Lindle (HON)
  6. Westley Wolfe (SUZ)
  7. J.D. Brown (HON)
  8. Wes Kinsley (SUZ)
  9. James Green (HON)
  10. Cody Collier (YAM) 

XC2 Pro-Am Series Points Standings:

  1. Greg Covert (2014)
  2. Marty Christofferson (178)
  3. Westley Wolfe (174)
  4. Randy Hamilton (148)
  5. Cody Collier (132)
  6. Matthew Lindle (128)
  7. Kevin Yoho (124)
  8. James Green (114)
  9. Bryson Hoppes (114)
  10. Kenny Shick (77)

About GNCC Racing 

The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 2,000 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. The series draws talent from all over the U.S., Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised weekly on NBC Sports and RacerTV.com. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.