Somerset, PA - The Can-Am GNCC
Series resumes this weekend after a two month
summer break, which started with a firestorm of
action at the “Geico Mountain Ridge”
GNCC. Round #9 of the series capped an exciting
round of competition that saw the rise of several
riders who have been struggling to get their machines
up front, and the demise of a few that have been
non stop pounding the finishing results with win
after win! With 4 rounds remaining in the season,
the points in the XC1 Pro ATV Class are as tight
as ever with the championship still up for grabs.
| 1st
- #1 Bill Ballance - Factory Yamaha YFZ450
ATV - 191 Pts |
Yamaha YFZ450 mounted racer, Bill Ballance, has
proven once again that he has exactly what it
takes to rise back to the top as he chases after
his 9th consecutive GNCC Pro ATV Championship,
but he didn’t start at the top in 2008.
Ballance found himself in third at the opening
round after stating he had taken it easy during
the off season, and round two only worsened as
the champ found himself a spectator as he scored
a dismal 26th place finish after suffering a rare
DNF. He rebounded at rounds 3 and 4 taking a 2nd
and 5th respectively.
Bill Ballance hit his stride at Loretta Lynn’s
when he claimed his first of three straight
wins, which propelled him to the top of the
points standings. Ballance lost some ground
on the competition at the Mountain Ridge when
his steering stem anti-vibe bushings disintegrated
after the 1st lap, which sent Ballance to mid-pack,
but he didn’t let this major steering
issue stop him from charging as he finished
an impressive in 4th place. With four rounds
remaining, Ballance now has a fairly comfortable
25 point lead, but the championship is far from
wrapped up as the 5 racers are all within striking
distance of the reigning champion.
| 2nd
- #8 Bryan Cook - eXcel Honda TRX450R ATV
- 160 Pts |
Privateer Bryan Cook started out the season
on the podium, giving many a glimpse at what
he had prepared for the 2008 season. The quiet
brick layer from Casar, NC had set his sights
on doing well against the slew of factory backed
riders long before the season started. Cooks
admission that he wanted some of the glory was
being backed up round after round, culminating
to his first ever XC1 win at Yadkinville. Solid
riding on equipment he knew would withstand
the abuse and rigors of XC racing at this level
have kept Cook solidly in the 2nd position in
points.
There was a missed opportunity at Mountain
Ridge when Cook , who was running in 3rd, met
with mechanical issues that dropped him back
to 9th at the finish, which allowed the competition
to make up some points on the privateer who
is currently holding the 2nd spot in the points
race.
