GNCC Racing

Yamaha Burr Oak: ATV Race Report

Yamaha Burr Oak: ATV Race Report

Sunday, September 27, 2020 | 7:45 AM
by:
Sunday, September 27, 2020 | 7:45 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brycen Neal Victorious in Ohio For Second Time in 2020
Austin Abney Continues XC2 Pro-Am Dominance

MILLFIELD, Ohio (September 27, 2020) – The 2020 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, headed back to Millfield, Ohio for round 10, Yamaha Burr Oak GNCC, on Saturday, September 26, 2020. The Burr Oak GNCC was established in 1990, ultimately turning into The John Penton in early 2000’s, which makes this venue the longest-running GNCCs on the circuit.

As the green flag waved and the XC1 Pro class rolled off the line, it was WFR/GBC/Fly Racing/Yamaha’s Walker Fowler grabbing the $100 All Balls Racing Holeshot Award. Fowler would soon be met by Action Off-Road/Tely Energy Racing/Kenda’s Cole Richardson as he made the pass on Fowler to take over the lead on the opening lap of racing.

Brycen Neal (CST/Houser Racing/Waynesburg Yamaha) clinched another victory in Millfield, Ohio at the Yamaha Burr Oak GNCC. Photo: Ken Hill
Brycen Neal (CST/Houser Racing/Waynesburg Yamaha) clinched another victory in Millfield, Ohio at the Yamaha Burr Oak GNCC. Photo: Ken Hill

As the pack of XC1 riders made their way out onto the second lap of racing The John Penton GNCC ATV winner of CST/Houser Racing/Waynesburg Yamaha’s Brycen Neal saw his opportunity to strike. Neal made the pass on Richardson and Fowler to take over the lead. After moving into the lead position, Neal would put his head down and push for the duration of the race. As the checkered flag flew Neal would cross the finish line 1 minute and 59 seconds ahead of his competition.

Fowler would continue to battle with Richardson for the next two laps, but Richardson’s machine would suffer a mechanical issue on the fourth lap. With Richardson unable to complete the last two laps, Fowler would continue to push onward making his way through timing and scoring in second overall.

After running in the fourth-place position for majority of the race it was McGill Mafia/OBOR Tires/LSR/Moose Racing’s Adam McGill moving into third overall as the white flag flew, indicating one more lap of racing. McGill, who earned his first overall win of the season just two weeks ago in West Virginia, kept his momentum rolling into round 10 of the 2020 season with another overall podium finish of third.

Walker Fowler (WFR/GBC/Fly Racing/Yamaha) battled back to earn second overall in Ohio. Photo: Ken Hill
Walker Fowler (WFR/GBC/Fly Racing/Yamaha) battled back to earn second overall in Ohio. Photo: Ken Hill

JMR/GBC/Elka/Moose Racing’s Jarrod McClure would come through timing and scoring on the opening lap in the seventh-place position. McClure would steadily make his way through the pack, moving into fifth by the second lap, and coming through fourth with just one more lap to go. McClure would try to make a last lap push to catch McGill but would be unable to make a pass. McClure finished out the day with a fourth overall.

Earning his best overall finish of the season thus far was BNR Motorsports/GBC/HMF Engineering’s Joshua Merritt. Merritt made his way through the finish line in fifth overall on the first lap and would continue to battle back after sitting sixth overall for the next two laps. Merritt charged his way back to fifth as he saw the white flag waving and would continue to hold that top five position for the remainder of the race.

Pierce Performance/GBC Tires/Fly Racing’s John Glauda Jr. would come through sixth overall after five laps of racing. Glauda Jr. would battle back-and-forth between the sixth and seventh place positions, but he would ultimately cross the finish line sixth with a minute gap between himself and fifth. Phoenix Honda Racing’s Chris Borich found himself running just inside the top 10 the first three laps of racing. However, Borich would remain focused and make his way to eighth with one lap to go. Borich then make a last lap pass to claim the seventh overall position.

Finishing eighth overall on the day was HHR/Maxxis/Fly Racing/Ithaca Recreation Sports’ Hunter Hart. Hart would have a consistent race, steadily making his way through the course each and every lap. Hart would battle for seventh overall, however a last lap pass by Borich would put him back to eighth overall for the day. Wolfe Racing/Nine2/FTR Graphics/Ye Olde Cycle Barn’s Westley Wolfe held on for a ninth overall on the day. Wolfe worked his way through the pack from a 12th place start, to take over 10th and then ninth by the checkered flag. GBC/Fly Racing/HMF/Yamaha’s Johnny Gallagher battled back from a 13th place start to the day to come through 10th in the XC1 Pro class after two-hours of intense racing.  

Austin Abney came through to take another XC2 Pro-Am class win. Photo Ken Hill
Austin Abney came through to take another XC2 Pro-Am class win. Photo Ken Hill

As row two, XC2 Pro-Am, took off from the start it was Action Off-Road/Maxxis/Demaree Motorsports’ Austin Abney grabbing the holeshot and early lead. Abney would continue to hold his lead as he made his way through timing and scoring on the opening lap. Abney would put his head down and continue to push, never looking back and eventually crossing the finish line two minutes ahead of his XC2 competitors.  

Pirate MX Powersports/OBOR Tires’ Branden Owens battled his way into second in his class after a fourth place start to the day. Owens would hold onto second for the remaining four laps of racing. Owens currently sits third in the XC2 Pro-Am points standings with three more rounds of racing to go. Rounding out the top three in the XC2 Pro-Am class was FocusX Gear/Atlas Brace/Kenda’s Wyatt Wilkin. Wilkin would run in third for majority of the race, steadily making his way through the course for two-hours of intense racing.

Layne McCormick battled throughout the 11 a.m. race to take the overall win. Photo: Ken Hill
Layne McCormick battled throughout the 11 a.m. race to take the overall win. Photo: Ken Hill

In the 11 a.m. race it was the Schoolboy Sr. competitor, Layne McCormick coming through to take the overall win on adjusted time. This is McCormick’s second overall win of the season, after earning the honors at the High Point GNCC.

Continuing to lead the way in the 4x4 Pro class as OBOR/Can-Am/Derisi Racing/Action Sports’ Landon Wolfe. After getting out front early on in the race, Wolfe would continue to push throughout the next two hours of racing. Wolfe would make his way through the finish line first in the 4x4 Pro class, and second overall in the 11 a.m. race.

Earning second in the 4x4 Pro class was Can-Am/BNR/CST Tires/Tire Spine’s Robbie Pecorari. Pecorari would come through in third on lap one but would soon make his way into the second-place position. Pecorari would settle into second in the 4x4 Pro class and cross the finish line sixth overall in the morning race. Phoenix Honda Racing’s Haedyn Mickelson would make his way onto the 4x4 Pro podium with a solid third place finish in the class.

Hannah Hunter clinched her first-ever WXC ATV National Championship. Photo: Ken Hill
Hannah Hunter clinched her first-ever WXC ATV National Championship. Photo: Ken Hill

In the WXC class it was Malaska Motorsports/HMF/Cecco Racing’s Hannah Hunter who was a woman on a mission. Hunter not only came through to take the WXC class win, but she would also finish third overall in the morning race and clinch the 2020 WXC ATV National Championship. This is Hunter’s first National Championship, after earning her ninth win of the season.

Action Off-Road/GBC/Moose Racing’s Katelyn Osburn would battle through the WXC pack, making her way up to second in the class after running fourth on the second lap of the race. Osburn is currently ranked third in the class points standings with three more rounds of racing remaining. Rounding out the top three finishers in the WXC class was Ye Ole Cycle Barn/Maxxis/Fly Racing/Pierce Performance’s Alicia McCormick.

As racing got underway on Saturday morning it was Tyler Cox making his way towards the checkered flag first in the 8 a.m. youth ATV race. Cox was battling his fellow YXC1 Super Mini Sr. competitors and would ultimately earn his fifth youth overall win of the season. With three rounds of racing left, Cox currently sits in the YXC1 class points lead. Charlie Stewart battled his way into second place for the YXC1 class and overall finishing position on the day. Stewart now sits one point behind second place in his class standings. Nicholas Dearing rounded out third overall and in the YXC1 class after five intense laps of racing.

Tyler Cox earned the Youth overall win, his fifth of the season. Photo: Ken Hill
Tyler Cox earned the Youth overall win, his fifth of the season. Photo: Ken Hill

In the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. class it was Tavin Cook bringing home the win, along with fourth overall on the day. Brody Pullen and Bryson Lee would round out the top three in the YXC2 class, along with the fifth and sixth overall finishing positions. In the 125 Jr. class it as Nathan Parker earning his first win of the season, while Quenten Gouker brought home the 90cc (8-12) class win. Hannah Moore grabbed the Girls Sr. class win in the 8 a.m. youth race, and Alyssa Rodgers earned the Girls Jr. class win.

Micro bike racing took off at 9:15 a.m., and at the conclusion of the race it was Colby Goodman taking the overall win, and the Micro Bike National Championship. Goodman will focus on his youth bike racing for the remainder of the year. Gavin Harwell put up a good fight for the overall win, but a small mistake would cost him and put him several seconds behind Goodman. Harwell would still battle back and finish second in MXC1 and overall. MXC2’s Hunter Hawkinberry came through to take third overall on the day, and his class win. Hawkinberry currently sits first in the MXC2 points standings.

In the Micro ATV racing, it was the Buckhannon brothers of Bodie and Kody finishing first and second overall. Bodie would take the MXC1 class win, and earn himself the 2020 Micro ATV National Championship, while Kody brought home the MXC2 class win in Ohio. Hayden Bettinger in the MXC2 class would round out the top three overall micro ATV finishers, while Khyler Davis and Landon Wing came through fourth and fifth to overall. Davis and Wing also rounded out the top three in the MXC1 class.

In the penultimate round of the Specialized Turbo eMTB GNCC National Championship, it was Specialized/Gear Racewear’s Charlie Mullins grabbing the XC1 Pro class win, and overall eMTB win by over three minutes. Second place went to North Carolina’s Kyle Smith, who currently sits second in the points standings just 8 points behind Mullins. With just one more round of eMTB racing set to take place, it will be a battle to the checkers to see who wins the 2020 Specialized Turbo eMTB National Championship. William Pegram rounded out the top three finishers in the XC1 Pro class, while amateur rider Canon Kuneff made his way into second overall on adjusted time scoring.

Charlie Mullins clinched the Burr Oak Specialized Turbo eMTB overall win. Photo: Ken Hill
Charlie Mullins clinched the Burr Oak Specialized Turbo eMTB overall win. Photo: Ken Hill

Two highlight shows featuring ATVs and motorcycles will be featured on MAVTV at a later date. To view the full broadcast schedule, click HERE.

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.

Burr Oak Results and Points Standings
Millfield, Ohio
Round 10 of 13
Saturday, September 26, 2020

XC1 Pro Event Results:

  1. Brycen Neal (YAM)
  2. Walker Fowler (YAM)
  3. Adam McGill (HON)
  4. Jarrod McClure (HON)
  5. Joshua Merritt (YAM)
  6. John Glauda Jr. (YAM)
  7. Chris Borich (HON)
  8. Hunter Hart (YAM)
  9. Westley Wolfe (SUZ)
  10. Johnny Gallagher (YAM)

*Overall National Championship Standings:

  1. Walker Fowler (276)
  2. Brycen Neal (199)
  3. Jarrod McClure (179)
  4. Cole Richardson (178)
  5. Adam McGill (163)
  6. Chris Borich (161)
  7. Hunter Hart (138)
  8. Josh Merritt (129)
  9. John Glauda Jr. (108)
  10. Austin Abney (99)

*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2020 National Champion.

XC2 Pro-Am Event Results:

  1. Austin Abney (HON)
  2. Branden Owens (YAM)
  3. Wyatt Wilkin (YAM)
  4. Ronnie Rusch (YAM)
  5. Drew Landers (YAM)
  6. Tanner Walker (YAM)
  7. Dylan Walraven (HON)
  8. Michael McAvoy (YAM)
  9. Daniel Peters (HON)
  10. Noah Mickelson (HON)

XC2 Pro-Am Series Standings:

  1. Austin Abney (265)
  2. Drew Landers (237)
  3. Branden Owens (192)
  4. Ronnie Rusch (162)
  5. Wyatt Wilkin (160)
  6. Dylan Walraven (133)
  7. Kenny Shick (126)
  8. Tanner Walker (122)
  9. Levi Coen (112)
  10. Noah Mickelson (112)

To get the latest GNCC Racing clothing and merchandise visit https://www.mototees.com.

How to Watch

Racer TV and MAVTV are the official homes for coverage of the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) events. All 13 rounds, from the season opening Big Buck GNCC in South Carolina to the finale at Ironman Raceway in Indiana, will air in taped-delayed telecasts on MAVTV, while Racer TV provides live streaming coverage of the 2 p.m. ATV and 1 p.m. motorcycle races from each event. Catch all the action at http://www.mavtv.com/ and http://www.racertv.com/. 

About GNCC Racing

The Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Specialized is the World’s premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling two and three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 2,400 riders through racetracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks, and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. The series draws talent from all over the U.S., Central America, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised live on RacerTV.com. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com. Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join

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Media Contact:
Kayla Bolton
(304) 284-0084
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