Borich takes down-to-the-wire win

Saturday, June 6, 2009 | 11:30 PM

Contact: Rachel Fluharty
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For Immediate Release

Borich takes down-to-the-wire win at Ã John Penton

Kiser and Bithell on podium

The Wiseco John Penton GNCC, round 8 of the 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series presented some of the tensest racing action thus far this season as Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Chris Borich took the win after a neck-and-neck race with FRE KTM's Adam McGill in dry, sunny conditions. Ã McGill eventually broke his A-Arm and finished 13^th. Yamaha's Taylor Kiser finished in second and Warnert Can-Am's Chris Bithell made his first podium appearance this year in third place.

The race began as the riders took the first turn in a roaring freight train. Yamaha's Taylor Kiser took the $250 MotorcycleUSA.com holeshot award. McGill, Houser Racing's Bryan Cook, Jeff Pickens, Warnert Can-Am's Chris Bithell followed in hot pursuit. The 12-mile race track prevented most pass attempts but McGill was able to take the lead by the end of the first lap, followed by Cook, Kiser and Pickens. Borich began making his move in the second lap after a slow start at the beginning, and was able to move up to second place, right on the heels of McGill. Cook, in one of the best races he's had since his win at Steele Creek, fell to third but kept a close gap on the leaders. Bithell began moving up and by the end of the second lap was in fourth place.

McGill held on tight to first place as the riders went through the motocross track. By the third lap, he still had a lead on Borich but disaster struck when his A-Arm broke and he had to wheel his bike out to be repaired. Borich took the lead to take the checkered flag just seconds ahead of Kiser who had kept the heat on him until the end.

Bithell's past races have seen himÃ near the end of the pack, and he's only been in the top 10 twice this season.Ã Bithell kept up a hard-charging fight to come up with his season best third place.

Cook settled for fourth place and Defending Champion Ballance recovered from a disheartening start in 14^th place to make a huge comeback, moving into fifth place at the finish. Pickens fell back to finish in sixth followed by Honda's Duane Johnson in seventh. Yamaha's Donald Ockerman, privateer Jarrod McClure and Ryan Lane on a Honda rounded out the top 10. McGill reentered the race and finished his final lap to come in 13^th place.

In XC2 action, the Wolf is back.Ã Brian Wolf, who finished second at the last race was back in the first place position. Eric Hoyland fired first, taking home the $100 Rekluse Holeshot Award. Kevin Yoho moved up from a 4^th place start to take second place, followed by Dustin Canipe in third. Previous winner, FRE KTM's Josh Kirkland finished in fourth, followed by Eric Hoyland in fifth.Ã Sixth place went to Rob Hertz, followed by Joey Margueria in seventh. John Cunningham, Josh Beavers and Eric Wilezek rounded out the top 10.

In the AM Race, Yamaha's Traci Cecco took first followed by Ã Michael Swift in second and Samuel Williams in third.Ã Swift was the top 4x4 rider with second overall on his Warnert Can-Am.

This is Cecco's third Women's class win.Cecco also took home the GT Thunder Morning Race Overall award. Ã Lexie Coulter took second and Jennifer Albright, third. Cecco's biggest rival, Angel Atwell finished in a season worst 9^th place.

Top Amateur Awards went to Walker Fowler.

The 2009 Can- Am Grand National Cross Country series heads to Snowshoe, WV for its last race before the summer break for the MotorcycleUSA.com Snowshoe GNCC on June 27-28.

XC1

1.Chris Borich (SUZ)

2. Taylor Kiser (YAM)

3. Chris Bithell (CAN )

4. Bryan Cook (HOUS)

5. Bill Balance (YAM)

6. Jeffrey Pickens (YAM)

7. Duane Johnson (HON)

8. Donald Ockerman (YAM)

9. Jarrod McClure (YAM)

10. Ryan Lane (HON)

XC1 Points Standings

1.Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Chris Borich (192/5 wins) 2.Taylor Kiser (169/1) 3.Adam McGill (158) 4. Bryan Cook (132/1) 5.Bill Ballance (129/1) 6. Brandon Sommers (126) 7. Donald Ockerman (104) 8.Duane Johnson (100) 9. Jarrod McClure (92) 10.Johnny Gallagher (77)

XC2

1.Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Brian Wolf

2.Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Kevin Yoho

3.Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Dustin Canipe

4.Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Joshua Kirkland (KTM)

5.Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Eric Hoyland

6.Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Rob Hertz

7.Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Joey Margueria

8.Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã John Cunningham

9.Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Josh Beavers

10.Ã Ã Eric Wilezek

XC2 Points Standings

1.Brian Wolf (216/5 wins) 2. Josh Kirkland (208/3 wins) 3. Eric Hoyland (133) 4. Parker Jones (109) 5. Rob Hertz (108) 6.Dustin Canipe (88) 7.Gabe Phillips (83) 8. Scottie Rich (77) 9.Josh Beavers (69) 10.Blake Kramer (67)