Chris Borich
Lengthens Point Lead Going Into Round 9 of the
Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series
Snowshoe, WV (6/26/2009)
- The ATV ranks are separated as Rockstar
Makita Suzuki's Chris Borich has taken control
of the points lead of the 2009 Can-Am Grand National
Cross Country Series, but this weekend's ninth
round of the series, the Motorcycleusa.com Snowshoe
GNCC, could shake up the ranks.
The Snowshoe track is the toughest of the series,
and the 20 mile- double loop track will plunge
nearly 1000 feet in elevation on downhill trails,
introduce a good flow of tight trails in the valley,
and then climb back up 1000 feet on a rugged,
steep, powerline road, very similar to sections
used in the legendary Blackwater 100 off-road
race-the original GNCC.
Plus, the event packs a $50,000 weekend purse,
including a payment of $10,000 for an overall
win, and $5,000 for second and $3,000 for third.
Throw in the extra money and the rugged track,
and there's a recipe for great success, but also
crushing defeat.
Borich is still on top after pulling out three-straight
wins and five for the season. Yamaha's Taylor
Kiser sits 23 points behind heading to Snowshoe.
Besides Kiser and the track, Borich has even
more to contend with. With Kiser in the points
is FRE KTM's Adam McGill, the West Virginian who
won at Snowshoe last year. This year McGill has
chosen to take the consistent approach to the
season, but now he needs wins to vault back into
the series' lead he held earlier this year.
McGill is only 11 points behind Kiser and both
have been determined this season to knock Borich
off the lead and have come close several times.
Kiser is staying consistently in the top 5, and
is usually on the podium. McGill started the season
off strong, staying on the podium the first five
rounds. He's had two rough races though, finish
9th in round six at the Titan and 13th at John
Penton two weeks ago. But at the John Penton race,
he led until the last lap, until he had mechanical
problems, letting Borich by.
In the third pack, about 25 points behind, another
battle is brewing between Houser Racing's Bryan
Cook, defending GNCC Champion Yamaha's Bill Ballance
and his teammate Brandon Sommers. Only a handful
of points separate the riders as they go into
Snowshoe, and Cook and Ballance both saw improved
results at John Penton. Sommers had a streak on
the podium but at John Penton crashed hard and
finished 17th.
Rounding out the top 10 of the leaders are Yamaha
riders Donald Ockerman, Duane Johnson, Jarrod
McClure and Johnny Gallagher. And close by is
Warnert Can-Am's Chris Bithell, who at John Penton
finished in third, a gritty comeback after a rough
season.
With the hardest race ahead, who knows who will
come ahead in their pack and on top of the podium.
Directions to the track:
Pittsburgh: I-79 South to Weston, WV,
then East on US-33 to Elkins, South 48 miles on
US-219 to Snowshoe
Nashville, Knoxville, Tri-Cities Areas: I-40
to Knoxville and I-81 North to I-77 North to I-64
East to White Sulphur Springs, then 92 North to
WV-39 West to Marlinton, WV; then 26 miles on
US-219 North to Snowshoe. (You may also leave
I-64 at Lewisburg and travel Hwy 219 North to
Snowshoe . . . shorter but very mountainous).
About
GNCC Racing:
The
AMA/ATVA-sanctioned Grand National Cross Country
series is America’s premier off-road racing
series. The 13-round series is produced exclusively
by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is
one of the most physically demanding sports in
the world. The nearly three-hour long GNCC races
lead as many as 1800 riders through tracks ranging
from eight to twelve miles in length. With varied
terrain including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks
and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests
of both survival and speed. GNCC Racing airs weekly
television shows on Versus (formerly Outdoor Life
Network) every Saturday at 3 p.m. and Thursday
at 4 p.m. beginning on April 14. GNCC featured
sponsors include Parts Unlimited, Moose, Maxxis,
Pirelli, Wiseco, Acerbis, Elka, Geico, Klotz,
FMF, ITP and Tire Balls, and riders compete for
over $3 million in series prizes and contingency
money. Associate sponsors include Alpinestars,
Cometic, EK Chain, HiPer Technology, Laegers,
Motion Pro, Moose Utility Division, Powersport
Grafx, Pro Clean, Race Tools, REM, Scott, Thor,
Twin Air, Weekend Warrior, and MotoTee’s.
Media Sponsors include Racer X Illustrated, ATV
Rider, ATV Sport, www.ATVRiders.com,
Dirt Rider and ATV Insider. For more information
log on to www.GNCCRacing.com.
www.gnccracing.com
122 Vista Del Rio Drive,
Morgantown, WV 26508
304-284-0084
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