Press Release

Borich Extends Lead With Win At Pirelli Big Buck GNCC


Kiser and McGill round out the podium.







Photo By: Shan Moore
Chris Borich won a dusty one.

Union, S.C. (April 10, 2010) - Defending
Champion Chris Borich continues to dominate the Can-Am Grand National
Cross Country Series, claiming his third win in four races at today's
Pirelli Big Buck GNCC in Union, South Carolina.

Borich's M.O. this year has been to come from behind, and today was
no different, as the Yoshimura Suzuki rider got off to a so-so start
and then carved his way to the front, passing Ballance Racing/Yamaha's
Taylor Kiser with less than a lap to go to take the win.



"I worked hard for this one," said Borich. "I saw the white flag and
I decided it was time to go, but there was not much room for passing
out there and Taylor was going really well."



For the final two laps, Kiser and Borich were never more than a few
lengths apart, and their fierce battle carried them to a healthy
cushion over third place, which at first was held by FRE KTM's Bryan
Cook, and then later by Can-Am's Adam McGill. Kiser might have held on
for the win had Borich not saved an ace up his sleeve for the final lap.





Photo By: Shan Moore
Taylor Kiser led the final lap until Borich got by.
"On
the previous lap, I saw this line going down a hill and I gained a lot
of ground on Kiser there. I knew if I could find it again then I could
make a pass there," said Borich. "On the last lap, I saw the line and I
just held it wide open and got around him him."

Kiser held on to finish in the runner-up position, two seconds
behind Borich, while McGill claimed his second podium of the year with
a third, the West Virginian passing Cook and Can-Am teammate Chris
Bithell late in the race to do so.



"The dust was pretty bad and after I got a bad start I knew I would
have to stay right on those guys if I wanted to get around them," said
McGill. "I just tried to make passes where I could, and on the final
lap I caught up with Cook and then he pitted and I ended up getting him
at the start/finish. Then I caught Bithell and he ended up waving me by
- I don't know if he was having problems or what, but I thank him."



Cook, who claimed the $250 Motorcycle-USA.com
holeshot award to start the race, finished fourth, ahead of Bithell,
while Yamaha riders Jeffrey Pickens, Don Ockerman and Johnny Gallagher
were sixth, seventh and eighth. Honda riders Harold Goodman and Sloan
Jackson rounded out the top 10.






Photo By: Shan Moore
Adam McGill was third at the Big Buck.
The win gives Borich a 10-point lead in the series standings over Kiser with four rounds of 13 now in the book.

In the XC2 race, FRE KTM's Josh Kirkland grabbed the $100 Motorcycle-USA.com
holeshot award to start the race but gave up the lead when he got a
limb stuck under his foot peg. At that point, HMF's Brian Wolf took
control of the race, at one point running as high as fourth overall.
However, a bent rear axel late in the race foiled the Honda rider's
impressive ride and allowed Yamaha's Walker Fowler to take the lead.
Fowler made the most of Wolf's generosity and pulled away to his second
win of the series.



"When I caught up to Brian I could hear his bike and that was the
best sound I heard all day," said Fowler, who was 53 seconds behind
Wolf heading into the final lap. "After that start in Florida, it feels
good to get my second win."



Despite the bent axel, Wolf still came home with an impressive runner-up finish.





Photo By: Shan Moore
Bryan Cook goes big on the creek jump.
"After
the two-lap board came out, it was real dusty and I hit a stump and
went over the bars," explained Wolf. "I made the best of the situation
and I think the key to this championship is going to be consistency, so
I'm glad to get a second."

Kirkland passed Yamaha-mounted Kevin Yoho on the final lap to finish
third, while Yoho and Suzuki rider Blake Kramer rounded out the top
five.



With four rounds down and nine to go, Wolf holds an impressive lead
in the series standings over Yoho, 110 to 80. Meanwhile, Fowler (77),
Kirkland (76), and Parker Jones (68) sit third through fifth.



In the morning race, Dave Simmons won the GT Thunder ATV Amateur
$100 Overall Award, beating out FRE KTM's Angel Atwell and Yamaha rider
Kristen Atwell. During the early going, Simmons survived a tough battle
with fellow Super Senior 50+ rider Glen Pritchard. However, Pritchard
fell midway into the race.





Photo By: Shan Moore
Wolf, Fowler and Kirkland grance the XC2 podium.
"It
was pretty tight in the beginning, battling with Pritchard," said
Simmons. "There are some dusty kickers out there and I think he hit one
of those and broke his collar bone.'

In the Open Modified UTV division, Team Costal Drilling 2 took the
win, topping Team Stephens and Team Starrett. All teams in this class
were driving Polaris.



In the Lites Modified class, Team Haymaker (KAW) topped Team Puttrick (YAM) and Team Faith (YAM).



Racing resumes tomorrow at the Pirelli Big Buck GNCC, with a full slate of motorcycle classes.





XC1 Results:



1. Chris Borich (Suz)



2. Taylor Kiser (Yam)



3. Adam McGill (CAN)



4. Bryan Cook (KTM)



5. Chris Bithell (CAN)



6. Jeffrey Pickens (Yam)



7. Don Ockerman (Yam)



8. Johnny Gallagher (Yam)



9. Harold Goodman (Hon)



10. Sloan Jackson (Hon)





XC1 Standings:



1. Chris Borich (115/3 wins)



2. Taylor Kiser (105/1 win)



3. Adam McGill (68)



4. Bryan Cook (62)



5. Jeffrey Pickens (59)



6. Bill Ballance (58)



7. Chris Bithell (57)



8. Don Ockerman (52)



9. Johnny Gallagher (52)



10. Jarrod McClure (47)





XC2 Results:



1. Walker Fowler (Yam)



2. Brian Wolf (Hon)



3. Josh Kirkland (KTM)



4. Kevin Yoho (Yam)



5. Blake Kramer (Suz)



6. Eric Hoyland (Yam)



7. Gabe Phillips (Yam)



8. Parker Jones (Hon)



9. Josh Beavers (KTM)



10. Mark Notman (Yam)





XC2 Standings:



1. Brian Wolf (110/2 wins)



2. Kevin Yoho (80)



3. Walker Fowler (77/2 wins)



4. Josh Kirkland (76)



5. Parker Jones (68)



6. Gabe Phillips (58)



7. Dustin Canipe (55)



8. Blake Kramer (50)



9. Eric Hoyland (41)



10. Josh Beavers (41)





About GNCC Racing:



The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series is America's premier
off-road racing series. Founded in 1979, the 13-round championship is
produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross country racing is one
of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling
three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 1,800 riders through tracks
ranging in length from eight to 12 miles, competing for more than $3
million in prizes. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud,
dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both
survival and speed. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.







0 comments

The Latest