Johnny Campbell Racing Honda rider lands his first career win at the Dunlop Tomahawk GNCC in Odessa, New York.
Chris Bach has been waiting for a day like yesterday to come for quite some time.
Bach, who has been a solid contender in the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series, broke through with his first career GNCC overall win at the Dunlop Tomahawk GNCC, in Odessa, New York. It was also the first for the Johnny Campbell Racing Honda team, which is in its second season of GNCC racing since switching its focus from SCORE off-road racing in Baja California, Mexico, to GNCC racing, which is primarily run in the eastern and southeastern United States.
Bach’s Dunlop Tomahawk GNCC victory was also a landmark because it ended the rampage of reigning AMSOIL GNCC Champion Kailub Rusell, who came into Odessa on a perfect five-race undefeated streak. In the XC2 Pro Lites class, DirtWise/Maxxis/KLIM-backed rider Jason Thomas overcame motorcycle issues to score a narrow win and add to his class point lead.
Bach battled his way through from as deep as sixth place in the talented field and outran Russell to score the win–there’s no currently no better litmus test than that.
“I just kept telling myself to relax and not let it get to me,” an elated Bach said. “I’ve never led one of these for very long, much less half the race.”
Husqvarna Canada/Parts Canada-backed rider Tyler Medaglia bagged the $250 All Balls Racing Holeshot Award when the XC1 Pro class took the green flag, but that would be the high point of his race day, as he suffered an ankle injury early in the race. Rocky Mountain ATV-MC KR4/FAR Race Team’s Thad DuVall took over the lead, with AirGroup/Rockstar Energy/Husqvarna’s Ryan Sipes and Factory FMF/KTM’s Russell in tow. Brake issues hampered DuVall’s efforts for much of the day and ultimately had to pull out of the race after the problem contributed to a high-speed crash.
Russell moved into the lead on lap two, but he had to deal with challenges from both Bach and Sipes. Of the two, Bach was able to make his way back to the front and hand Russell his first defeat of the 2015 GNCC season. Sipes finished third.
“It was definitely a man’s track—it was rough out there,” Russell said. “I’m pretty disappointed. It’s not the end of the world, though. I got second.”
And Russell was able to maintain his healthy GNCC National Championship point lead after his closest rival, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Josh Strang, had a dismal day and finished the race 10th in the XC1 Pro class. Strang started the race by challenging Tyler Medaglia for the holeshot, but Strang then dropped off the lead pace, ultimately only completing three laps of the six-lap race.
N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Grant Baylor enjoyed another strong performance at the Dunlop Tomahawk GNCC, battling up front and even leading the race en route to a fourth-place finish. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Andrew DeLong finished fifth, and HR Motorsports/Honda’s Takeshi Koikeda finished sixth. Maxxis/FLY/Factory Connection rider Chris Douglas had his best finish of the season, seventh place in XC1, while Funmart Cycle/FLY/RidePG.com’s Adam Bonneur also had his best weekend of the year with an eighth-place finish.
Sam Evans was the quickest XC2 Pro Lites rider off the starting line, and he claimed the $100 Hot Cams Holeshot Award for his efforts. Thomas also got away cleanly, but he began to experience mechanical issues. Even so, he was fast enough to hold on to the lead, and his bike held together, allowing him to score another XC2 Pro Lites class victory. Ride On Cycle/Moto Playground’s Tegan Temple earned his best finish of the season holding second place from the opening lap to the finish line. It took a last-lap charge for RideMPS.com/AMSOIL/Honda’s Layne Michael to claim third place in the XC2 Pro Lites class ahead of Raines Riding University/Atlas Yamaha/OffRoadViking.com’s Ricky Russell and Moto-Tech KTM’s Trevor Bollinger.
The 2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series resumes May 23 and 24 with the Rocky Mountain ATV*MC Mountaineer Run in Masontown, West Virgnina.
2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series, presented by Maxxis
Tomahawk GNCC
Odessa, New York
Results: May 10, 2015 (Round 6 of 13)
XC1 Pro
1. Chris Bach-Hon
2. Kailub Russell-KTM
3. Ryan Sipes-Hus
4. Grant Baylor-Yam
5. Andrew DeLong-Hus
6. Takeshi Koikeda-Hon
7. Chris Douglas-KTM
8. Adam Bonneur-KTM
9. Thad DuVall-Hus
10. Josh Strang-Hus
2015 AMSOIL GNCC National Championship Point Standings (After 6 of 13 rounds)*
1. Kailub Russell-175/5 wins
2. Josh Strang-118
3. Grant Baylor-108
4. Chris Bach-99/1 win
5. Thad DuVall-81
6. Ryan Sipes-72
7. Jason Thomas-65
8. Jordan Ashburn-60
9. Craig DeLong-54
10. Layne Michael-52
*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2015 National Champion.
XC2 Pro Lites
1. Jason Thomas-KTM
2. Tegan Temple-KTM
3. Layne Michael-Hon
4. Ricky Russell-Yam
5. Trevor Bollinger-KTM
6. Cory Buttrick-Bet
7. Craig DeLong-Hus
8. Austin Lee-Yam
9. Michael Witkowski-KTM
10. Callan May-Yam
2015 AMSOIL GNCC XC2 Class Point Standings (After 6 of 13 rounds)
1. Jason Thomas-149
2. Layne Michael-112
3. Craig DeLong-109
4. Trevor Bollinger-99
5. Ricky Russell-94
6. Cory Buttrick-84
7. Tegan Temple-69
8. Austin Lee-64
9. Nick Davis-57
10. Callan May-57
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