Luke and Jake Ross have been contenders in their respective classes throughout the 2013 GNCC season. Riding out of their dad’s shop, Shenandoah Honda, the boys have both put in impressive results so far in 2013. We caught up with Luke and Jake to find out more.

GNCCRacing.com: How's everything going today?
Luke Ross: Pretty good! Jake and I are just hanging out after a local race this past weekend. We both ran Schoolboy class in the afternoon race. I got 1st and Jake ended up 3rd in his first 2 hour race. It actually was a good old school technical race. Thad and Layne Michael had a good battle. 

How have you guys been spending your summer break?
Luke: I've been working at my dad’s Honda shop during the week and riding a lot when it's not too hot. 

Jake: I've been riding a lot and I’ve been working on my bike a lot more. If I'm not working on my bike, I'm riding it so it’s the average boy’s summer, right?

So tell us how you guys got started in the off-road world.
Our dad has raced all over. He was big into enduros and even rode the ISDE back in the day, so it was natural for us to start. 

What brought you to GNCC Racing?
My dad took us to GNCC's for years, and in 2010 we decided to try one at Snowshoe. It was actually our first race ever. Great place to start, right? We both finished like last but it was a lot of fun! Jake actually beat me I think (laughs)

That’s a heck of a first race! How has your 2013 seasons been going?
Luke: I've had an up and down season. I've had a few crappy races and a few podiums, but it was awesome that I was able to win my first overall at the John Penton. I had an awesome ride going in Kentucky but I'm a clutch abuser, so you know what happened in the mud. My dad cured me of that real fast. He actually put 450 springs in my 150. Trust me, I’ve gotten much better. Otherwise my hand would fall off. 

Jake: Well I switched to a CR85 this year, and it was a big difference coming from my RM85. They’re really hard to find good ones since Honda stopped making 2 strokes, but my dad found a couple of good ones and put his magic to them. So in the first 2 rounds I ran out of gas. My bike gets the worst gas mileage. Then we figured out we have to gas twice, so my dad put a dry brake on and we’re good now. But after my first win in North Carolina I did much better this year. I've won 5 out of 9 races and hope to keep it up.

What do you hope to accomplish in the last 4 races?
Luke: To keep having fun, keep running up front, and win another race. I’ve had some really strange luck this year so I’m trying to change my karma. 

Jake: To stay in the top three to keep my points lead. To have fun and do good in school when it starts. We have to have a B average to race. 


Luke, you're sitting 4th in the ultra-competitive SuperMini (14-15) class with a win already this season. What will it take to make up a little more ground in the class points?
Just stay consistent, finish the best I can at each race, and keep having fun! Also keep my head out of my butt like my dad says I do a lot. (laughs)

What will it take to get another win?
I have to start out front, make no mistakes, and stay there the whole race. I also wish the tracks a little more technical sometimes. Add back in the easy, longer path for the less experienced riders. 

Jake, you're leading the 85 (7-11) class right now. How does that feel?
Well, I really don't look at it for the points I just kind of go out and have fun. My dad always says if you’re not having fun, there’s no need to go racing. It's a lot cheaper to go trail riding. 

Very true! But what will it take to hold onto that lead?
Just stay consistent and finish top 3 the last 4 rounds. Stay focused and not get distracted. Never take any of your competitors for granted. There’s always somebody who can beat you. Also since the GNCC travels across the east so much there’s always a local kid that can show up and kick butt. 

What do you guys hope to accomplish in the future?
Luke: To be successful on a big bike, qualify for ISDE, and keep into racing my whole life! This sport is always an adventure. 

Jake: Go to the ISDE and get a gold medal, win the 250A championship in National Enduros, and that's about it. Go to college and get my law degree also (laughs)

Alright, before we wrap this up, who would you like to thank?
Definitely our dad for everything he does for us. Shenandoah Honda, USWE, River Church, Dunlop, Offroad Champions.com, Troy Lee Designs, Sunoco, Hinson, Pro Taper, Stuk mx, W.E.R, Works Connection, Cycra, Scott, and all our friends and family who are there for us.