Round 3 of the 2024 Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series saw history in the making. Josh Toth became the first rider to win from the second row. In so doing, Toth captured the XC2 win, while Johnny Girroir captured his third consecutive XC1 victory.
As the afternoon Pro race got underway, it was Ricky Russell charging to the first turn to earn himself the $250 Steel City Medical Center holeshot award in Georgia. The battle was on from there as the XC1 Open Pro competitors would make their way through the now tacky, slick Georgia clay. The XC1 Open Pro battle was on as the physical race leaders seemed to change each lap with Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki’s Steward Baylor leading on lap one, and then FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir would hold the lead on lap two only to find Russell leading the way on lap three. Girroir would make the pass back around Russell on lap four and continue to hold the physical lead for the remaining two laps of the race, earning his third-straight win in the XC1 Open Pro class. However, as the XC2 250 Pro class starts a row behind the XC1 Open Pro class, there are time adjustments and with that time adjustment the race saw Team Enduro Engineering’s Josh Toth leading the way for the majority of the race. Toth was also physically up to second overall at one point in the race but would eventually come through third overall physically and remain in the number one spot with the adjusted time. Toth would make GNCC history in Georgia as he became the first overall winner from the XC2 250 Pro class. Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jordan Ashburn would battle back after finishing just off the podium at the first two races of the season. Ashburn continued to push throughout the day as he found himself back in fourth again at one point. Ashburn remained in second for the last couple of laps and would hold onto that finishing position in the XC1 class, while earning third overall on the day. Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki’s Steward Baylor would battle back after holding the early lead and then falling back to fifth on the third lap of the race. Baylor battled back to round out the top three XC1 finishers, while earning fourth overall on the day. Baylor continues to hold the number two spot in the points standings after three races.
Johnny Girroir (FMF KTM Factory Racing) earned his third-straight XC1 win. Photo: Ken Hill
AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell would come through to earn fourth in XC1 and fifth overall on the day after grabbing the holeshot and battling at the front of the pack for the first half of the race. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Craig DeLong is slowly building his momentum back up as he had a consistent day of running inside the top five. DeLong would come through to earn fifth in XC1, and sixth overall on the day. FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Dante Oliveira made his way back to the East Coast this weekend for another round of GNCC Racing where he came back from an eleventh place start to finish sixth in the XC1 class, 12th overall on the day. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Trevor Bollinger would also start near the back of the pack as he came through in 10th on the opening lap. Bollinger would make his way back up to seventh in class and 13th overall at round three.
Making his way up to eighth in the XC1 class after a bad start was Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green’s Grant Baylor. He would finish 14th overall on the day. JS Sherco Racing’s Josh Strang would finish 16th overall in the Georgia clay, and ninth in the XC1 class. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Mike Witkowski rounded out the top 10 in the XC1 class as he came through 17th overall on the day.
XC2 250 Pro podium: Josh Toth (center), Grant Davis (left) and Liam Draper (right). Photo: Ken Hill
As Toth made history earning the overall win from the XC2 line it would be FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Grant Davis coming through to earn second in the XC2 class, while also working his way up to eighth overall on the day. AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper, defending XC2 Champion, would come back to finish ninth overall on the day and round out the XC2 250 Pro class podium at The Specialized General GNCC.
Jhak Walker (Liqui Moly Factory Beta Racing) earned the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am win. Photo: Ken Hill
In the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class it would be Liqui Moly Factory Beta Racing’s Jhak Walker coming around to earn his second-straight class win of the season. Walker would grab the early lead and not look back and he came through to finish nine minutes ahead of his competition. Destructo Racing/Dixie Fuel/Total Control Suspension’s Dustin Simpson would have a good start to the day as he grabbed the $100 Lojak Cycle Sales FMF XC3 holeshot award. Simpson would continue to push, making his way into second on lap two, and holding that position until the checkered flag flew. Husqvarna/Sidi/Fly Racing/Scott Goggle’s Zachary Davidson would battle back and find himself rounding out the podium in the FMF XC3 class in Georgia.
Nick DeFeo finished seventh overall, earning the Top Amateur honors in Georgia. Photo: Ken Hill
The Specialized General Top Amateur honors would go to Team Green Kawasaki’s Nicholas DeFeo as he came through to finish an impressive seventh overall on the day, while earning his second-straight 250 A class win. Team Green Kawasaki’s Joseph Cunningham would be second on the Top Amateur podium as he came through 23rd overall and earned second in the 250 A class. AmPro Yamaha’s Nathanial “Bubz” Tasha rounded out the Top Amateur podium with a third in 250 A and a 26th overall finishing position.
Shelby Turner (center) earned her first-ever WXC class win. Rachael Archer (left) and Korie Steede (right) finished second and third in the class. Photo: Ken Hill
When the WXC racers took off it was Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki’s Rachael Archer getting the jump off the line to earn herself the $100 Kanati Performance Tires WXC holeshot award. However, Enduro Engineering/GASGAS/FXR Moto’s Shelby Turner was on a mission and soon made her way into the lead position. Turner would continue to push each lap, trying to separate herself from the rest of her competitors. As the laps clicked off, Turner found herself headed to the checkered flag to earn her first-ever WXC class win. Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki’s Rachael Archer and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede would battle for the first lap of the race, but Archer would be able to make the pass stick on lap two and would come through to earn second in WXC, as Steede came through to round out the podium with a third in the class.
Mark Fortner would come through first overall in the Sportsman A class, while Super Senior A rider, Delmi Molina, would earn fourth overall on the day. Davin Shike from Alexis, Illinois would also earn fifth overall from the 150 B Schoolboy (12-17) class.
Caleb Wood came through to take his third-straight Youth Overall and YXC1 class win. Photo: Ken Hill
As the 8 am youth bike race got underway it would be Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki’s Caleb Wood and Husqvarna/Moose Racing/Parts Unlimited-backed racer, Brayden Baisley battling it out once again for the youth overall and YXC1 Super Mini Sr. class win in Georgia.
The pair would swap the lead position multiple times throughout the race, but Wood continued to put his head down and push for the last two laps. Wood came through to earn his third-straight youth overall and YXC1 class win of the season as Baisley held on to finish second overall and in the class. KTM/FXR/MVR Suspension’s Ethan Harwell would battle back from a sixth place start on the day to finishing third overall and in the YXC1 class.
In the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. class it was Travis Lentz making his way into the lead after coming around in fifth on the opening lap. Lentz would continue to hold the lead for the rest of the race, coming through with over a three minute lead, and earning his third-straight YXC2 class win. Phillip Arnold and Nash Peerson would move up to second and third only to battle each other for the last two podium positions throughout the race. Arnold would hold on to earn second in YXC2, while Peerson came through in third.
Colton McQuarrie would come through to earn the 85 Big Wheel (11-15) class win, while Ace Tokar took home the 85 (12-15) class win from Georgia. Wyatt Johnson battled back to earn the 85 (11) class win and in the 85 (7-10) class it was Brody Haugh earning the class win at round three. Shawn Remington Jr. would come through to clinch the 65 (10-11) class win, with Todd Toland taking the 65 (9) class win and Krue Russell earning the 65 (7-8) class win. Jayden Shea would earn her first win in the Girls Super Mini (12-16) class this season, as Sahara Robinson earned her third-straight win in the Girls 85 (7-13) class. Paisley Harris would also earn her first win in the Girls 65 (7-11) class, while Brysun Scott tried his hand at GNCC Racing and earned the Trail Rider (7-15) class win at The Specialized General GNCC.
Casey Campbell was honored as the AMSOIL Moto Hero at The Specialized General GNCC. Photo: Ken Hill
The AMSOIL Moto Hero at The Specialized General GNCC was awarded to Casey Campbell from Andersonville, Tennessee. Casey is Staff Sergeant in the Air Force. He is part of the Tactical Response Force and SeeSAR for the 20th Air Force Global Strike Command. Casey received a $250 AMSOIL Shopping Spree, a $500 Kanati Performance Tires gift certificate a commemorative American flag courtesy of Columbia Flag and Sign Co. as well as a $200 gift certificate from them. He also received a Fasst American Flag Flex bar pad, and t-shirt courtesy of Fasst Company.
The fourth round of the 2024 Progressive GNCC Racing Series will take place on March 23 and 24 in Society Hill, South Carolina with the FMF Camp Coker Bullet GNCC at Moree’s Sportsman’s Preserve. ATVs and Micros race on Saturday and Motorcycles take to the course on Sunday. For more information on the Camp Coker Bullet GNCC, click HERE. To purchase online admission tickets for the event, visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/gnccracing.
The Specialized General Overall Podium: Josh Toth (center), Johnny Girroir (left) and Jordan Ashburn (right). Photo: Ken Hill
Catch GNCC Pro ATV and Motorcycle Racing free via RacerTV.com all season long. Pro ATV Racing starts Saturday’s at 2pm ET, with the exception of Big Buck, Snowshoe and Ironman events where they will start at 1pm ET. GNCC Pro Motorcycle Racing will begin at 1pm ET on Sunday’s. Later in the year GNCC Racing will premiere on MAVTV with event highlight episodes.
For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or call (304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #GNCC.
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The Specialized General XC1 Open Pro Podium: Johnny Girroir (center), Jordan Ashburn (right) and Steward Baylor (left). Photo: Ken Hill
XC1 Pro Event Results:
Jonathan Girroir (KTM)
Jordan Ashburn (GAS)
Steward Baylor (KAW)
Ricky Russell (YAM)
Craig DeLong (HQV)
Dante Oliveira (KTM)
Trevor Bollinger (HQV)
Grant Baylor (KAW)
Josh Strang (SHR)
Michael Witkowski (HON)
*Overall National Championship Standings:
Jonathan Girroir (85)
Steward Baylor (64)
Jordan Ashburn (54)
Grant Davis (50)
Angus Riordan (42)
Joshua Toth (36)
Evan Smith (30)
Ricky Russell (29)
Trevor Bollinger (29)
Grant Baylor (28)
*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2024 National Champion.
XC2 250 Pro Event Results:
Josh Toth (HON)
Grant Davis (KTM)
Liam Draper (YAM)
Angus Riordan (KTM)
Brody Johnson (HON)
Cody Barnes (HON)
Jason Lipscomb (BET)
Toby Cleveland (HQV)
Jesse Ansley (KAW)
Ruy Barbosa (HON)
XC2 250 Pro Series Standings:
Angus Riordan (76)
Grant Davis (73)
Joshua Toth (59)
Liam Draper (52)
Jesse Ansley (43)
Ruy Barbosa (37)
Brody Johnson (36)
Cody Barnes (34)
Toby Cleveland (34)
Tyler Palmer (34)
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