by: Chelsea Taylor
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 | 1:25 PM
Fowler Looks to Continue His Success at the
FMF Steele Creek GNCC This Saturday
Covert Aims To Extend Points Lead in XC2 Pro-Am
The 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series, presented by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship is set to continue this weekend with the 17th Annual FMF Steele Creek GNCC. Taking place at the Steele Creek Campground in Morganton, North Carolina, the Steele Creek GNCC is one of the most popular stops on the 13-round race circuit. N-Fab/Maxxis/AmPro Yamaha/Lonestar/MXP’s Walker Fowler heads into the third round of the year with two wins and a comfortable points lead, but behind him is a whole stack of XC1 Pro riders aiming to halt his success.
Fowler holds a 14-point advantage over the rest of the field after sweeping the first two rounds of the season. However, the reigning champion knows the road to success doesn’t come without a few bumps along the way.
“Steele Creek is just not my track, but my goal is to finish on the podium,” said Fowler. “It’s a very realistic goal and after getting the first two wins of the season I know it’s doable. I know I can leave this round with the points lead still in hand.”
Currently sitting tied for second is Coastal Racing/MSR/Maxxis’ Brycen Neal, who is setting himself up for a season best finish. At the previous round Neal was able to work his way through the pack and earn a podium finish after being tangled up in a first turn pileup. If Neal can get off to a better start, he may just have what it takes to take home his first ever overall win.
Following a second place finish at the previous round, Maxxis/Fly Racing/HMF/Ye Olde Cycle Barn/Suzuki’s Chris Borich is slowing making his way back to the center of the podium. The six-time GNCC champion is known for consistent top finishes at Steele Creek where he will contend for his first overall win of the 2016 season this Saturday.
CST/LSR/Induction Solutions/DeRisi/SG/Tire Blocks’ Adam McGill is currently tied for fifth with JMR/ATVriders.com-backed Jarrod McClure. After starting the season with a set of top five finishes, both McGill and McClure will have their eyes set on a podium finish.
Another racer who has shown great speed and consistency thus far is BNR/Moose Racing/Maxxis-backed Josh Merritt who holds the sixth place position in the points championship. Show Hauler/Canyon Motorsports/GBC’s Landon Wolfe has also shown that he has the speed to compete with the sport’s veterans where he holds the eighth position, followed by N-Fab/Maxxis/AmPro Yamaha/Lonestar/MXP’s Cole Richardson in ninth and GBC/HMF/FLY Racing/Yamaha’s Johnny Gallagher who rounds out the top ten.
Hygear Suspension/Waynesburg Yamaha/FLY Racing/Moto-Xperts/Spider Graphix’s Greg Covert currently leads the points in the XC2 Pro-Am division. The rookie has placed on the podium at every round thus far and holds a seven point lead over Dillinger's Celtic Pub & Eatery/GBC Motorsports/Moose Racing’s Marty Christofferson in second and Independent Cycles/Shockworx Motorsports/Variom’s Matthew Lindle in third.
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 top amateurs and pros race at 1 p.m. Following Saturday’s afternoon race will be 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 fees are $40 for full-hookup spots, and $20 for primitive camping. Full-hookup campsites are first-come-first-served.
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. Local racers expected to compete Saturday on ATVs will be: Kevin Trantham (4x4 Pro), Jordan Phillips (4x4 Pro), Madison Mace (Women Amateur), Wayne Brown (Super Senior 45+), Brian Rhines (Super Senior 45+), Travis Beaver (Super Senior 45+), Roger Iwerks (Silver Masters 55+), Dustin Beason (19+ C), Chris Jones (35+ C), Kenneth Yarbrough (40+ C), George Mayes (40+ C), Brandon Icard (College A 16-21), Westin Scott (College A 16-21), Rusty Repass (Senior A/B 38+), William Myers (Junior B 22+), Michael Ross (Junior B 22+), Eric Hollifield (Junior B 22+) and Allen Tuttle (Vet B 30+).
For a complete schedule of the weekend’s activities, please visit the Steele Creek GNCC event page on the series website by clicking HERE.
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 coverage 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.
Previous Round Results and Points Standings
Maxxis Cannonball GNCC
Sparta, Georgia
Round 2 of 13
Saturday, March 12
XC1 Pro Event Results:
- Walker Fowler (YAM)
- Chris Borich (SUZ)
- Brycen Neal (YAM)
- Adam McGill (HON)
- Jarrod McClure (HON)
- Jay Shadron (YAM)
- Josh Merritt (YAM)
- Landon Wolfe (HON)
- Cole Richardson (YAM)
- Johnny Gallagher (YAM)
*Overall National Championship Standings:
- Walker Fowler (60)
- Brycen Neal (46)
- Chris Borich (46)
- Adam McGill (34)
- Jarrod McClure (34)
- Josh Merritt (29)
- Greg Covert (25)
- Landon Wolfe (24)
- Cole Richardson (22)
- Johnny Gallagher (22)
*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2016 National Champion.
XC2 Pro-Am Event Results:
- Marty Christofferson (HON)
- Greg Covert (YAM)
- Bryson Hoppes (YAM)
- Randy Hamilton (HON)
- Cameron Bruce (YAM)
- Matthew Lindle (HON)
- Ryland Johnson (HON)
- Braden Nichols (HON)
- James Green (HON)
- Levi Coen (HON)
XC2 Pro-Am Series Standings:
- Greg Covert (55)
- Marty Christofferson (48)
- Matthew Lindle (36)
- Bryson Hoppes (31)
- Randy Hamilton (29)
- Westley Wolfe (27)
- Michael Lancaster (26)
- Rylan Johnson (26)
- James Green (25)
- Cody Collier (22)