2008 GNCC-Round#6-"The John Penton"-Pro ATV Race Coverage

[Pappy]

The John Penton sure doesnt disapoint when it comes to keeping everyone on their toes as to what type of weather we will have for the race. Dust, mud, dust, mud, but this is XC racing and everyone knows we race whatever comes along.

Now I really do hate complaining, but I am asking an entire year in advance for atleast ONE perfect weather year for this race for next year seeing we got handed a nasty one for this round:p

The afternoon racers would atleast have it some what better then their morning racing counterparts, as parts of the facility had dried to manageable conditions. Brandon Sommers, Taylor Kiser and Bryan Cook await their call to the line.

[Pappy]

You just can't seem to get Chris Bithell down, no matter how bad of a day he may have had. The young racer has had his hands full this season as he deals with mechanical issues that have him currently ranked 25th in the XC1 class. I had my fingers crossed that just maybe he could put together a solid race this round and get on track for the rest of the season.

[Pappy]

For Ryan Lane, the 2008 season is working out quite well as he has been putting in solid race after solid race. 3 top 10 finishes so far this season have him sitting inside the top 10 in points and if the things continue the way they have been, he could move up a few more spots and capture a single digit number for 2009! While others have faced problems and poor finishes, the Indiana native has been chugging along and getting better and faster each round.

[Pappy]

Jeff Pickens came out swinging in the first 3 rounds, showing he has what it takes to compete in the XC1 class. The past 2 rounds havent had Jeff finishing where he would like, but I am sure he can figure things out and get back on track soon enough as he continues is rookie pro class season.

[Pappy]

Jarrod McClure has been doing battle as good as anyone this season, and has proven he can run at the top of the class. With solid top 10 finishes, McClure sits n a position to dive even deeper into the ranks of the pro class as he dials in his program.

[Pappy]

Bill Ballance never ceases to impress, whether its on a quad or dealing with the many fans that flock to him. The 8 time GNCC champ came into the 2008 season with an open mind and stated he just wanted to have fun. Well, the fun may still be there but here as we prepare for round 6 to get underway, the champ finds himself once again in a position to regain the points lead and go after an unprecedented 9th championship!

After scoring a win at Lorettas, Ballance may just be fired up enough to fend off all challenges and set his sights on yet another championship run.

[Pappy]

Entering the 2008 season with a completely new program, Chris Borich was easily favored as the rider to win the championship. After giving everyone an incredible season in 2007, many find themselves wondering exactly what is holding him back this year as he has dealt with successes and failures to this point. By Chris's own words, its just racing but we all know he wants to be out front and it just hasn't clicked since round 1 although he was right there at Lorettas scoring 2nd. There could be an infinite amount of reasons as to why, but at the end of the day the results are finalized and we all have to settle with them.

I was hoping for a strong showing from Borich, but seeing another mud-fest on the horizon I suspected he would be just off the pace. I know many riders that would trade Chris finishing positions, but when your as good as he is, there isn't a substitute for being first!

[Pappy]

Adam McGill is hot property these days as he has been tearing 2008 apart! McGill has a solid machine, a solid program and enough skill to make this season ultra interesting. Scoring 3 straight wins propelled him to the top of the XC1 points, however bad luck with a mechanical issue at round 5 left him defenseless as Bill Ballance took the win unchallenged by the now familiar orange blur.

The work by team FRE this season has been intense and focused as the new machine and riders are fine tuned to be a winning combination. While this may be Adams first hunt for a championship, the man behind team FRE is no stranger to this kind of pressure as Tim Farr guides his team and riders towards their ultimate goal.

McGill is ahuge fan favorite and the spectators along the course have been steering him in the right direction all year. McGill admits that this has been huge in helping him pick the right lines at bottlenecks and bad sections and never forgets his fans as he gives them praise from the podium.

[Pappy]

The left hook in team FRE is Taylor Kiser. While not usually part of the limelight, Kiser has been running steady and true this season and has been running solidly inside the top 10 at most events. Hard work to develop the expierence in terrain not familiar to him was his goal heading into this round and seeing the track conditions, he would need all the help he could get as he faced stiff competition from riders who make riding in the mud look like a sunday stroll!

[Pappy]

Matt Smiley gets in position as the pro row was assembled. Smiley injured his right thumb at Lorettas and was going to have to deal with the pain just to complete the race. A twist throttle was installed to help aid his efforts and his attitude prior to the start was just to take it easy and hopefully come out somewhere good. matt is a pretty humble fellow, and one only need to look back at his past results to know that the word "quit" doesnt exist in his world. Smiley has been finishing inside the top 10 all season with the exception of round 5 where his crash sent him to the 21st position. Hurt or not, I knew Matt would be giving 110% and couldnt wait to see him do his thing!

[Pappy]

Brandon Sommers has been charging hard in 2008, finding the podium twice thus far. With solid riding and the speed needed to run upfront, Sommers is making his presence known during his Pro class rookie year.

[Pappy]

When the green flag flew, it was Brandon Sommers with the holeshot as the field heads into turn two!

[Pappy]

Johnny Gallagher and Taylor Kiser go bar to bar

[Pappy]

Duane Johnson edges out Chris Borich as the piar look for open ground through the turn.


This would mark Johnsons last GNCC race as he is calling it quits. His little girl has had some serious medical problems and he feels he is needed at home to help with her and to run the family farm. We wish Duane the best and will keep tabs on his racing in the Iowa series!

[Pappy]

Bryan Cook failed to get his machine to fire and was dead last as he made his way through the start.

[Pappy]

XC2 fired off the line next and it was David Crane pulling the holeshot

[Pappy]

Donald Ockerman rips through turn 2 and gives chase to Crane. Ockerman has been riding on another level this season, capturing 4 class wins and scoring inside the top 10 at every event except round 2, where the conditions caused a mistake costing Ockerman heavily.

[Pappy]

Senior 40+ rider Dave Simmons pitches it in to turn two as he grabs the holeshot!

[Pappy]

Parker Jones gets the holeshot in College A 16-21

jones has not finished worse then 3rd this season, and has put up two wins to propel him to the top of the class points

[Pappy]

Patrick Burch runs back to his machine as he was thrown off after a slight get together with a fellow racer.

[Pappy]

Andy Klingworth takes the holeshot in Junior A 22+

[Pappy]

Todd Rothermel was off to a bad start but worked hard and finished the day in the 6th position.

[Pappy]

Vet 30+ A had Justin Petroff with the lead as the class races to turn two

[Pappy]

Brian Schmid gets off in turn two but was able to refire and roll on!

[Pappy]

Don Simpson grabs the holeshot in Senior B 40+

[Pappy]

College B was pretty intense as all hell broke loose at the first turn!

[Pappy]

Going down in the first turn is a scary deal!

[Pappy]

I dont know whats worse, staying down or running for your life!

[Pappy]

The crash opened the door for Stephen McCulloch to take the lead

[Pappy]

Brandon Evans was one of teh riders involved in the crash and was remounted and off racing in seconds. Brandon went on to finish 6th!!

[Pappy]

Junior B 22+ had Fred Marley out front at the start

[Pappy]

Junior B 22+ had 45 entries this round!!

[Pappy]

Jon Chambers gets a little out of shape after grabbing the holeshot in Vet 30+ B

[Pappy]

John Yokely leads the Sport 15+ class out!

[Pappy]

Now thats a big tree:scary:

After the starts everyone scattered to get a view of teh action when it came around.

[Pappy]

Fans chat as the woods were silent as we all awaited the leaders

[Pappy]

Our wait was short and when the leaders appeared, it was evident that Ballance was fending of McGill at every place that offered passing room!

[Pappy]

McGill poured on the power but couldnt make it past the champ

[Pappy]

Kiser was holding 3rd and Brandon Sommers was back to 4th

[Pappy]

Johnny Gallagher leads William Yokely and Chris Bithell as they race through the muddy mist

[Pappy]

Smiley was just outside the top 5 on lap 2

[Pappy]

David Crane was still out front in XC2

[Pappy]

The sun couldnt make up its mind as it would send bright bursts of sunshine through the tree tops then disappear behind clouds. The back and forth lighting had to be difficult to race in when your goggles are coated in muck

[Pappy]

Water was rasing hell with many machines as they spit and sputtered causing a few to pit to help get the machine running again

[Pappy]

I made my way to one of the hills that wasnt huge, but very wet and slick

[Pappy]

Ground clearence and good tires would be the ticket for todays race

[Pappy]

One mistake and you were hung up

[Pappy]

Luckily there were 2 lines available for this hill

[Pappy]

McGill had overtaken Ballance and was off and running

[Pappy]

When Kiser came into view, I could only geuss that Ballance had pitted

[Pappy]

Ballance came through just a few seconds behind Kiser

[Pappy]

Sommers was still putting in a solid effort and was holding the 4th position

[Pappy]

I was stoked when I saw Bithell in 5th and looking like he might just get in a solid finish!

[Pappy]

Smiley was running in 6th and was about to work Bithell over

[Pappy]

Sturdivant was inside the top 10 and I had fingers crossed that maybe the black cloud that has been over him had lifted

[Pappy]

Johnny Gallagher gets set up to get his yamaha up the hill

[Pappy]

Pickens charges up the hill as Ryan Lane rips in front of my lens as he takes the other line

[Pappy]

Bryan Baker was just outside the top 10 but was riding well

[Pappy]

Derisi ducks behind some brush as this picture shows how deep the ruts were getting

[Pappy]

Borich wasnt making up much ground in the first 4 ;laps, staying between 15th and 9th

[Pappy]

Ockerman had bested Crane but the pair was hooked up and moving forward!

[Pappy]

Jon Chambers gets some fuel

[Pappy]

McGill still leading, Kiser in second and Ballance in 3rd as the trio races back to the MX track

[Pappy]

Brent Sturdivants luck was about to run out, as his clutch let go early on the 5th lap.

[Pappy]

Back in the woods, the racing was hectic as riders do all they can to gain positions

[Pappy]

Yokely was riding good and had worked himself up to 5th

[Pappy]

Bithell shields his eyes from some roost as he heads off for what would be his last lap

[Pappy]

Jeff Pickens would also be running his lap

[Pappy]

Dave Simmons on his way to victory and a 24th overall finish!

[Pappy]

The course winds around the fields and these areas offer alot of passing

[Pappy]

These open areas also offer a bit of speed for those with the energy to keep going! The mud adds alot of weight to teh machine and the rider

[Pappy]

Parts of the track were drying and became tacky, a surprise when leaving the water logged woods!

[Pappy]

Everyone started to blend into the same grey tone as the race wore on, with only a bit of color ohere or there to identify riders

[Pappy]

Gary Belbeck "Popo" was only able to get in two laps this race.

[Pappy]

Multiple lines offer some a way around and others a way to get out of the way

[Pappy]

Fresh goggles and a few seconds off the bars can do wonders

[Pappy]

Phil Cole out for another lap!

[Pappy]

Ballance regained the lead on the 4th lap and it became his race to loose

[Pappy]

McGill was now faced with having to run down Bill

[Pappy]

Sommers had made it past Kiser for the 3rd spot, but looking at the lap times Kiser must have worked his way back around as Sommers never held the spot at scoring

[Pappy]

Kiser wasnt but a few seconds off Sommers

[Pappy]

Bryan Cook gets a pair of goggles and his grips wiped off before heading back out.

[Pappy]

The mulch pile was pretty whooped out and claimed several victims

[Pappy]

Ballance pulls in for one more splash of fuel

[Pappy]

I had hoped to catch Brandon Sommers pit stop but just like Laz I would be waiting and wondering. Brandon had clipped a tree causing him to crash and post a 30+ minute lap time. Tough break for him.:( He had a good run going

[Pappy]

The Yamaha crew gets ready to pit Gallagher

[Pappy]

The MX track was plenty choppy and still thick with mud in some areas

[Pappy]

The racing was as good the last lap as it was the first, a credit to all the competitors!

[Pappy]

Finally I picked Ballance out as he came racing onto the MX track, still holding the lead!

[Pappy]

McGill had made a hard charge to narrow the gap, but Ballance was the winner of this round!

[Pappy]

3 seconds behind Ballance was McGill

[Pappy]

Kiser took the last podium position as he rounds the last corner

[Pappy]

Second place keeps Adam on top of the points for now, but I think he knows Bill is re-energized and coming for him!

[Pappy]

Kiser has to be happy with his 3rd place finish in a brutally tough race. If he can continue his pace, he will come out of 2008 in a great position in points.

[Pappy]

As for Bill Ballance, what can you say. He is now within striking distance of the points lead if he can continue putting in these great finishes. This could set him up to claim #9, and boy wouldnt there be some celebrating if that happens!

[Pappy]

There they are folks, Ballance, McGill and Kiser show their spoils of victory at the John Penton!

[Pappy]

I know the fans had some fun by the amount of mud they were covered in!


The series takes a turn to the west and heads to Kentucky for round #7....and the racing should be exciting as Bill Ballance has stated he wants that win on his home turf!!!

Be safe, and we will see everyone soon!

[my88r]

always good coverage.:macho

[yoshz400rider]

sorry to hear duane is done but best of luck to him with his farm and I hope his daughter is fine.

[JoHn YeLtOn]

just like being there......thanks!

[quadracer193]

nice pics Pappy