MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (March 13, 2020) – This Sunday, March 15 the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, takes place in Washington, Georgia for The Specialized General GNCC. 

Looking to continue his success will be FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Kailub Russell. This weekend Russell will look to earn his third-straight win of the season, while going for his eighth and final GNCC National Championship. 

Coming off a second overall finish last weekend in Florida is Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Josh Strang. Tomorrow Strang will aim to battle at the front for the duration of the race, while working to take the overall win away from Russell. 

Coastal Racing Husqvarna’s Ricky Russell came through third last weekend, and this weekend is hoping to work his way into first overall. Russell currently sits tied in points with Strang, but will look to improve his standings on Sunday afternoon. 

Earning fourth overall just one week ago was Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Jordan Ashburn. As the race began, Ashburn was running in the top three but would fall just off the podium as the checkered flag flew. This weekend Ashburn will be aiming to battle for that first podium finish of the season. 

Phoenix Honda Racing’s Andrew DeLong had a good run in Florida, finishing fifth in XC1 Open Pro. DeLong will aim to keep his top five momentum rolling into this weekend, where he looks to run at the front of the pack battling for what could be his first podium finish.

Visiting from the United Kingdom last weekend in Florida was AmPro Yamaha’s Todd Kellett. Kellet would prove he can race amongst the best, and in the Florida sand. This weekend Kellet will not be in attendance at the GNCC, but the series looks to hopefully have him visit again to showdown with the world’s premier off-road racing series. 

Monster Energy/Alpinestars/Canadian Kawasaki’s Tyler Medaglia had put in a good ride at the Wild Boar GNCC. This weekend Medaglia will aim to put his Kawasaki machine towards the front of the pack with a top five finish in XC1. 

FactoryONE Sherco’s Grant Baylor did not have the start to the race he was hoping for. This weekend Baylor will aim to get his Sherco motorcycle at the front of the pack early on and make a run for a podium finish this Sunday afternoon.

Rockhill Powersports/Ti Dezigns/UFO Plast’s Evan Earl is will be aiming for another top 10 finish this weekend as he has been a consistent XC1 rider thus far in the 2020 season. Also looking to keep his Yamaha up front will be AmPro Yamaha’s Layne Michael. Michael was having a great race last weekend, but would fall back to 10^th in the XC1 Open Pro class. This weekend Michael will be looking to remain up front and battle with the top riders.

Trail Jesters KTM’s Jonathan Girroir earned his first-ever XC2 class win, with a fifth overall on the day. This weekend Girroir is looking to back up that win by grabbing a good start and running up front. Girroir will have to look out for AmPro Yamaha/St. Lawrence Radiology’s Mike Witkowski, who earned the round one win, and his hungry for his second win of the season. Coming through third, and also eager for an XC2 class win is Rockstar Energy/Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Craig DeLong. This weekend DeLong will be on a mission to earn that victory.

Moose Racing/Carolina KTM/XC Gear’s Zack Hayes will be aiming to earn his third-straight win the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am Class on Sunday afternoon. Hayes will look to hold off the rest of the FMF XC3 competitors, and improve his National Championship standings. 

For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or 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.

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