The current XC1 Pro points leader Russell began on the first row of the unique live engine start, replicating the start of GNCC’s birth race the Blackwater 100.  After taking the early lead, Russell would start to feel pressure from Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4/FAR’s and West Virginia's own Thad DuVall.  DuVall made the pass on lap three and continued to lead until Russell made the pass back on lap seven. He would hold onto second place 

“I kind of rode around there for about half the race, and once I got everything figured out I went for it and was able to pull the lead at the end,” said Russell. 

After struggling in the first half of the season the difficult Snowshoe track conditions didn’t slow down the N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn.  He walked away with his first podium of the season, rounding out the top three in the XC1 class.  

“I’m just happy to be back where I know I should and can be,” reported Ashburn, “I’ve had struggles and I hate it has taken this long, but I’m good now.”

In addition to the full GNCC schedule, AirGroup/Rockstar Energy/Husqvarna backed rider Ryan Sipes has been busy with racing the past two rounds of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.  He has been improving all season finishing second at the past two rounds.  Unfortunately Sipes injured his knee, ultimately ending his day. 

“I hit my knee on something, I’m not sure if it was a rock or handlebar,” said Sipes, “but it swelled up and I couldn’t hang on anymore or use my knees to grip.” 

JCR Honda’s Chris Bach maintained a consistent placement throughout the race and finished fourth, followed by N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Grant Baylor in fifth and Factory FMF/KTM’s Taylor Robert in sixth.  

Moto-Tech KTM’s Steward Baylor takes home seventh place, N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Daniel Milner in eighth, Funmart Cycle/FLY/RidePG.com’s Adam Bonneur in ninth and Maxxis/Fly/Factory Connection’s Chris Douglas finished out the XC1 Pro top ten. 

The XC2 Pro Lites hosted an eventful race with DirtWise/Maxxis/KLIM’s Jason Thomas and E&H Honda’s Trevor Bollinger swapping first and second place throughout the three-hour race. At the end of the race, it would be Thomas who came out on the top spot of the podium. XC2 class rookie, KTM/St. Lawrence Radiology/Factory Connection’s Mike Witkowski also earned his first-ever XC2 podium finish with a third in the class and 11^th overall. 

Raines Riding University/Atlas Yamaha/OffRoadViking.com’s Ricky Russell found himself just one position away from the podium taking home fourth place. Husqvarna Support Rider Craig DeLong followed Russell in fifth and Honda’s Layne Michael in sixth. Tegan Temple improved from his last finish at the John Penton, taking seventh place home. Cory Buttrick, Jesse Groemm and Samuel Evans round out the XC2 Pro Lites top 10.

Canadian rider Loic Leonard captured his first American Kargo Top Amateur award with a win in the 4 Stroke A Lites, and 18^th overall.  The AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC was Leonard’s second race of the season. Previously Leonard finished 10^th at Big Buck.

Factory FMF/KTM’s rider Kacy Martinez finished on top of the WXC podium and wrapped up her second consecutive WXC title. 

“It feels pretty good to get it wrapped up with four races still to go and before the summer break so I can take it easy over the summer break,” says Martinez, “But I won’t take too much time off and hop right back into it to get the last four rounds under my belt and on top of the box.”

KTM’s Rachel Gutish had her best finish of the season with a second place closely following Martinez. Husqvarna’s Brooke Cosner held onto third place the entire race.  

The 1:00 p.m. race was broadcast LIVE in its entirety on RacerTV.com and can be viewed as an archived video now online by visiting the GNCC LIVE page on RacerTV.com.

The 2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series resumes after summer break on September 19 and 20 with the Parts Unlimited Unadilla GNCC. For more information on the series, visit www.gnccracing.com.