2006 Suzuki GNCC Mid-Season
ATV Racing Overview
Bill Ballance, Chris Borich, and
Chris Jenks Battle for Championship
Morgantown, WV (6/7/2006)
- With the 2006 season half way through, we have
seen some impressive battles and young, new faces
on the podium and in the top five. So with only
six races remaining, do you know who will be the
2006 GNCC Champion? Will it be Bill Ballance?
Chris Borich? Or what about Chris Jenks?
 |
The
battle was on early between Bill Ballance
& Chris Borich for the Championship
with the pair swapping wins back and forth |
Going into Round One, many Pro riders had their year planned
out and knew what the season would hold. But unfortunately
the 2006 season decided it had plans of its own. After
the season opener in Florida, it seemed that Chris Borich
was going to be the man in charge for the year walking
away with over a three minute lead over William Yokley.
Taking third overall was Brandon Ballance, with Bill Ballance,
the defending six time GNCC Champion, finishing eighth.
The fans were in a whirlwind, not knowing what to believe.
At Round Two, Bill Ballance came back with a fury,
although, not leading the race all day, Bill Ballance
took the lead from Chris Jenks, who was putting on an
incredible show, running away with the lead early on
in the race, just like he did in the 2005 season in
Washington, GA. Coming into the checkered flag, Jenks
battled wheel to wheel with Chris Borich, who did not
want Ballance to take the win, but when the checkered
flag went out, Ballance crossed the finish line with
only seven seconds separating him and Borich with Jenks
right on the rear tires. Finishing an impressive top
five was Chris Bithell, and also finishing seventh was
Rhett Butler, showing he had the speed to compete against
the top of the pack. Breaking into the top ten overall
from the Pro Am Class was Taylor Kiser.
|
Pro
Rookie, Chris Bithell earns his first Podium as
a Pro at Steele Creek |
Heading to Steele Creek Campground, the weather changed
and cooler weather was sure to bring out some changes.
Chris Borich took the early lead, and swapped it a couple
of times out in the woods with Chris Jenks and Bill
Ballance. W hen the check ered flag came out, it was
a tooth and nail f ight all t he way to the finish between
Chris Borich and Bill Ballance, but Borich was able
to hold onto the points lead. Taking third overall was
Chris Bithell, taking his first Pro Career podium as
the fans were going crazy. Taking fourth overall was
the number fifteen of Duane Johnson. Johnson was one
of the Pro AM Class finishers in 2005, but no one expected
him to break out this year, but at Steele Creek.
 |
William
Yokley makes the permanent switch to the Suzuki
LT-R450 at the Big Buck and earns his second Podium
finish of the year |
At Round Four, it was the closest battle GNCC fans had
seen in years. On lap one, the top twelve riders were
less than seconds apart; then on lap two, the top ten
were separated by no more than 8 seconds. The race was
intense. But a surprise came with two laps to go when
a bottleneck let Michael Houston take over the lead. He
had been running right in the pack all day, and took over
the lead with the white flag waving, knowing he would
have to hold off the attack of fighting racers behind
him. When the checkered flag came out, Houston took his
first ever GNCC podium with the overall by just three
seconds over Bill Ballance and William Yokley. Chris Borich
worked his way into fourth overall, just enough to hold
onto the points lead, but making the margin just that
much closer. Round Five was at Loretta Lynn’s
Dude Ranch, a track that Bill Ballance was hoping to
take charge of. With a three lap shoot out planned due
to the aggressive mud conditions, riders knew it would
be speed and smart lines that won the race. On lap one,
the top four were separated by only six seconds, with
Ballance and Borich fighting for the lead. On lap two,
Chris Jenks took over the lead, making Ballance and
Borich chase him. When the checkered flag went out,
than Bill Ballance took the overall; he was able to
make it two overall wins for the season. Chris Borich
took second with Chris Jenks taking third. Brent Sturdivant
took fourth overall from the Pro Am Class, and decided
he would race Pro for the rest of the season. Duane
Johnson took fifth overall, and Chris Bithell was once
again consistent with his finishes.
 |
|
Chris Jenks wins his first race of the season
at the Showtime! GNCC, and is joined on the Podium
by Chris Borich and Pro Rookie, Adam McGill with
his first Podium finish of the year. |
The Showtime GNCC in Seymour, Missouri was a mud race
that everyone wants to forget except Chris Jenks. Just
miles into lap one, Chris Jenks took over the lead and
stayed consistent in the muddy mess. With each lap,
he pulled a bigger and bigger lead, giving him all the
credit for his first 2006 overall win. Taking second
overall was Chris Borich, after being in eleventh place
on lap one, he stuck his head down and held his wrist
wide open, nearly blowing up his quad in the process,
but he fought all the way to the checkered flag, finishing
an amazing three and a half minutes behind Jenks. Another
surprised finisher was Adam Mcgill, as he took third
overall; Mcgill, the 2005 Pro Am Class Champion was
expected to dominate this year in the Pro Class, but
has been faced with several struggles, finally found
his old groove and topped off the podium. Fourth overall
was a close battle between Bill Ballance and Brent Sturdivant.
 |
Duane
“The Rock” Johnson has been a contender
all season, and he finally made it to the Podium
at the John Penton, which moved him past Yokley
and into fourth place in Points |
And finally Round Seven, the John Penton GNCC held
in Millfield, Ohio, brought devastating news or relief
to many riders. Just off the start, Adam Mcgill was
flipped several times and Chris Borich broke a tire
rod end. After being three minutes down, Borich took
back out on the track and just a couple of miles into
the track, flipped several times to get him all shook
up. After catching wits ends, he took back off to chase
down the Pro riders. Also, Adam Mcgill rejoined the
race. After mass confusion concerning track position
of several riders, lap one was a tight race between
William Yokley, Bill Ballance, Chris Bithell, and Duane
Johnson. On lap two, Ballance, Chris Jenks, and Duane
Johnson managed to put themselves up front. With the
white flag out, Chris Jenks was out front once again,
with William Yokley and Chris Bithell chasing him down,
and Bill Ballance dropping back to sixth. When the checkered
flag came out, Chris Jenks took the first back to back
overalls of the season, and put himself into third overall
in the points. Taking second overall, gaining tremendous
amounts of points was Bill Ballance, who finally managed
to take over the overall points lead in the series by
only two points. Third overall, and taking his first
podium finish was Duane “The Rock” Johnson
from Missouri. News came out the Yokley and Bithell
both were broke down out on the track.
With the 2006 season half way over now, the top ten
overall is just amazing. Many riders that weren’t
there in the chase in 2005 have put themselves in top
ranking positions, and many fan favorite Pro riders,
aren’t event listed in the top ten. Riders like,
Matt Smiley, Mr Consistent, hasn’t been able to
find his consistent streak ye this 2006 season. Also,
Bryan Cook, after breaking his collarbone at Round One,
has just come back to the racing scene, but is several
races behind. Brandon Ballance started off strong at
Round One with third overall, but has struggled to stay
in the top ten overall since.
So, can you predict who the 2006 GNCC Champion will
be? With only six more races remaining it is going to
be an interesting chase with Bill Ballance, Chris Borich,
and Chris Jenks now all tied with two wins a piece.
Only one way to tell, and that is to be at the next
GNCC race in Sparta Kentucky and once again, you will
see a tight battle take place and one rider get that
much closer to being the champion.
|
GNCC
Pro ATV Top 10 in Point Standings
|
| Position |
Rider Name |
Machine |
Total
Points |
| 1. |
Bill Ballance |
Yamaha |
127 |
| 2. |
Chris Borich |
Honda |
127 |
| 3. |
Chris Jenks |
Honda |
123 |
| 4. |
Duane Johnson |
Honda |
109 |
| 5. |
William Yokley |
Suzuki |
107 |
| 6. |
Chris Bithell |
Honda |
81 |
|
7. |
Andy Lagzdins |
Honda |
75 |
| 8. |
Bryan Baker |
Honda |
71 |
| 9. |
Michael Houston |
Honda |
68 |
| 10. |
Adam McGill |
Honda |
68 |
About
Suzuki GNCC Racing Series:
The
AMA-sanctioned Suzuki 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, trees, mud, dirt, rocks
and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests
of both survival and speed. GNCC featured sponsors
include Parts Unlimited, Moose, Maxxis, Pirelli,
Wiseco, Klotz, FMF and ITP, and riders compete
for over $2.8 million in series prizes and contingency
money. Associate sponsors include Moose Utility
Division, Scott, Acerbis, Alpinestars, Cometic,
Outerwears, Twin Air, Polisport Plastics, Thor,
Motion Pro, Hyper Wheels, Elka Suspension, MotoTee's,
Weekend Warrior, Owens Motorsports, Tom's Marina
Polaris, EK Chain and Laeger's. Media Sponsors
include Dirt Rider Magazine, ATV Sport Magazine,
www.ATVRiders.com
and Racer X Illustrated. 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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