"Powerline Park" GNCC ATV Pro Race
Report
Ballance Clinches Sixth-Straight
GNCC ATV Title
Borich Wins Fourth Race of the Season
|
Six
Time GNCC Champion
#1 Bill Ballance (Yamaha) |
St. Clairsville, OH (10/8/2005) –
Bill Ballance faced his toughest challenge ever
trying to win his sixth-straight Suzuki Grand National
Cross Country title, but he showed his true championship
heart by getting it done when it counted. With a
gritty third-place finish at the Power Line Park
GNCC, fed the factory Yamaha officially clinched
the 2005 GNCC Title.
"Of all of the titles, this was definitely the
toughest," said Ballance, who rides a YFZ450. "It
just keeps getting harder, the pace is so much faster
than it was five years ago because everyone is stepping
up. And this year, starting the year with torn ligaments
in my knee and then breaking my leg and crushing my
ankle, I was really worried it was all slipping away."
Instead, the title slipped away from Alba Actionsport's
Honda rider Chris Borich, who started the season with
back-to-back wins and held the points lead. Only a few
small mistakes cost Borich from taking it to the wire.
"I guess it just wasn't my year," said Borich
after leading wire-to-wire to notch his fourth win.
"I had some problems in the mud races, but I think
I finally figured it out. I needed to slow down and
go faster and have the fans point out the right lines.
This year I knew I had the speed - but when luck is
on your side it's good, and when it's not, it's not.
I'm just getting ready for next year."
|
#3
Chris Borich claims his fourth win of the season |
Yoshimura Suzuki's William Yokley charged hard all day
and took second. "Man it's awesome having those fans
out there, they just keep you going and make you push
a little harder," said Yokley. "It's awesome
to get back up here after a couple of bad races."
Mud was a big factor as rain all weekend left the track
super-slick. Ballance grabbed the holeshot, but Borich
quickly knifed underneath him, took the lead and was
gone. Borich struggled in the mud all year but showed
major improvement with a smooth fast pace. Yokley and
Ballance battled with Polaris' Matt Smiley and Four-Stroke
Tech's Chris Jenks, who ultimately finished fourth and
fifth.
John Natalie, the 2005 Moose ITP ATVA GNC MX Champion
raced at Power Line Park as a guest of Borich's team,
and finished an impressive eighth overall. "Man
it was a blast," said Natalie. "I'm a racer
and I want to win. That's my goal. I'm going to the
Ironman."
The Ironman is the season-finale in two weeks. Ballance
wants a win there, as his recovery from a broken leg
and ankle is going well. "I think I'll be ready.
Today the track was slick but it didn't get too rough,
and I was able to run with these guys. It made me feel
good! I think with a few more weeks to heal I'll be
ready to go for the win."
The Power Line Park GNCC was taped for an airing on
the Outdoor Life Network. The series resumes on television
on October 18, and the GNCC races air Tuesdays at 5
p.m., Thursdays at 11 a.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m. EST.
The ATVA-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 1500 riders
through tracks ranging from eight to twelve miles in
length. With varied terrain including hills, 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 $1.5 million
in series prizes and contingency money. Associate sponsors
include Moose Utility Division, Scott, Alpinestars,
Öhlins, Cometic,Outerwears, Race Tools, Twin Air,
SFB Racing, Thor, Motion Pro, MotoTee's, Warrior and
Laeger's. Media Sponsors include Dirt Rider Magazine,
ATV Sport Magazine and Racer X Illustrated. For more
information log on to GNCCRacing.com.
Suzuki GNCC Series ATV Racing
Results
Round #12 - "Powerline Park"
ATV
Top Twenty Overall |
1. Chris M. Borich Sunbury, PA 02:11:00
2. William Yokley Tompkinsville, KY 02:11:30
3. Bill V. Ballance Oakland, KY 02:11:35
4. Matt J. Smiley Kunkletown, PA 02:12:01
5. Chris Jenks Washington, WV 02:12:24
6. Johnny Gallagher Aurora, OH 02:13:03
7. Bryan Baker Knob Noster, MO 02:13:21
8. John Natalie Moutzdale, PA 02:13:27
9. Jeremy Rice Fombell, PA 02:14:44
10. Chad Duvall Williamstown, WV 02:15:03
11. Andris Lagzdins Baltimore, MD 02:15:10
12. Duane Johnson Trenton, MO P02:15:18
13. Craig Reed Crawford, TN 02:15:44
14. Rob Hertz Brookhaven, PA 02:16:11
15. Michael S. Houston Hickory, NC 02:16:13
16. Rob Zimmerman North Lewisburg, OH 02:16:18
17. Rhett M. Butler Oak Grove, MO 02:16:29
18. Brandon Ballance Oakland, KY 02:16:52
19. Scott Barron New Cumberland, WV 02:16:56
20. Brandon Sommers Millersburg, OH 02:17:37
|
2005
Suzuki GNCC ATV Overall Standings
(After 12 of 13 rounds)
|
|
1.
Bill Ballance (283/5 wins)
2. Chris Borich (233/4 wins)
3. William Yokley (203/1 win)
4. Chris Jenks (184/1 win)
5. Matt Smiley (164)
6. Brandon Ballance (149)
7. Andris Lagzdins (128)
8. Bryan Baker (121)
9. Adam McGill (118)
10. Jeremy Rice (106) |
|
www.gnccracing.com
122 Vista Del Rio Drive,
Morgantown, WV 26508
304-284-0084
|