Epic Battle Could
Be Brewing for ATVs Going Into the Titan GNCC
GNCC Racing - Round 6 - Titan -
Lafayette, TN
Morgantown, WV (4/30/2009)
- Bill Ballance made his way back into
first place two weeks ago at the Acerbis Loretta
Lynn GNCC, but the road to that first win of the
season was tough. Ballance was diagnosed with
cancer just weeks before the season began, and
after surgery to remove it and a rib, was not
able to finish the first two rounds. He then carded
two third-place finishes before his emotional
win at the previous race. Going into round 6 of
the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series
at the Weekend Warrior Titan GNCC, many are wondering
if he can pull off a comeback again.
While Ballance has been recovering, young guns
have been vying for the lead position. FRE KTM's
Adam McGill has consistently been on the podium,
and although he has yet to win a race, he is the
current point leader, with eight points on Yamaha's
Taylor Kiser.
Kiser and Chris Borich are within one point of
each other for second. Kiser won the season-opener
in Florida and has looked strong on his Yamaha
all season. Borich has won two races and threatened
to run away with the points lead until he broke
a chain at the last race-just the kind of break
Ballance needs. Houser Racing's Bryan Cook is
also in fighting contention for the championship,
and needs a win this weekend to get in the top
three. Cook won at Steele Creek and has been at
the front of the pack ever since. If Ballance
wins the next few rounds, though, it lead to a
repeat of last year's competition between McGill
and Ballance, when McGill controlled the beginning
of the season but Ballance overtook him down the
stretch.
If Ballance, the nine-time GNCC Champion, pulls
it off again this year, after fighting cancer
and failing to finish the first two races, it
will go down as one of the all-time great comebacks
in sport. If he wins the title, he also plans
to retire at the end of the season.
In the XC2 class, a familiar trio has dominated
the podium. Brian Wolf, Josh Kirkland and Eric
Hoyland have been the three to watch since the
second round. Wolf and Kirkland have traded in
and out of the first and second place positions
on the podium, with Kirkland holding on to the
points lead by four points. Wolf, who started
out the season with a 5th place win at River Ranch,
has won the last two rounds and is just four points
behind Kirkland. Hoyland has consistently placed
3rd the last four rounds.
AT the Weekend Warrior Titan GNCC, spectator
passes run $15 for the full weekend, with pro
pit access and pro autographs at no additional
charge. On both Saturday and Sunday, youth riders
race at 8 a.m., beginner riders race at 10 a.m.,
and the top amateurs and the pros race at 1 p.m.
For more information, check out the official series
website at www.GNCCRacing.com or call 304-284-0084.
To get to the track, from Interstate 65, take
exit 117 to Hwy 52 east 20 miles through Portland
and Westmoreland. Left on Leath Branch Rd and
straight across Old Hwy 52. Leath Branch becomes
Rocky Mound Rd. and it's 3 miles to the track
on the left.
About
GNCC Racing:
The
Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series is
America's premier off-road racing series. Founded
in 1973, the 13-round championship is produced
exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross country
racing is one of the most physically demanding
sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC
races lead as many as 1,800 riders through tracks
ranging in length from eight to 12 miles, competing
for more than $3 million in prizes. With varied
terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks
and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests
of both survival and speed. GNCC featured sponsors
include: Can-Am, Parts Unlimited, Moose, Maxxis,
Pirelli, Wiseco, Acerbis, Elka, GEICO, Klotz,
FMF, ITP and Weekend Warrior. Associate sponsors
include Alpine-stars, BRP, Cometic, HiPer Technology,
Laegers, Moose Utility Division, The National
Guard, Ogio, Powersport Grafx, Rekluse, REM, Scott,
Thor, Twin Air, and MotoTee's ATVRiders.com.
For more information log on to www.GNCCRacing.com.
www.gnccracing.com
122 Vista Del Rio Drive,
Morgantown, WV 26508
304-284-0084
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