2023 Hoosier GNCC Round 6 Results

Shan Moore | May 9, 2023

FMF/KTM’s Johnny Girroir became the sixth different winner in as many races in the 2023 Grand National Cross-Country Series when he captured his first career GNCC overall victory at the Hoosier GNCC in Crawfordsville, Indiana, May 6-7. Never has the GNCC Championship started with this many different winners.

Johnny Girroir at 2023 Hoosier GNCC — **Johnny Girroir (969) became the sixth different winner to start the 2023 GNCC Series when he captured his first career win in Indiana.**

Photos by Ken Hill

Girroir came from behind, sitting as far down as eighth overall during the early going before moving though the pack to win the abbreviated two-and-a-half-hour race, beating Tely Energy Racing/Rocky Mountain ATV-MC KTM Racing’s Steward Baylor by 17 seconds.

Some of the tougher hills and sections were cut out of the track before the race due to over-night rain, making for a shorter course, therefore the race was shortened to hold down the chance of lappers.

Baylor passed defending champion Magna1 Racing Husqvarna’s Jordan Ashburn to take the lead of the eight-lap race on lap three. XC2 250 Pro rider Phoenix Racing Honda’s Mike Witkowski ran in second overall on adjusted time ahead of Ashburn after two laps, with another XC2 rider, AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper, hot on his heels. Witkowski’s and Draper’s duel would turn out to be the battle of the day.

Michael Witkowski (282) at 2023 Hoosier GNCC — **Michael Witkowski (282) was third overall and first XC2 250 Pro.**

On lap three, Draper passed Witkowski to move into third overall behind Baylor and Ashburn and first in the XC2 250 Pro division.

Baylor was the only rider to pit on lap three, dropping him to fourth after several riders passed him in the pits including Ashburn, AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell and Girroir, who was making an inspired run to the front.

At the end of lap three, Girroir moved into second overall in the XC1 Open Pro ranks, however, Draper led the race on adjusted time after passing Witkowski.

Baylor took back the physical and overall lead on lap four ahead of Draper. Ashburn dropped out when his bike died in the woods.

Baylor pitted again on lap six, allowing FMF/KTM’s Ben Kelley and Girroir to close in.

Physically on the track, heading to the white flag, the order was Baylor, Kelley and Girroir, all three XC1 riders, followed by Draper and Witkowski, both XC2 riders.

Girroir was up into second behind Baylor on the penultimate lap, moving ahead of Draper and Witkowski on adjusted time. Meanwhile, Baylor went down and got stuck just before the white flag and the die was cast. Girroir gained 37 second due to Baylor’s mishap and rode on to take the victory.

“It was a gnarly race,” said Girroir. “I fell back a little bit the first lap, but I just kept plugging away and found myself passing guys. I changed my goggles, got clear vision and found myself near the front. I could see the leaders. Third-to-last lap I got stuck twice and Ben caught me and passed me. I latched onto him and rode smooth, and he ended up tipping over. I was getting pit boards saying I was catching Stew. I just put my head down and kept charging. I caught Stew and we kind of came together a little bit. I got the better end of it and got in the lead and just dropped the hammer. I knew it was now or never. It was a hell of a race.”

Baylor moved to within six points of Kelley in the championship standings with his runner-up finish.

“Johnny just tracked me down,” said Baylor. “There must have been a beacon on my back tire because he ran me down pretty quick. I had a couple mistakes with two laps to go. I got stuck with my foot under my tire. I was trying to do feet on the pegs and somehow my feet were stuck in the rut with my bike and I couldn’t get out and lost a good bit of time.”

On the final lap Baylor and Kelley came together.

“We were in a rut and I lost about 40 seconds,” added Baylor. “I put my head down and did everything I could, but just came up 15 seconds shy. I felt like it was my race, but I’m pumped to see Johnny G get one. He needs it.”

Witkowski made the ride of his life and finished third overall on adjusted time and first in the XC2 250 Pro class.

“I just got off to a really good start and just kind of rode smart from there and picked good lines,” said Witkowski. “Me and Liam (Draper) just connected and caught some XC1 guys and just latched on. I have no words. I’m just so stoked.”

Draper was heartbroken, having ran in second overall for most of the race, only to throw it away when a lapper got stuck in a rut in front of him just 50 feet from the finish line. In the end, Draper was second in the XC2 250 Pro class behind Witkowski and fourth overall.

“I got off to a good start; second going into the woods,” said Draper. “I passed for the lead (in the XC2 class) pretty soon. I led the majority of the race. About a mile before the finish there was a mud hole and I knew if I got through it, I could make it to the finish ahead of Mike. I got through it clean and Mike was about five seconds behind me. Right at the finish, a lapper dropped down in a rut in front of me and just stopped. Mikey pulled up and went around me. Two-hundredths of a second, or something. Definitely sucks, but I know I rode good. Tough one to swallow, but it is what it is.”

Kelley ran in the top five overall for most of the day, which is where he finished when the checkers fell.

Ben Kelley (530) at 2023 Hoosier GNCC — **Despite finishing fifth on the day, Ben Kelley (530) stands at the top of the championship leaderboard.**

“Not a whole lot to say of today—rode well at times, rode like a rookie at times, made a few mistakes after grabbing a great start, but yeah, just a few too many mistakes today,” said Kelley. “Taking the positives from round six, happy to be on the box and appreciate all the work the FMF/KTM Factory Racing Team put in.”

Kelley remains atop the series standings, five points ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Craig DeLong.

Phoenix Honda Racing’s Cody Barnes rode a steady race to sixth overall and third in the XC-2 250 Pro class.

After winning round three of the series, DeLong followed that up with a runner-up finish at Camp Coker in April and sat in second overall in series standings at the Hoosier. In Indiana, the Pennsylvania native had an off day and finished seventh but held on to second in the series standings. “It was a tough day for me with too many mistakes early on,” said DeLong. “I got a decent start heading into the woods mid-pack, but it got away from me quickly with less than ideal, sticky mud weighing the bike down. I struggled but learned from my mistakes. The positives are that I’m healthy and ready for the next round.”

Phoenix Honda Racing’s Ruy Barbosa came into the Hoosier on a roll, having won the previous two rounds, couldn’t stay in touch with his two teammates and finished eighth.

Coastal Racing GasGas’ Ryder Lafferty and Babbitt’s Online Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Josh Strang rounded out the top 10.

AmPro Yamaha’s Rachael Archer grabbed her third win in a row in the WXC class and now leads the standings by 30 points over Trail Jesters Racing KTM’s Korie Steede.

Rachael Archer at 2023 Hoosier GNCC — **Rachael Archer rolled on in the Women’s Pro race.**

“I was second going into the woods, and then Steede got me for third pretty quick,” said Archer. “I used all my tear-offs in the first three miles. Then we were all in a train, me, (Rachel) Gutish and Korie. Then at about the six- or seven-mile marker, I got past when they overshot a turn, and I got into the lead and was able to pull a bit of a gap. Gutish caught me, and then got stuck or something the second lap, and then I was able to put three minutes on everyone. Then the gap just kept getting bigger from there. I just rode by myself basically the whole race and ended up winning by about six minutes.”

Steede ended up second overall, with Kayla O’Neil (Kawasaki) getting her first podium in third. Over and Out GasGas’ Gutish DNF’d with two miles to go in the race.

Dakota Devore (KTM) got his first win of the year in the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class, beating Beta USA’s Jason Lipscomb and point leader Toby Cleveland (Husqvarna).