Winning Weekend for FMF KTM Factory Racing Across GNCC and NGPC Series
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 | 4:55 PM
WINNING WEEKEND FOR FMF KTM FACTORY RACING
ACROSS GNCC AND NGPC SERIES
KTM Offroad Weekend Update
GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP (GNCC) - ROUND 2
It was once again Johnny Girroir who mastered the conditions at Round 2 of the GNCC Series in the Wild Boar event, overcoming a first-turn crash and then climbing back past the best of the XC1 Open Pro pack for a second-straight overall victory.
Girroir was outstanding once again on his KTM 350 XC-F, this time in the technical, sandy terrain of Palatka, Florida, which was further impacted by rain late in the race. For FMF KTM Factory Racing rider Girroir, the win sees him stretch out a 14-point advantage in class.
Johnny Girroir: "I went down in the first corner, started at the back of the pack, and kind of just picked my way through those guys. I got in a battle with Stu [Baylor], we were going at it for a while there and he tucked the front-end a couple of times, so I found myself in the lead and said to myself, 'It's time to go'. This course was brutal, three-quarters of it was made up of sand-whoops and this last part was like survival with holes everywhere... And then the rain came, which made it even worse! It was gnarly."
FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers trio Grant Davis, Angus Riordan, and Brandy Richards also delivered at Wild Boar, continuing to make their mark across XC2 250 Pro and WXC.
A 1-2 result from Davis and Riordan saw them celebrate together atop the XC2 250 Pro Class podium, with Davis also putting his KTM 250 XC-F second overall for the weekend in a breakout performance. Riordan continues to lead the standings, now four points ahead of Davis.
Grant Davis: "It was a tough one, especially when it started raining. It's insane, to get my first XC2 win and to be on the overall podium, I don't even know what to say right now – it feels like a dream! I have confidence heading into next week and hopefully we can keep up these results."
Angus Riordan: "It was a tough, but fun weekend in the Florida wet sand. I had a bad start and then I was able to keep my head down and get back to P2. We will keep working and be ready to go again next weekend!"
Earlier, Richards rose to the occasion for her first GNCC victory in the WXC category also equipped with the KTM 250 XC-F. It was a rewarding result for her as she continues to adapt to East Coast competition, taking charge of the points lead in the process.
Brandy Richards: "It was brutal out there! I was second off the start behind Korie [Steede], she tipped over and I got around into the lead, but then I did a front-flip into the mud soon afterwards. After that, I calmed down, tried to stay smooth, and caught back up, which was a super-fun battle. I saw an opening, got by, and pushed to the end to come home with the win. It feels great to get my first in GNCC, I have been training with Kailub Russell close by here, riding a lot of sand, and it's really nice to see that work pay off."
XC1 Open Pro Class Results
1. Johnny Girroir, KTM
2. Steward Baylor Jr, KAW
3. Lyndon Snodgrass, KAW
XC2 250 Pro Class Results
1. Grant Davis, KTM
2. Angus Riordan, KTM
3. Tyler Medaglia, HON
WXC Class Results
1. Brandy Richards, KTM
2. Korie Steede, HQV
3. Rachel Gutish, SHR
NATIONAL GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP (NGPC) - ROUND 3
There was no denying Dante Oliveira another victory in NGPC at Glen Helen on Sunday, the FMF KTM Factory Racing rider maintaining his perfect start to the 2024 season as defending Pro Class Champion.
The elder Oliveira brother – who is splitting his time with select GNCC appearances this year – was back onboard his KTM 450 XC-F on the West Coast and managed the rain-soaked conditions to bring home his third win in as many rounds.
Dante Oliveira: "I was able to get the holeshot and put myself in clean air, then I had a couple of people catch me at times – I even think Mateo at one stage – and I just tried to play it smart. There were a couple of creeks that we went through and I didn't want to push it too much in the conditions, so it ended up playing out really well for me. I've been doing a lot of more technical riding lately, training for GNCC, which also helps me here when we're back in the more high-speed stuff, too. I'm looking forward to keeping things going this year."
FMF KTM Factory Racing teammate Mateo Oliveira finished just outside the Pro Class podium in fourth position for his best race of the year so far, running as high as second position in the first half of the race before settling into a P4 result.
Mateo Oliveira: "My start wasn't the best and it was chaos on that first lap. It was cool chasing down my brother, which I hadn't done in a while, and I made a little charge there in the beginning. Austin [Walton] and Cole [Martinez] got by me, then I made a little mistake. Either way, I think fourth was where I was going to be anyway today, so we'll keep working and pushing forward."
Pro Class Results
1. Dante Oliveira, KTM
2. Austin Walton, HQV
3. Cole Martinez, HON
4. Mateo Oliveira, KTM
Upcoming Offroad Races – March 2024
3/11: Grand National Cross Country Series - Round 3
3/17: West Hare Scrambles - Round 1
3/25: Grand National Cross Country Series - Round 4
3/25: U.S. Hard Enduro Series - Round 2