Monday, June 29, 2026 | 3:05 PM
PHOENIX RACING HONDA HEADS INTO GNCC SUMMER BREAK ON TOP
The first chapter of the 2026 Progressive GNCC Racing season came to a close in Snowshoe, West Virginia, where the Phoenix Racing Honda team faced one of the most demanding and unpredictable races on the calendar. Known for its grueling mountain terrain, the Snowshoe GNCC challenged riders with relentless elevation changes, slick black loam, exposed roots, jagged rocks, and deep mud holes that punished even the smallest mistake.
The event's signature live-engine start through the resort village only added to the intensity before competitors disappeared into the unforgiving backcountry. Through the ever-changing conditions, Phoenix Racing Honda showcased speed across both the XC1 and XC2 classes, with riders battling near the front while others persevered through adversity to salvage valuable championship points. As the series now heads into its annual summer break, the team leaves the mountain with momentum on its side and the championship points lead in both of the premier classes.
Ashburn Reclaims Points Lead
Jordan Ashburn answered back in a big way after a challenging outing at the previous round, returning to the front of the XC1 field with a composed and calculated ride. From the opening laps, Ashburn established himself in second place and settled into a consistent rhythm, focusing on maintaining momentum while matching the pace of the race leader. As the race unfolded, he continued to chip away at the gap before making his move on lap three, briefly taking over the lead and showcasing the speed that has kept him in championship contention all season.
Although the lead changed hands once again, Ashburn never let the front-runners get away, spending the majority of the race locked into second and managing the demanding conditions all the way to the finish. His efforts earned him second in the XC1 Open Pro class and third overall, marking his fourth podium finish of the season and a dramatic improvement from his tenth-place finish just one round earlier. The valuable championship points also shifted the standings back in his favor, as Ashburn reclaimed the XC1 points lead with 166 points and now carries a 12-point advantage into the summer break, putting himself in a strong position for the second half of the championship.
“Stoked to have a solid day on the mountain. It was a pretty uneventful race, and I just focused on keeping the bike moving and finding a good flow. It was fun battling with Gus all day, and I ended up finishing second in XC1 and third overall. After a big up and down swing over the first nine rounds, I’m pumped to be heading into the summer break with the white plate and points lead, once again.” - Jordan Ashburn
Witkowski to Capitalize on Summer Break
Mike Witkowski continued to battle through the lingering effects of the shoulder injury he sustained at round seven, showing determination from the opening lap despite not having the race he was aiming for. After completing the opening lap in seventh, Witkowski remained in the mix early before slipping back to tenth on lap two as the physically demanding race began to take its toll.
From there, he settled into a steady rhythm and spent the majority of the event holding onto tenth, managing the difficult conditions while continuing to battle through the discomfort that had lingered in recent rounds. Although the tenth-place finish represented a slight step forward from his eleventh-place results at each of the previous two rounds, it was still short of the expectations Witkowski has for himself. With a lengthy break in the schedule now providing valuable time to continue recovering, he will look to return at full strength for the remaining rounds of the season. Following round nine, Witkowski sits eighth in the XC1 championship standings.
“Not the day I was hoping for. I always seem to struggle on the mountain, but there are no excuses. I just need to be better. The summer break comes at a good time to fully heal my shoulder, and I'll be ready to turn things around when we get back to racing.” - Mike Witkowski
Riordan Delivers Again
Gus Riordan continued his impressive midseason run with another commanding performance, battling at the front of the field from start to finish. Never far from the overall lead, the XC2 standout spent the race trading positions between first and second while navigating the demanding conditions and matching the pace of the XC1 front-runners. As the laps wound down, Riordan remained firmly in contention, continuing his battle through the second half of the race before putting together a strong closing effort to secure the XC2 250 Pro class victory and an outstanding second overall finish.
The result marked his fourth class win of the season and his sixth podium through nine rounds, while also extending his winning streak to three consecutive races. Riordan's consistency throughout the opening half of the championship has continued to pay dividends, and with another valuable points haul, he heads into the summer break leading the XC2 standings with 205 points and a nine-point advantage. Carrying both momentum and the championship lead into the second half of the season, he remains firmly in control of the title fight as the series prepares to resume later this summer.
“I’m over the moon to come away with a great result on the mountain. I kept the bike moving all day and had some fun battles with Jordan during the second half of the race. We came away with the XC2 class win and second overall, so I'm pumped to head into the summer break with the points lead.” - Gus Riordan
GNCC: Round 9 - Snowshoe Results
Jordan Ashburn | XC1 - 2nd
Mike Witkowski | XC1 - 10th
Gus Riordan | XC2 - 1st
Post Round 9 - Points Standings
Jordan Ashburn | XC1 - 1st / 166 points
Mike Witkowski | XC1 - 8th /102 points
Gus Riordan | XC2 - 1st / 205 points
About Phoenix Racing
Founded in 2012, Phoenix Racing is a North Carolina-based motorsports team that competes across multiple disciplines on both two and four wheels. The championshipwinning team has earned titles in AMA Arenacross, ATV Motocross, GNCC, and Sprint Enduro, while continuing to expand its presence in AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross.