Some riders who would have luck on their side at round one was the trio of XC2 250 Pro racers, Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green’s Nick DeFeo, Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green’s Josh Toth and FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Angus Riordan. DeFeo would start his day by claiming the $150 Landers KTM XC2 Holeshot Award, and battle at the front of his class throughout lap one before moving into the lead position. With adjusted time, DeFeo would lead the overall before physically gaining the lead position.

DeFeo would continue to push himself through the slick, muddy conditions to come away with his first career Overall and XC2 250 Pro class win at the 2025 season opener in South Carolina. His teammate, Toth, would follow and earn second overall and in the XC2 class while Riordan held onto third overall on the day and third in the XC2 class, making it the first-ever XC2 250 Pro class sweep for the top three overall positions.

After steadily making his way towards the front of the pack, FMF KTM Factory Racing Ben Kelley would carefully make his way into the XC1 Open Pro class lead with two laps remaining. Kelley would ultimately cross the line fourth overall on the day, but he would earn the XC1 Open Pro class win to start the year.

Coming through fifth and sixth overall were two, 250 A competitors, Phoenix Racing Honda’s Joseph Cunningham and Precision Off-Road/Viral Optics/Husqvarna’s Gavin Simon. Both Cunningham and Simon would push themselves through the conditions to score a top 10 overall finish position on the day.

Lyndon Snodgrass would be the second XC1 Open Pro racer to take the checkered flag, while finishing seventh overall on the day. Snodgrass had a good start to the day and would even hold the lead on the opening lap, but he would find himself in fourth for the next two laps. Snodgrass pushed his way back up and would finish second in XC1.

The defending XC2 250 Pro Class Champion, FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Grant Davis would run at the front for the first part of the race before encountering some problems later in the day. Davis would finish the day fourth in class and eighth overall.

Phoenix Racing Honda teammates Cody Barnes and Michael Witkowski would round out the top 10 overall finishers on the day at Big Buck, while Barnes finished fifth in the XC2 class and Witkowski earned the last spot on the XC1 Open Pro podium in third.

Finishing just outside of the top 10 overall finishers in 11th was Liqui Moly Factory Beta Racing’s Josh Strang. AmPro Yamaha’s Kailub Russell made his return to GNCC Racing and would finish 14th overall and fifth in XC1 on the day. Bi-Con Services/Ryder Lafferty and Girroir would finish sixth and seventh in XC1. After a good start to the day, Flatrock Motorclub GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jordan Ashburn would complete four of the five laps at round one.

Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green’s Steward Baylor would be seen pushing his bike through the facility back to his pits after completing three laps, while other top competitors like Enduro Engineering Triumph Racing’s Ricky Russell, AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper and Racecraft Racing Team’s Thad Duvall would also only be able to complete three laps at round one. Unfortunately, Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Craig Delong was only able to complete two laps before having mechanical issues that forced him to retire from the race early.

In the XC3 125 Pro-Am class it was James Jenkins getting the early lead after Luke Brown earned the $100 Lojak Cycle Sales Holeshot Award. Jenkins would hold the lead as they came through on the opening lap, with Brown working his way back up to second. Jenkins continued to place a gap over the rest of the XC3 class and would earn the round one win. Brown crossed the line second, while Isaiah Brown battled back to finish third in the class.

Phoenix Racing Honda’s Joseph Cunningham took home the VP Racing Big Buck GNCC Top Amateur honors on Sunday afternoon as he finished fifth overall on the day and first in the 250 A class. Gavin Simon finished sixth overall on the day, and second in the 250 A class, earning himself the second place on the Top Amateur podium. Lane Whitmer would come through 15th overall on the day and third in 250 A to take the last spot atop the Top Amateur podium.

As the morning bike race took off it was Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green’s Rachael Archer getting through the first turn to earn the $100 Landers KTM WXC Holeshot Award. Archer would continue to lead the way for the duration of the race, continuing her winning ways and taking the early points lead in defending her National Championship. Second overall in the morning race went to Colton McQuarrie in the 150 B Schoolboy (12-17) class, while third overall would go to Gary Fridley in the Super Senior A (45+) class.

With Archer taking the WXC class win, Enduro Engineering’s Shelby Turner would battle her way her way back up towards the front of the class and make the pass for second in the WXC class. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede would have a good start to the day, and battle at the front of the class for the majority of the race. Steede would continue to hold a podium position until the checkered flag came out and she crossed the line third in the class. FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers Brandy Richards and Phoenix Racing Honda’s Tayla Jones would round out the top five WXC class finishers at the season opener in South Carolina.

The AMSOIL Moto Hero was awarded to J.J. Goldick out of Hillsborough, Ohio is enlisted in the Army National Guard during the morning bike race on Sunday at the VP Racing Big Buck GNCC. J.J. has been enlisted since 2016 and was deployed to Border Patrol in Arizona from 2021 until 2022 for 13 months. J.J. will receive an AMSOIL shopping spree, commemorative American flag from Columbia flag and sign co. Plus $200 gift certificate for their online store and a $250 Kanati gift certificate.

The Youth Bike racers would lineup to race at 4 pm on Saturday at the VP Racing Big Buck, and coming out on top was Travis Lentz who took the overall win and YXC1 Super Mini Sr. (14-15) class. Following Lentz was Cooper Duff coming through second overall in the class, while Lucas Skelton rounded out the top three overall and YXC1 class finishers. In the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. (12-13) class it was Hayden Dupuis coming through to finish first, while Ace Tokar and Hunter Hawkinberry rounded out the top three in the class.

Hunter Carey would take the 85 Big Wheel (14-15) class win and Caleb Johnson took the 85 Big Wheel (11-13) class win. Evan Porter battled through to earn the 85 (12-13) class win, Trason Landrum earned the 85 (11) class win and Cason Knecht took the 85 (7-10) class win. Ellis Austin earned the 65 (10-11) class win in South Carolina while Matthew Simoneaux earned the 65 (9) class win and Cash Knecht took the 65 (7-8) class win home. Jayden Shea earned the Girls Super Mini (12-16) season opener win, while Cassie Fairfield earned the Girls 85 (7-13) class win and Aubrey Tsakanikas earned the Girls 65 (7-11) class win. Hudson Whitmire would take the Trail Rider (7-15) class win.

The 2025 Progressive Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Specialized continues on March 1-2, with the Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC in Palatka, Florida. To check out the full 2025 GNCC Series 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.  

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