2024 GNCC Round 10 Results

Shan Moore | September 4, 2024

For only the second time in the history of the Grand National Cross Country Series, an XC2 rider claimed the overall win when FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ Grant Davis surprised the field by beating FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir by two seconds on adjusted time at the Buckwheat 100 GNCC at CJ Raceway in Newburg, West Virginia, on September 1.

GRANT DAVIS - FMF KTM FACTORY RACING TEAM LANDERS - BUCKWHEAT 100 Photo Mack Faint — **When Davis crossed the finish, the electronic scoring showed that he had indeed won the overall by two seconds, with Girroir second and Draper third. Photo Mack Faint**

Photos by Ken Hill & Mack Faint

“It feels amazing right now,” said Davis. “I can’t believe this even is happening. I mean, getting on the overall podium is cool, but to win it, that’s just a whole different story.”

Although Girroir was physically in first place on the track and crossed the finish line first, the KTM rider ended up second overall (first in the XC1 class) on corrected time since the XC2 riders leave 10 seconds behind the XC1 class. Girroir’s runner-up finish at the Buckwheat 100 went a long way toward putting his stamp on this year’s GNCC Championship. Girroir was coming off of back-to-back overall wins heading into the race, making for four total overall wins on the season, with his worst finish so far a third overall at round five in Tennessee. With only three rounds remaining, Girroir now holds a 53-point lead in the series standings ahead of Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki’s Steward Baylor.

Grant Davis at Buckwheat 100 GNCC Photo Ken Hill — **Grant Davis became just the second rider in GNCC history to take the overall victory from the XC2 class. Photo Ken Hill**

Another rider having a surprising day was AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper, who was making his first ride in the XC1 class. The up-and-coming Aussie finished third overall and second in the XC2 class, despite having surgery to remove hardware from his knee at the start of the summer. Draper passed Coastal Racing GasGas’ Jordan Ashburn on the final lap to secure the podium finish.

When the green flag dropped, Draper took the early lead, followed by Girroir, Ashburn and defending champion Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Craig DeLong.

Johnny Girroir at 2024 Buckwheat 100 GNCC Photo by Ken Hill — **Johnny Girroir was first across the finish line but missed out on the overall win by just a few seconds on adjusted time. He still won the XC1 class and extended his points lead. Photo Ken Hill**

Girroir blasted around the outside of Draper to take the lead on lap two and physically led the event until the finish, although he was aware that the XC2 riders were on the move and that FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ teammates Gus Riordan and Davis were ahead of him on time.

Craig DeLong at Buckwheat 100 GNCC Photo Mack Faint — **Fatigue impacted a fast-starting DeLong – the defending GNCC number-one plate-holder on his Husqvarna FX 350– during the race. Photo Mack Faint**

The final lap was thrilling, as Draper closed to Girroir’s rear fender and attempted a pass, but Girroir held him off and crossed the finish line 6.5-seconds ahead of the Yamaha rider, as the two waited at the finish area to see if they gained on the top XC2 riders.

When Davis crossed the finish, the electronic scoring showed that he had indeed won the overall by two seconds, with Girroir second and Draper third.

Davis’ win was not as easy as it looked. “I actually came into this race with a third-degree separation and a pinched nerve in my shoulder,” said Davis. “I was struggling the last two laps; I couldn’t even hang on, and I just kept falling over, and I was like, ‘You got to be kidding me,’ but I kept getting pit boards saying I was right there, but I was so squirrely those last couple of sections. I had no rear brakes the whole race, and then I was definitely on the edge.”

2024 Buckwheat 100 XC1 Open Pro Liam Draper leading Photo Ken Hill — **Liam Draper grabbed the $250 Steel City Medical Center Holeshot Award and finished second in his XC1 Open Pro debut. Photo: Ken Hill**

Girroir had a few problems on the final lap that cost him valuable time. “I got a good holeshot, second place behind Draper and we were just cruising,” said Girroir. “I had some pressure from Ashburn, but I was able to ride out front. With two laps to go, I found myself first overall and then I guess made a couple mistakes that last lap. I got sweat in my goggles and I had to rip them off, and I kind of squirreled on that last lap, almost falling. But no excuses, Grant Davis rode sick, but I gave it all I had out there, so it was a good day.”

2024 Buckwheat 100 GNCC Podium Photo Photo: Ken Hill — **2024 Buckwheat 100 Top Three Overall Finishers: Grant Davis (center), Johnny Girroir (left) and Liam Draper (right). Photo: Ken Hill**

Draper has been riding the 450 in the U.S. Sprint Series and matching some of Girroir’s times, but this was his first ride in the XC1 class at a GNCC.

“It’s pretty cool to be on the podium,” Draper said. “I was super nervous, you know, being my first XC1 race, but I got the holeshot and was leading these boys for a couple of laps. I looked back at the field and they were all kind of freight-training behind me. It’s like I was about to get mowed over, but I was pretty stoked to lead for a few laps. I had a crash and went down but got right up to Johnny on the last lap. We had a battle towards the end, so pretty stoked on it.”

Jordan Ashburn at 2024 Buckwheat 100 GNCC Photo Ken Hill — **Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jordan Ashburn would push to finish third in XC1 and fourth overall on the day. Photo: Ken Hill**

After running second for a while, Ashburn settled into third in the XC1 class and fourth overall.

“I got a decent start and just charged all day,” said Ashburn. “I made a mistake on the hill on the first lap and lost a couple of positions. I think I went back to sixth. It was so hard to make positions back out there, and then the XC2 guys came up on us, and they were in the overall all day. They just kept giving us pit boards to keep pushing, so everybody stayed together, and nobody could get away. I made a mistake on the last lap and Draper got me back, but I’m happy with my riding today, and it was a good day.”

Healthy for the first time in over a year and making his return to racing, FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley ran as high as second place with two laps to go but would go on to finish fifth overall and fourth in the XC1 class.

BEN KELLEY at 2024 Buckwheat 100 GNCC Photo Mack Faint — **FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley ran as high as second place with two laps to go but would go on to finish fifth overall and fourth in the XC1 class. Photo Mack Faint**

After running near the back of the XC1 class for most of the race, Baylor started to push hard with two laps to go. The Kawasaki rider pitted on the second lap, instead of lap three like most of the other XC1 riders, hoping the strategy would pay off. Baylor eventually clawed his way up into sixth overall and fifth XC1 rider.

After leading the XC2 class (and the overall) for the first half of the race, Riordan eventually finished seventh overall and second in the XC2 class.

GUS RIORDAN - at 2024 Buckwheat 100 GNCC Photo Mack Faint — **Gus Riordan would suffer a crash with just two laps to go, throwing him out of his flow, however he would still hold on to second in the XC2 class. Photo Mack Faint**

Ruy Barbosa rode a steady race to eighth overall, while Phoenix Honda teammate Cody Barnes recovered from a crash at the start to finish ninth overall.

Babbitt’s Online Team Green Kawasaki’s Lyndon Snodgrass rounded out the top 10 overall.

Dakoda Devore at 2024 Buckwheat 100 GNCC Photo: Ken Hill — **Dakoda Devore would battle back to take home the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class win. Photo: Ken Hill**

Dakoda Devore (KTM) claimed his sixth win of the season in the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class and now sits just two points behind Jhak Walker (Beta), who was second on the day, in the class standings.

Brody Amos at Buckwheat 100 GNCC Photo Ken Hill — **Brody Amos earned himself the Youth overall win and YXC1 class win at round 10. Photo: Ken Hill**

Dustin Simpson (Yamaha) remains third in the standings after finishing third for the day.

WXC 2024 Buckwheat 100 Photo Mack Faint — **Photo Mack Faint**

BRANDY RICHARDS at 2024 Buckwheat 100 GNCC Photo Mack Faint — **KTM’s Brandy Richards won the WXC class for the third time this season. Photo Mack Faint**

In the WXC division, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ Brandy Richards grabbed her third win of the season, topping class points leader Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki’s Rachael Archer by 10 seconds. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Korie Steede finished third, with Danielle McDonald (Yamaha) and Prestin Raines (Sherco) rounding out the top five.