Cycle News Staff | March 14, 2022
Ben Kelley put on a clinic en route to the overall win at this weekend’s Specialized General GNCC in Washington, Georgia, finishing off the three-hour race with a 23-second margin of victory over his FMF/KTM teammate Josh Toth. It was Kelley’s third win of the season and third victory in as many races.
Numerous top riders missed the race due to various injuries, including Steward Baylor, Thad Duvall, Layne Michael, Johnny Girroir, Josh Strang and Josep Garcia (Garcia suffered a hand injury during last weekend’s race and returned home to undergo surgery), but that didn’t detract from the intensity of the race, as Toth took the early lead followed by Magna1 Motorsports/Husqvarna’s Jordan Ashburn and Kelley on the rough and rain-slickened 12-mile course.
Ben Kelley is three for three in 2022. Photo: Mack Faint / KTM
After a bit of jostling back and forth on the opening lap, Toth led Kelley and Ashburn until lap four of the six-lap race, when Kelley took over the lead. At that point, Kelley was in total control and managed a smart and tactical race to the finish.
“Everything has just been clicking,” said Kelley. “I guess just from last year learning everything, I’ve been carrying it into this year. It was a gnarly race out there today. Josh was leading and I tried to make a pass on him a few times, but he was riding good. He had really good lines and any time you would try to explore a new line, it would be kind of tough and would be a slow line. I think he caught a loose rock on a downhill, so I got a freebie pass there again. That was cool. Then it was just kind of opposite and we were freight-training with me in the lead. I was able to slowly pull a gap there on the fourth or fifth lap and maintain it there through the end.”
Josh Toth led four of the six laps before finishing second. Photo: Mack Faint / KTM
Toth led much of last week’s race in Florida but dropped out when he crashed in the sand and was overcome by the heat. In Georgia, however, Toth looked strong the entire race and picked up the pace at the end when Craig DeLong started to close. Toth claimed the runner-up slot, which marked his best finish since round eight of the 2020 season.
“It felt awesome to be back up there riding with Ben,” said Toth. “I made a mistake on lap one and Jordan [Ashburn] and Ben got away. I started following their lines and seeing where they were going. It was mayhem with all the ruts and mud holes out there on lap one. I didn’t know what to expect coming into this weekend. I was exhausted, but just rode my own race and gave it everything I had. Stoked to be in second.”
DeLong finished third, his first-ever podium in the XC1 class. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider got off to a slow start, but settled into a fast and steady pace, letting the race come to him. The Pennsylvania rider passed teammate Trevor Bollinger at the halfway mark to move into third before gaining ground on Toth.
XC-1 Podium. Photo Mack Faint / KTM
“I screwed up the first couple miles and was in the back and playing catchup,” said DeLong. “I finally got riding good at the end of the first lap and into the second lap. Me and Trevor [Bollinger] hooked up and we were going back and forth for a good bit. Then I got around him and I kind of rode by myself there three-quarters of the way through the race. I was getting pit boards that I was kind of closing on Toth a little bit, so I put my head down and on the last lap and pushed. I kind of wish I started my charge a little sooner, but it happens. You live and you learn.”
AmPro Yamaha’s Mike Witkowski turned in another superb race, winning the XC2 250 Pro division for the third-straight round and finishing fourth overall despite crashing on the first lap and knocking things out of whack.
Mike Witkowski is also three-for-three in the XC-2 class. Photo: Mack Faint
“I got off to a bad start and then just had to make a bunch of passes,” said Witkowski. “I think I was seventh a couple miles in. I had a crash and obviously had to adjust to a bent bike. I ended up catching the lead group again even after I crashed, so I knew I was the fastest guy.”
Lyndon Snodgrass led the XC2 250 Pro class for the first half of the race but gave way when Witkowski put on his late charge. The Babbitts Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green rider finished second in class and fifth overall.
Magna1 Motorsports/Husqvarna’s Jordan Ashburn got his usual quick start and led the race at one point during the first lap but stalled his bike and had a hard time getting it to start. Ashburn was at the back of the XC1 pack when he got going again, but he managed to work his way up to sixth overall at the finish thanks to a strong push on the final lap.
XC-2 Podium. Photo: GNCC
Despite the disappointing finish, Ashburn still sits second overall in the series standings, three points ahead of DeLong and 33 points behind Kelley.
Motocross racer Tyler Medaglia ran with the leaders after grabbing the holeshot at the start of the race and eventually settled into a credible seventh overall at the finish.
Trevor Bollinger was fourth early in the race and moved into third when Ashburn stalled his bike. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider hit a tree with his hand on lap two and had problems holding on after that. He eventually finished eighth, about eight seconds behind Medaglia.
Factory Beta rider and seven-time World Enduro Champion Steve Holcombe claimed his best finish yet with a ninth overall.
After leading the XC2 class at the start of the race, Coastal Racing GasGas’ Ryder Lafferty finished third in the class and 10th overall.
Dominick Morse (Husqvarna) capitalized on a holeshot to win the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class ahead of XC/Moose Racing/XC Gear’s Zack Hayes and Dakota Devore (KTM). Jake Froman (Husqvarna) and Max Fernandez (GasGas) were fourth and fifth.
Tayla Jones took her first WXC win since 2019. Photo: Mack Faint
Tayla Jones claimed her first win in the WXC class since 2019, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna/ Surge Off-Road Coaching Teambacked rider overtaking AmPro Yamaha’s Rachael Archer on the final lap to take the win.
“I got a good start, and I was actually in the lead for a little bit before getting taken out,” said Jones. “I was a long way behind there in the mid-section and I just kept riding my own race. I was like, push, push, push. On the last lap, I got a twenty-second board. I was like, I’m actually getting close. Let’s send it! I caught up to Rachael pretty fast and then we battled it out for a bit. I crashed, she crashed. Once I got in the lead I was like, just stay calm, ride your own race, and don’t get stuck anyway.”
WXC Podium. Photo: GNCC
Archer finished second, with Trail Jesters Racing KTM’s Korie Steede in third. FXR/KTM’s Shelby Turner and Raines Racing Yamaha’s Prestin Raines rounded out the top five.
OVERALL
1. Ben Kelley (KTM)
2. Josh Toth (KTM)
3. Craig DeLong (Hus)
4. Mike Witkowski (Yam)
5. Lyndon Snodgrass (Kaw)
6. Jordan Ashburn (Hus)
7. Tyler Medaglia (GG)
8. Trevor Bollinger (Hus)
9. Steve Holcombe (Bet)
10. Ryder Lafferty (Hus)
