GNCC
ATV Racing
Round 3 - "Steele
Creek" |
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Morganton, NC - Adam McGill and
Chris Bithell gave Can-Am the top two steps of
the podium with an exciting one-two finish at
the FMF Steele Creek General GNCC - round three
of the 2011 Can-Am Grand National Cross Series
in Morganton, North Carolina.
The Foremost Insurance/Warnert Racing/Can-Am
teammates battled race-long with Rockstar Makita
Suzuki's Chris Borich and Ballance Racing Yamaha's
Taylor Kiser, with McGill, Bithell and Borich
trading the lead over the course of the two-hour
race.
McGill and Bithell took a strong lead on lap
two when they elected not to pit and the rest
of the field did, however; near the end of the
race Borich and Kiser pulled to back within
striking distance on the rough and mountainous
11-mile course.
On the final lap it looked as though Borich
might get one of his patented come-from-behind
wins when he passed Bithell for the lead up
one of Steele Creek's steep hills. However,
near the end of the lap Borich's bike sputtered
and slowed, allowing McGill and Bithell to go
around. At the finish, McGill took the checkers
and the win four seconds ahead of Bithell.
"It's been two years since I've been up
here on the top step and it feels pretty good,"
said McGill. "On the final lap my mechanic
put out a sign that said "Break It"
and I did."
Bithell has gained momentum with every race
this year, and looked capable of taking the
win, despite losing his brakes on the final
lap.
"I lost my rear brakes at the beginning
of that last lap and Adam caught me," said
Bithell. "I thought he might have a better
chance to catch Borich so I let him by. Then,
the next thing I know I could hear Borich's
bike snappin' and poppin'. After that we just
put the hammer down."
After grabbing the $250 Motosport.com Holeshot
Award to start the race, Yokley Racing's Jarrod
McClure ran a strong pace which paid off in
a third place finish, a personal best for the
Pennsylvanian.
"I couldn't have started the race any
better and my bike ran strong, and it just all
paid off," said McClure.
Kiser ended the day in fourth, while Borich
managed to salvage a fifth place finish - which
meant he held onto his points lead.
"On the last lap I managed to get the
lead and I was riding smooth," said Borich.
"I had the lead until about a mile to go
and the bike just started cutting out. All in
all, it was a pretty good day except for the
end. I was able to get a few points with a fifth
and I still have the points lead, so we'll just
have to get 'em at the next one."
Honda rider Brian Wolf got his best finish
of the year, beating out FRE KTM's Bryan Cook
for sixth. Meanwhile, JET Suspension Honda's
Donnie Ockerman finished eighth ahead of Yamaha
riders Johnny Gallagher and Jeffrey Pickens.
With three races in the books, Borich holds
the series points lead with 76 points, followed
by Bithell with 71, McGill with 69, and Kiser
with 61.