Hurricane Mills, TN -
Yamaha’s Bill Ballance took his first win
of the season this weekend at round 5 of the 2008
GNCC. Joining Ballance on the podium was Chris
Borich and Bryan Cook, who made an incredible
charge to the front from last place off the line.
Loretta Lynn’s played host to the weekend’s
events where rainfall the night before once
again made for interesting track conditions.
Things were quite slick and muddy for the morning
race, but by the time the Pros were ready to
take their position at the line conditions had
improved, and all though there was still quite
a bit of mud in some areas, for the most part,
the track was in perfect condition. The track
consisted of wide-open areas, tight hill-climbs,
and parts of the motocross track were even incorporated.
However, the big rocks that were plentiful throughout
the course did cause some riders problems and
even injured a few when they were kicked up
during the action.
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Brandon
Sommers was off to a great start after
winning the ITP Holeshot Award
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As racers launched off the starting line, it
was Yamaha’s Brandon Sommers, who grabbed
the ITP Holeshot Award by edging out the #1
Yamaha of Bill Ballance who was followed closely
by Jarrod McClure, Matt Smiley and Brandon Ballance.
The KTM team of Adam McGill and Taylor Kiser
both got off to a bad start along with William
Yokley, and Bryan Cook. “I just gave it
a little too much throttle and stalled it,”
said Cook, who vows to get a better start at
the next round.
Bryan Cook, who is currently holding 2nd in
the points race, worked his way up to 9th by
the end of the 1st lap, and laid down an impressive
00:31:24 second lap that increased his position
to 6th. The DeRisi Racing / Team Excel Motorsports
backed Honda kept charging through the pack
and by the time the checkered flag was waved,
Cook found himself all the way up to 3rd, only
19 seconds behind 1st place Ballance and 2nd
place Borich. Cook has been taken back by his
success this season stated “I was hoping
for the top 5, but I really didn’t expect
to make it up to 2nd in points,” he said,
in regards to his current position in the top
20. “Next round I’d like to get
another podium, and hopefully a better start,”
he concluded determinedly.
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Chris Borich
was determined to get himself back on
the podium and by the second lap he
made it into 2nd place.
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Chris Borich, who came off the line mid pack,
worked himself up to 2nd place by the end of
the 1st lap, Chris held on strong to his position
until lap three when he got hung up and dropped
back to 7th. Borich’s mishap didn’t
seem to faze him one bit as he was back in 2nd
place by the time he reached the checkered flag
right behind Bill Ballance.
William Yokley, who got off to a slow start
also had a battle on his hands as he tried to
work back to the front. By the end of the 1st
lap, Yokley had made his move into the #5 position.
He dropped back a bit in the 2nd and 3rd laps,
but caught his second wind and crossed the finish
line in 4th with an overall time of 02:08:09.
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While within
striking distance of another win and
only a few miles from the finish, McGill's
bike cut out on him due to a loose wire
from a previous rollover
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Meanwhile, McGill and Kiser were on the move.
McGill recorded the fastest lap time of 00:31:11
in his 2nd lap and had taken over the lead until
lap #3. “I flipped my bike on the 3rd
lap and fell back to 2nd. I had regained the
lead, but when I crashed it made a wire or something
come lose and the bike just quit,” said
Adam in regards to being stranded at the 9-mile
marker, just three miles short of the finish.
McGill’s misfortune has made him even
more determined for the upcoming John Penton
race, which is only a short drive from his house.
“I’m so pumped for the next round!”
he said excitedly. “I was running so good
and almost got my 4th win. I’m taking
no prisoners for the next round,” McGill
said determinedly.
