GNCC Racing: First off, congratulations on earning your second GNCC Overall National Championship! A lot went into this title, and it came down to the wire at the final round. Now that you’ve had some time to reflect, how does it feel to call yourself a two-time GNCC Overall National Champion?

Ben Kelley: Thank you! It’s awesome to be able to call myself the two-time champ. I’m proud of my efforts this year and happy I was able to accomplish my main racing goal for the 2025 season.

Looking back, how would you evaluate your 2025 season as a whole, both the high points and some of the challenges you had to overcome?

Overall, 2025 was a good and consistent season. That being said, I have high standards for myself when it comes to the job of racing. So, honestly, it wasn’t as consistent of a season as I wanted. I had some races where I struggled physically and some races where I just didn’t have the speed necessary to compete for the win. That’s okay though, I just try to learn from those situations, and I’m going to apply that to preparing for the 2026 season. 

What’s one thing you learned about yourself this season, either as a racer or a person?

This season just reinforced how you need to keep pushing forward, even when times seem tough and things aren’t going your way. 

Shifting focus into 2026, what has your off-season looked like so far, and what specific areas have you been focusing on to keep improving?

I’ve had a really fun off-season so far. I got to visit and catch up with a lot of my friends and also spend a good chunk of time back in my hometown with my girlfriend and family and enjoy the winter activities New England has to offer. Most recently, I’ve been down in Florida training with the team. Locking in on the training and enjoying the grind. I have a number of little things I continue to work on to try and make myself a stronger racer and better rider in general. I’m going to race a 450 next year, so getting comfy on that bike has been the main goal.

Who do you ride or train with the most in the off-season? How do those relationships help push you?

I mainly ride with the other Factory KTM group GNCC racers. Grant Davis, Johnny Girroir, Craig Delong, Jason Tino, Brandy Richards, and Korie Steede. We are all pretty good about pushing each other to be better while also having fun at the same time. Sometimes it’s just moral support through the suffering, haha.

The XC1 class keeps getting more competitive each season, especially with so many younger riders stepping up. What do you think will be the biggest key to staying ahead of the field in 2026?

Yeah, it’s great. I just can’t take my foot off the gas pedal. I have to keep working on my craft and prove myself each race.

GNCC has some of the most iconic tracks in off-road racing. Is there a race that you genuinely look forward to every year, and what makes it special?

Wild Boar and Snowshoe are my two favorites. Two drastically different types of terrain, but both are equally gnarly in their own way. I like the challenge of those two and how satisfying it can be if you can find the flow at those races.

What motivates you most heading into a new season after already achieving so much?

I’m motivated in the fact that I don’t think I’m as good as I can be. The fact that there is room for improvement is what motivates me.