For Immediate Release
Ã
Borich first to take two wins at the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC
McGill and Ballance on Podium
Union, SCÃ Ã (April 4, 2009) - Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Chris Borich became the first repeat winner of the season as he beat out some stiff competition at round four of the 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series at the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC today in Union, South Carolina. Borich's win puts him at the top of the points standings, and will make the road to the championship harder for the rest of the riders.
FRE KTM's Adam McGill took a close second, as Borich made a pass on him just a few turns from the finish after two hours of racing. McGill was the first to congratulate Borich at the finish. The defendingà GNCC Champion, Yamaha's Bill Ballance, was back on the podium again, taking third for the second round in a row.
"I finally got a good start," Borich said.Ã "The bike is working awesome.Ã We were in a train there for awhile, it was a good time, pretty much like trail riding. It was a good battle."
Ballance started in the lead, taking the $250 MotorcycleUsa.com holeshot award, with McGill and Borich trailing.Ã Yamaha's Taylor Kiser and Houser Racing's Bryan Cook were also close behind and that pack led the rest of the field throughout the race, battling it out wheel-to-wheel.
As the pack decided to pit on the second lap, Borich and McGill decided to power through and took the lead.Ã The two stayed close on each other's heels as they took on creek jumps, steep hills and the red clay of the South Carolina track. McGill clipped a tree and fell back and Borich was able to put pressure on him. The duo continued to battle until Borich was able to make a good pass on McGill about 100 yards from the checkered flag- about three turns before an exciting finish.
"The track was tight," Borich said. "It was hard to pass in the woods."
Ballance, who struggled for weeks after having injured ribs surgically removed, is improving. He had problems with lappers on the track but stayed near the front of the pack throughout the race.
"I'm getting stronger everyone week," Ballance said. "We just need to move up a few spots on the podium."
Cook, who won the previous round of the 2009 GNCC series, came in fourth, just seconds behind Ballance. Kiser, who led the GNCC standings coming into the race, took fifth ahead of teammates Brandon Sommersà and Jarrod McClure.à Honda'sà Duane Johnson came in 8th and Yamaha's Donald Ockerman and Johnny Gallagher came in 9th and 10th respectively.
The XC2 class saw all returning winners on the podium.Ã Brian Wolf took his second win of the year while Josh Kirkland came in second and Eric Hoyland took third. Wolf is now in the points lead.
"It's pretty awesome," Wolf said, as Miss Union and Miss Teen Union presented him with his trophy. "I got around Kirkland after a little stunt trick he pulled with that tree and got around Parker and never looked back."
The XC2 race started when Brian Parker grabbed the $100 Rekluse holeshot award. Kirkland was second going into the woods but Wolf was able to get ahead when Kirkland clipped a tree and fell back into sixth. Kirkland worked his way back up to the front and was able to come in right behind Wolf at the finish. Hoyland started out in fifth on the first lap but worked his way up to the leaders. His brakes went out after hitting a tree, but he hung on to come in third.
Honda's Gabe Phillips came in fourth, ahead of Polaris's Kevin Yoho in fifth and Jeremy Rice in sixth. Kawasaki's Scottie Rich took seventhà and Suzuki's Blake Kramer took eighth. Kawasaki's Dustin Canipe finished ninth and Honda's Rob Hertz claimed tenth.
The ladies took the podium again in the morning race.Ã FRE KTM's Angel Atwell won her fourth round in a row, collecting the $100 GT Thunder Overall Morning Racing Winner Award, followed by Lexie Coulter and Defending Women's GNCC Champion Traci Cecco.
"It's the bike," Atwell said. "The bike is awesome and my crew is great. I tried to keep my own pace. A few years ago I won four rounds in a row and that was crazy, and it's crazy now."
Cecco misjudged a pass around Atwell and ended up clipping a tree and bending her axle. Her wheel was almost off her quad when she pulled up to the finish.
"I'm happy to have third," Cecco said. "I could have had a DNF."
In the UTV race, National Guard Polaris rider William Yokley took a decisive overall win. In second was Justin Fleming and in third, Scott Goodwin.
XC1 Pro Class Winners
1.Chris Borich (SUZ)
2. Adam McGill (KTM)
3. Bill Ballance (YAM)
4. Bryan Cook (Houser Racing)
5. Taylor Kiser (YAM)
6. Brandon Sommers (YAM)
7. Jarrod McClure (YAM)
8. Duane Johnson (HON)
9. Donald Ockerman (YAM)
10. Johnny Gallagher (YAM)
XC2 Pro-am
1. Brian Wolf (YAM)
2. Josh Kirkland (KTM)
3. Eric Hoyland (HON)
4. Gabe Phillips (HON)
5.Ã Kevin Yoho (POL)
6.Ã Jeremy Rice (POL)
7.Ã Scottie Rich (KAW)
8.Ã Blake Kramer (SUZ)
9.Ã Dustin Canipe (KAW)
10. Rob Hertz (HON)
About GNCC Racing: The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1973, 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 1,800 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. Riders compete for more than $3 million in contingency and prize money, which draws talent from all over the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised and will air beginning April 4th on the Versus Network. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.
About Racer Productions: A West Virginia-based motorcycle and ATV event production company, Racer Productions has been a leader in the off-road racing industry for more than 30 years. It's repertoire of events includes the 13-round Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, held since 1973; The Kawasaki/Monster Energy High Point National in Mount Morris, Pa., held since 1977; The ATV Dirt Days at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., held since 1985; The U.S. World Motocross Gran Prix at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa. in 1987; The Monster Energy/Kawasaki Steel City National, held since 1988; The ATV Stampede National Motocross at High Point Raceway, held since 1994; The AMA Pro ATV Open at Steel City in 2007; as well as numerous other amateur motocross events. In addition, Racer Productions staffs the prestigious Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn's Ranch, held since 1982. For more information, please visit www.racerproductions.com.