Top GNCC stars will still be searching fo an elusive first win of the season at the ITP Powerline Park GNCC in Ohio, this weekend.
The penultimate round of the 13-race AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC) presented by Maxxis is scheduled to take place October 18 with the ITP Powerline Park GNCC in St. Clairsville, Ohio, and although both the XC1 and XC2 classes have been clinched, there are still bragging rights on the line as several riders are still hunting for their first win of the 2015 GNCC season.
Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4/Fred Andrews Racing Husqvarna’s Thad Duvall can cross his name off that list, as he earned his first win of the season and moved up to second place in the XC1 standings at the previous round, the Car-Mate Mountain Ridge GNCC in Somerset, Pennsylvania, on October 4, but he will be looking to make it back-to-back victories in Ohio.
“Powerline Park is pretty much a hometown race for me, because it’s only about 45 minutes from my house, and has similar dirt to what we have at home,” Duvall said. “I’m just going to keep the ball rolling and keep the momentum going as we head into this weekend.”
N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Grant Baylor sits third in points, and he is still seeking his first career XC1 GNCC victory. After finishing second to Duvall in Pennsylvania, Baylor dropped one position to third in the championship standings, but he is expected to challenge for the overall win in the last two rounds.
JCR Honda’s Chris Bach sits in fourth in the championship chase, although he does have a win this season, as does Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Josh Strang. The 2010 GNCC National Champion, Strang has nothing to prove as he sits seven points behind Bach for fifth place in the championship standings. After suffering from injury earlier in the season, Josh Strang looks to earn his second overall win of the season.
AirGroup/Rockstar Energy/Husqvarna’s Ryan Sipes is sixth in the championship standings after disappointing outing at the last round, where he suffered mechanical issues that dropped him to 10th place overall. The 2015 ISDE Individual Champion is still looking to capture his first overall win of the season.
Coming off arguably his best race of the season at the Mountain Ridge GNCC, N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn might just have what it takes to contend for an overall victory. Ashburn suffered from a flat rear tire after dominating the first half of the race, but he was able to land a third-place finish. Currently sitting seventh in the points championship, Ashburn will be a contender for the win in Ohio.
Youth bike racing will take place Sunday at 8 a.m., followed by amateurs and Women at 10 a.m., while the top amateurs and pros race at 1 p.m.
Spectator passes run $20 for adults and $10 for kids (6-11) for the full weekend (Saturday through Sunday), with pro pit access and pro autographs at no additional charge. Local riders are invited to race the event, as GNCC Racing offers classes for riders of all skill and experience levels. The amateur race entry fee is $40 and riders can sign up at the event.
For more information on the series, visit www.gnccracing.com or call 304-284-0084.
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