GNCCRacing.com: Hey, Ben, nice ride at Big Buck! Do you feel like you’re in a pretty good place into the rest of the season?
Ben Kelley: Thank you! Yes, I feel I am in a really good place heading into the rest of the season. I had a really good off-season and I am in the best shape of my life. I am as prepared as I can be for this season and I am looking forward to getting even stronger as the year moves on. 

So tell me a little bit about your race this weekend.
I had a really good race weekend all around. I was happy to be able to look at the track on Saturday. This made for a much more relaxing race day on Sunday. I was able to look at a few mud holes Sunday morning and scout out my lines. Then, before I knew it, it was time to get ready to race. I didn't get the best start, but I made my way to the front by the end of the first lap and battled with Josh and Pascal for the lead almost the entire race. I am happy with a second place finish at the first round and look forward to getting my first win very soon.  

Second place is definitely a great ride, and it look like it ties your best ever XC2 finish. However, I saw you actually had a better overall last year in Unadilla. Since you are originally from Connecticut, do you prefer the northeastern rounds?
The northeastern rounds are definitely my favorite. The terrain in the north east is very rocky and technical. Those conditions are where I feel most comfortable. I enjoy all the races and really like how the terrain varies so much, but being from Connecticut and growing up riding there has made the northeastern GNCC rounds my favorite.  

I heard that you and Josh Toth, one of your competitors in XC2 who also comes from the New England area are actually living together right now. Does it help you as a rider to have a built-in riding and training partner like that?
Yes, Josh and I have a place in North Carolina now. It is a huge advantage to be able to ride and train with a top competitor day in and day out. We are always pushing each other to go faster while out practicing during the week. We actually grew up together, so we are able to still keep the riding and training fun while making the most of it.  

That’s pretty cool! How did you get started riding and racing?
I always wanted to ride because my dad, his brother Dave, and my older cousin John rode. So, for my 5th birthday I got a bike. It was a little action 50. From that day on my parents couldn't keep me off of it. I started racing locally when I was seven and have raced ever since then. It was always fun to go to the races and ride at new places. It was something my dad, uncle, and cousin did together almost every weekend. 

And then how did you end up running the GNCC series?
I raced the Unadilla GNCC in 2013 and 2014 in the 250 A class, but I didn't race the full series until 2016. The founder of the Trail Jesters, Ross Mauri, along with my parents and I decided to give it a shot because I did the last 4 rounds of the 2015 season in the XC2 class and did pretty well. I even surprised myself a little finishing 3rd in XC2 at the Mountain Ridge GNCC in Somerset, PA. That is the point where I thought I might be good enough to make this into a career.   

Now I know GNCC isn’t the only thing you do - I’ve been to the ISDE with you and seen your name at various American hard enduros, like the Tennessee Knock-Out. How much of a different skill set is required to be successful at such diverse events?
The best all around riders in my eyes can ride all disciplines in all different types of terrain. That is the type of rider that I strive to be. You just have to be comfortable riding all types of terrain in order to be able to jump around between all the different types of racing there are out there.

Given that you’ve already competed in such diverse races, what racing accomplishment are you most proud of?
It’s hard to choose just one, but I believe I am most proud of my accomplishments at the 2016 ISDE in Spain. I finished 1st overall in the C2 class and was a member of the Trail Jesters club team finishing 2nd overall in the club division.