AMSOIL GNCC Battle Resumes in North Carolina

Round three of the 2014 AMSOIL GNCC Series is set for this weekend as North Carolina hosts the 14th Annual FMF Steele Creek GNCC.

After two wildly unpredictable rounds, the 2014 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC) presented by Maxxis resumes this weekend in Morganton, North Carolina, with round three of the 13-race AMA-sanctioned National Championship series, March 29-30. It’s still early in the season, but only 10 points separate the top five XC1 Pro riders in the National Championship standings.

FMF/KTM’s Charlie Mullins holds the GNCC points lead after two rounds of racing where each of the top five riders has captured one podium finish through the first two rounds and not one rider has managed to finish inside the top three at both events. Although Mullins has one win under his belt, the 2011 GNCC Champion has a cast of talent nipping at his heels.

N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Paul Whibley sits only two points behind Mullins in the standings. A two-time GNCC National Champion (2009 and 2012), the 36-year-old New Zealand native is showing that he has plenty of fight left in him as he makes a bid for a third title this season.

And then there’s reigning champion Kailub Russell, who heads into the third round just eight points behind Mullins, with whom he battled head-to-head for the 2013 championship. After a disastrous 14th-place finish at the series opener, the FMF/KTM-backed Russell capitalized on the treacherous conditions of round two with a big victory. Heading into the third round, Russell is tied with Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Josh Strang for third place in the point standings.

Strang has showed consistency with two finishes in the top five. Yet another GNCC National Champion (2010), he is fighting for this year’s coveted title, and it may be notable to add that the Australian native is still seeking his first GNCC win since 2011.

N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn earned a hard-fought podium finish at the last round, showcasing his bid for the championship chase as well. Like many others in GNCC Racing, Ashburn has found much success moving through the ranks, and now the 23-year-old is settling well into the ultra-competitive XC1 Pro Class. Ashburn sits only two points behind Russell and Strang for fifth place in the point standings.

RideMPS.com/AMSOIL/Honda’s Thad DuVall began the season on track with a fourth place finish, but mechanical issues in round two robbed DuVall of a finish, costing him valuable points towards the championship.

As if the XC1 Pro Class isn’t competitive enough, XC2 Pro Lites rider Grant Baylor is turning into a wild card. The 16-year-old Baylor nearly made GNCC history at round two by battling with Russell for the overall win, which he lost by a scant 4 seconds. The FMF/KTM-backed Baylor, the defending XC2 Pro Lites Champion, trails the class championship by six points. Maxxis/KLIM/DirtWise KTM’s Rory Mead tops the standings with two solid podium finishes. The New Zealand native looks to be Baylor’s fiercest championship competitor this season, although there are several other riders up for the challenge. Raines Riding University/Yamaha-backed Ricky Russell sits only two points behind Baylor in the class standings with a second and a fourth place finish at each of the first two rounds. KR4 Performance’s Shane Hufford Jr., and North Carolina’s Trevor Bollinger have each put forth solid top five finishes as well. Bollinger, an XC2 Pro Lites rookie, holds fourth in the standings, while Hufford rounds out the top five.

Factory FMF/KTM’s Kacy Martinez holds the WXC points lead heading into the third round, with N-Fab AmPro Yamaha’s Jessica Patterson and her teammate Becca Sheets close behind Martinez.

For more information on the series, visit www.gnccracing.com.