| GNCC
ATV Racing
Round 6 "John Penton" |
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Special
Thanks to Andy Lagzdins for his fun to read
Pro ATV Race Reports with first hand experience
about the events on the track among the front
runners |
Millfield, OH - The Grand National
Cross Country Series made it’s way to the historic
Sunday Creek Motocross Park in Millfield, Ohio this
weekend for round six of the series, the John Penton
GNCC. The popular Ohio track has been the site of so
many great GNCC races in the past, and the 2007 version
was no exception.
The Chris Borich steamroller has been rolling through
the last three races crushing everything in sight.
Bill Ballance is surely becoming concerned as Chris
has taken over the points lead for the first time
this season, and has displayed championship-caliber
form and maturity in the process. Of course, we all
know that Bill Ballance can’t be counted out
by any means. He has come back from so many large
deficits in the past to ultimately win the championship
that you can never count him out. Stolen race quads
at the opening round, broken bones during the summer
break, and changing from one brand machine to another
during the season has not stopped Bill from winning
his seven consecutive championships.
Chris Bithell and Taylor Kiser have put in consistent
finishes, staying within reach of the leaders and
battling amongst themselves for the third spot in
the championship race. Taylor has put together a remarkable
rookie Pro season, similar to Duane Johnson’s
phenomenal 2006 season. Coming back from the border
of obscurity, Matt Smiley has put himself back on
competitive machinery and back into the fight for
wins and podiums. Matt’s podium at Loretta’s
is surely the first of many, as he tries to win back
the title of "Mr. Consistency".
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John Penton GNCC Dust Clouds
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What can you say about the John Penton GNCC course?
The course has that special mix of motocross sections,
challenging hills, tight woods, and fast fields to
inspire competitors to come back year after year to
the event that has arguably the most unfriendly parking
and pitting arrangements of any track on the schedule.
The conditions for the Millfield race alternate each
year; one year it’s a mud bog survival test
and the next year there’s tumbleweeds blowing
across the track. This being a dry year, the dust
was surely going to be a factor, but hopefully not
as severe as a few years ago when the event was shortened
to 1 ½ hours because of it.
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#1
Bill Ballance launches his Yamaha YFZ450 out
front to grab the ITP Holeshot Award |
Twenty-five Pro riders lined up for the start under
sunny skies, ready to attack the twelve-mile course.
At the green flag it was holeshot artist Bill Ballance
and Chris Jenks getting the jump, with Bill getting
the nod for the ITP Holeshot Award. Matt Smiley and
Chris Borich followed the front runners through the
MX start area. A watered down section on the motocross
track slowed a few riders, and the mud roost immediately
coated everyone’s goggles. Bill Ballance maintained
his lead into the woods with Borich, Smiley and Jenks
in tow.
