Phoenix Racing Honda left Round 6 of the Grand National Cross Country Series in Tennessee with one of its strongest collective performances of the 2026 season so far, highlighted by podium finishes in both the XC1 and XC2 divisions. Jordan Ashburn continued his mid-season surge by capturing his second consecutive overall victory and taking over the XC1 championship points lead, while Gus Riordan returned to the XC2 podium after a late-race battle for the win. Mike Witkowski added another steady top-five result to his season tally, further reinforcing the team’s consistency across the premier classes. Although the weekend also brought adversity following an injury to Tayla Jones in the WXC race, the overall performance once again showcased the depth, resilience, and growing momentum of the Phoenix Racing Honda program as the GNCC championship enters the heart of the season.

Ashburn Takes Over Championship Lead

Jordan Ashburn put together an impressive ride in round 6 of the GNCC series, working his way forward from a fifth-place start to quickly establish himself at the front of the XC1 Open Pro field. Once inside the lead group, Ashburn remained a fixture in the top two, going bar-to-bar for the lead against Stu Baylor and managing the pace as the race unfolded. As the race entered its final stages, Ashburn stayed within striking distance before making a decisive move for the lead on the last lap. With pressure mounting behind him, he held strong through the closing miles to secure the overall victory in front of his hometown crowd.

The win marks his second in a row after also topping the podium at the previous round, making him the only back-to-back winner in the XC1 class this season. It further strengthens his position at the top of the championship standings, where he now holds a 16-point lead for Phoenix Racing Honda.

“After starting in fifth, I quickly made my way into second and locked in there for most of the day. I just kept pushing the pace until the final lap and made the move stick, then held off a strong charge right to the finish. I’m incredibly grateful to take the win at my hometown race and build some momentum in this title hunt.” - Jordan Ashburn

Witkowski Continues Consistent Charge

Mike Witkowski delivered another consistent performance in round six of the series aboard his Honda, continuing his strong run in the XC1 class. After a solid start that put him in the mix early, Witkowski settled into fifth by lap three and maintained that position through the remainder of the race, staying in touch with the lead group during the demanding Tennessee conditions. Despite a few interruptions from lapped traffic and a couple of on-track incidents that disrupted his rhythm, he kept pushing to bring home his fourth top-five finish of the season. The result adds valuable points to his championship campaign, where he currently sits fifth overall and remains close in the fight for third and fourth in the standings as the season moves forward.

“Got off to a strong start this weekend, which was great to be up front and in the mix. A couple of run-ins with lappers and some crashes dropped me off the lead group toward the end. All in all, we’re in a better place, and I just need to find a bit more feeling and be able to push at 100%.” - Mike Witkowski

Riordan Back in the Fight

Gus Riordan delivered another front-running performance in the XC2 250 Pro class in Tennessee. After positioning himself inside the top five early, Riordan steadily moved forward and broke into second place by lap three, putting himself firmly in the fight for the win as the race developed. As the laps wound down, he made a decisive push into the lead on lap six and appeared set to control the closing stages of the race. However, a late-race gamble in tire selection ultimately worked against him in the final stretch, forcing him to settle for second at the finish.

Despite narrowly missing out on the win, the result marked his third podium of the season and a clear rebound from a sixth- place finish the round prior. With momentum continuing to build, Riordan now sits fourth in the XC2 championship standings, tied on points for third and well within striking distance as the title battle tightens heading deeper into the season.

“Finished second in Tennessee after taking the lead with a lap to go, but a gamble on tire choice cost me in the end. The pace was solid, I just didn’t have quite enough to hang on to it in the last lap. Still, I’m happy to come away with a solid result and put some points on the board.” - Gus Riordan