Ballance Battles Back at the Maxxis General
GNCC
Beats Borich and Jenks in a two-hour duel
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#1
Bill Ballance's incredible motocross skills gives
him the advantage at the Maxxis General |
Washington, GA (3/11/2006) - Never
doubt six-time Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Champion
Bill Ballance. After struggling at the GNCC opener in
Florida, the factory Yamaha rider battled back and beat
his rivals straight up at the Maxxis General GNCC in
Georgia.
"I was really motivated to come out here and win,"
said Ballance, who took down Chris Borich and Chris
Jenks to win. "We've been working really hard this
winter dialing in this 2006 - they made a lot of changes
on it that really made it better. And I felt this was
the best shape I've ever been in coming into the series,
so I felt it was going to come to us."
After mechanical troubles slowed Ballance in Florida,
he stomped through the Aonia Pass Motocross Park that
hosted the General, taking the lead from Jenks, losing
it, and then getting it back and pulling away on the
last lap. Ballance made up major time on the motocross
track.
"We've got a track back home, and we practice
just about every week. I didn't really want to give
away any of the speed or how to do the jumps, but I
felt pretty good so I went ahead and jumped them. Then
I had a problem and they got around me. I had to get
back around them in the woods. It was a lot of fun."
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#4
Chris Jenks takes home an extra $100 with the
ITP Holeshot Award |
With Ballance out front, Jenks and Borich put on a
great show battling for second. Jenks took the $100
ITP Holeshot Award, but Borich edged him out by just
two seconds at the finish to grab second place.
"I started working on my '06 and found a crack
in the case, so I had to switch back to my '05,"
said Borich. "I didn't feel as comfortable on it,
it did some stuff that I didn't like. But me and Chris
battled to the end, and I was just glad to give it a
good run. Bill was hitting all of the doubles on the
motocross track. I wasn't doing them - I don't know
why, really, I was just playing it safe. Chris and I
were just back and forth. On the last lap I just put
my head down and tried to get away from him, but he
put his head down and tried to get away from me, so
it was a great battle."
"I felt stronger but I'm definitely not where
I need to be," said Jenks. "I didn't win the
race, so I have some more work to do. We passed each
other three or four times, just kind of laughing about
it, I like racing with Chris. The whole last lap things
kept happening. I wanted to race him clean, and he got
me at the end."
All three riders are close in the early GNCC standings.
Fourth went to Yoshimura Suzuki's William Yokley, while
pro rookie Chris Bithell snagged a solid fifth.
The Maxxis General GNCC was taped for an airing on
the Outdoor Life Network in April. The series begins
airing on April 1st at 3:00 p.m.
In the ATV morning race, Yamaha's Traci Cecco topped
an all-female podium, with Polaris rider Stephanie Parton
in second and Jennifer Fulkerson in third.
The 2006 Suzuki GNCC Series continues in two weeks
with the Steele Creek GNCC in Morganton, North Carolina.
For more information on the Maxxis General GNCC, log
on to GNCCRacing.com.
Suzuki GNCC Series ATV Racing
Results
Round #2 - "Maxxis General"
ATV
Top Twenty Overall |
1. Bill Ballance Oakland, KY YAM 01:53:07
2. Chris Borich Sunbury, PA HON 01:53:14
3. Chris Jenks Washington, WV HON 01:53:16
4. William Yokley Tompkinsville, KY SUZ 01:55:26
5. Chris Bithell Irwin, PA HON 01:56:02
6. Duane Johnson Trenton, MO HON 01:57:22
7. Rhett M Butler Oak Grove, MO HON 01:58:31
8. Taylor Kiser Alva, FL YAM 01:58:47
9. Andris Lagzdins Baltimore, MD ROL 01:58:48
10. Johnny Gallagher Aurora, OH HON 01:58:57
11. Michael S Houston Hickory, NC HON 01:59:02
12. Sean Neidlinger Flagtown, NJ HON 01:59:07
13. Adam Mcgill West Union, WV HON 01:59:16
14. Bryan Baker Knob Noster, MO HON 01:59:20
15. Ryan Morphew Cookeville, TN HON 01:59:41
16. Craig Reed Crawford, TN HON 01:59:54
17. Tyler Lenig Shamokin, PA HON 01:59:56
18. Brent Sturdivant Montrose, WV HON 02:00:33
19. Bryan Hulsey Washington, MO HON 02:01:47
20. Brandon Sommers Millersburg, OH YAM 02:02:23
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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
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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
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