Shan Moore | June 30, 2023
GNCC Racing has released its video of highlights from the Snowshoe GNCC at Snowshoe Mountain Resort in West Virginia.
VIDEO | GNCC Motorcycle Round 9 Highlights
Snowshoe GNCC
After nine races, FMF/KTM’s Ben Kelley became only the second person to capture two wins in this year’s Grand National Cross-Country (GNCC) Series after a come-from-behind victory at this weekend’s Snowshoe GNCC at Snowshoe Mountain Resort in Snowshoe, West Virginia. The Snowshoe GNCC is considered the most challenging race on then GNCC schedule, and three days of rain preceding the event opened the flood gates for yet another muddy round and the conditions made for a challenging day of racing.
Only the second repeat winner so far this season, KTM’s Ben Kelley celebrates his victory at the Snowshoe GNCC. Photos: Ken Hill
Craig DeLong came into the event with plenty of momentum after grabbing his second win of the season at the previous High Voltage race. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider grabbed the holeshot to start the race, however, Ricky Russell, who previously won the race in 2017 on an AmPro Yamaha (his current sponsor) was soon in the lead and pulling away.
The Snowshoe race is perhaps the most technical on the schedule, recalling the old Blackwater 100, with a technical, rocky, rooty and muddy course, and by the time the riders arrived at Howard’s Hole for the first time, the order would be Magna1 Motorsports Husqvarna’s Ashburn in the lead, followed by Tely Energy Racing/ Rocky Mountain ATV-MC KTM Racing’s Steward Baylor (who was running a trials tire) and DeLong. However, Russell took the lead in the XC1 Pro division by the end of the lap, with Phoenix Honda Racing’s Ruy Barbosa leading the XC2 Pro 250 class.
Defending Champion Jordan Ashburn survived a rough, technical and muddy race to claim second.
Near the end of lap one, the order was Russell, Ashburn (who won the race last year) and Baylor. Meanwhile, DeLong was starting to drop off the pace. He was followed by Enduro Engineering/GasGas’ Josh Toth, who was riding a two-stroke. Just before the end of the lap, Ashburn passed Russell to take the lead, while draper passed Barbosa to lead the XC2 Pro 250 class.
At the end of lap one, the order was Baylor, Ashburn, Kelley and FMF/KTM’s Johnny Girroir. On lap two, Baylor passed up into the lead and looked to be on his way to a win, however, rolling the dice, the South Carolina rider decided to make a pitstop at the halfway mark to change rear tires (wheels), and lost close to a minute to the leaders.
Third-place finisher Johnny Girroir matched his second-best finish of the year – his best finish being a win at round six.
After Baylor’s pitstop at the halfway mark, Kelley took a lead he would never relinquish in the five-lap race. In the meantime, Russell’s race was ended when he snapped off a footpeg.
It was survival to the finish for all from there, and at the finish the order was Kelley in first, followed by Ashburn, Girroir, Steward Baylor, followed by his brother Grant Baylor on a Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy Kawasaki, and XC2 Pro 250 winner Liam Draper.
Liam Draper topped the XC2 class.
“I had a crash in Howard’s Hole and the second wave of guys caught us, which is kind of typical, because the guys on the front row are kind of hesitant,” said Kelley. “They caught us and passed us and I had softened up my suspension to get a more-plush feel and I kind of missed the mark and it was super soft in the front, so it was sketchy all over the place. I stopped and had the guys stiffen up the fork and it was better and I could ride smooth and I was able to pick through the pack and got a comfortable lead and just held it there.”
XC1 Podium.
Though he led much of the race, Ashburn was happy to finish second.
“Man, it was brutal,” said Ashburn. “I was coming in confident since I won it last year and I felt really comfortable all day, but I just had some little issues in Howard’s Hole. It seemed like every lap something happened, I’d get behind a lapper and they would crash. I was losing time over there every time but I felt really good on the other side. I just felt like we could do what we could do and then Ben got out front and he was charging hard and I tried to reel him in but second is where we ended up today and I’m happy.”
Girroir matched his second-best finish with a third, his best being a win at round six. “It was gnarly,” said Girroir. “I was riding with Ben and I kind of let him go by then I got stuck behind a lapper in Howard’s Hole and lost touch and kind of found myself in my own race. I saw Jordan on the last lap couldn’t catch him, but it was a good day.”
Johnny Girroir with the famous Snowshoe crowd.
Steward Baylor came fourth, although he was a bit frustrated with his decision to make the tire change halfway into the race, which cost him enough time to possibly win the event. “It was up and down,” said Steward. “We had a little frustration in the pits,” talking about the tire change. “It was a good day for points and we are back in the points lead and I’ll take what we can and be ready after the summer break.”
Leaving Snowshoe, Steward is tied with DeLong for the points lead at 178 points each.
Rachael Archer took her AmPro Yamaha to her sixth win of the season in the WXC class.
Babbitt’s Online Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Grant Baylor finished fifth, while Draper was sixth overall and first in the XC2 250 Pro division. “I’m stoked,” said Draper. “I’m happy to win this race. I’m pretty stocked to have the white plate, I’ve never been this high this early in the year.”
Barbosa came seventh and second in the XC2 250 Pro division, followed by RPM Angus Riordan in eighth and third in the XC2 250 Pro class. Trail Jesters Racing KTM’s Craig Davis turned in a stellar ride to finish ninth, while Phoenix Honda Racing’s Cody Barnes rounded out the top 10.
WXC Podium.
AmPro Yamaha’s Rachael Archer claimed her sixth win of the season with a dominant win in the WXC class, ahead of Over and Out KTM’s Rachel Gutish and Raines Racing Yamaha’s Prestin Raines in third.
Thorn Devlin (GasGas) took the win in the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class with Zach Hayes (KTM) and Jayce Knopp (Husqvarna) in second and third.
Thorn Devlin won the XC3 division.
Shan Moore
OVERALL RESULTS
1. Ben Kelley (KTM)
2. Jordan Ashburn (Hus)
3. Johnny Girroir (KTM)
4. Steward Baylor (KTM)
5. Grant Baylor (Kaw)
6. Liam Draper (Yam)
7. Ruy Barbosa (Hon)
8. Angus Riordan (KTM)
9. Grant Davis (KTM)
10. Cody Barnes (Hon)
