GNCC Racing Round 11

The Yadkin valley stomp

Yadkinville NC

Racers from all over the USA and Canada returned to wine country in the hills of Yadkinville North Carolina this weekend for the eleventh round of cross country racing GNCC style. The track was dusty as usual and the sun stuck around to scare off the much-needed rain. But who can complain, right? Well, there were a few who had reasons to be sore both mentally and physically.

Chris Borich found his place right after the ten second call and bolted out front like a cruise missle. Unfortunately for Chris, this wasn't going to end the way he intended. Lap one was full of excitement as Borich tried to pull away from everyone and stay in the clean air. Around lap two there was something wrong and Borich faded fast. The shocks had crippled the East coast ATV Honda and it wasn't safe to travel at the speed needed to stay out front. Borich would drop back further and further as the race wore on. Chris couldn't have been more disappointed but still managed to finish. Watching a chance at his dream slip through his hands wasn't easy to take - so plan to see great things coming out of this camp for the last two races of this season.

The Monster energy Kawasaki of William Yokley made it almost half a mile or so before the little mechanical demons grabbed his chances of getting on the podium. William had issues with the rear end of his machine and didn't care to elaborate. That's a tough break for the man in green as the year is winding down and Yokley is still getting to know his KFX450R. Yokley has no worries though. He takes everything in stride and almost all the time has a great big smile on his face at the end of the day. William has a lot to be smiling about these days, as he and wife Tina just added two beautiful twins to the Kawasaki Monster energy team. Racing is racing but family is forever! Work on the diapers today, and racing will be back around before you know it. Better luck next time, bro.

The top spot changed several times before the end of the day. Chris Bithell took advantage of a mistake by defending champion Bill Ballance to take over the number one spot and he held on for the win. Bill Ballance had the race lead and came into a line a little too quick, which wound him up into a vine. Ballance has once again secured the points lead over Chris Borich but as the old saying goes, "it isn't over till the fat lady sings". The champ has a goal to make this his record-breaking year and get the eight title for team Yamaha.

After questioning several people at the track I came to the conclusion that most are torn between wanting to see Ballance get his eight title and Borich to get his first. I would like to see both get their dues but in the end someone will have to settle for what hand they are dealt. With all the dust settled it ended up with Chris Bithell taking the number one spot for the first time in his career and Bill Ballance holding on to second. Third spot was filled by an elated Brent Sturdivant, as this was his first podium finish as well. Brent is a college student and thanked the fans first by saying " I want to thank all these young fans here around the podium because I used to be that fan and I know what its like to dream about this". He went on to tell how he was the dreamer in the crowd and now his dream had come true.

Its great to see all the younger talent getting some of the spotlight and it is very apparent that somebody has been paying attention to what the leaders are doing to get out front and stay there.

All the XC2 pro-am guys could do was follow along and watch as Brandon Sommers grabbed yet another win. When the racer production crew brought the front three in this class onto the podium Sommers was congratulated for not only winning the day's race but for securing his class championship as well.

Brandon will be running in the pro class in Stclairsville, Ohio and I can only imagine what a battle he will put on the line to get out front of the greatest riders in our sport. Donald Okerman settled for second and Jeff Maloney took third. Maloney wanted to thank his sponsors but said " I just don't have any". He did thank all the people involved in his racing though, including his wife.

The morning classes went smooth and Traci Cecco secured her class championship and finished in second place out of the Pro womens class.Angel Atwell would get another class win but came up just a little shy of the championship. Look for this class championship to get tighter and tighter. Next year, Angel will fight for her first and we hear rumors of a former champion swapping rides to get back what she deserves!

The utility classes have been crazy all year but one thing is for sure the interest in racing your daddy's hunting vehicle has become an epidemic.

Michael Swift wins the 4x4 limited class and has an eight point lead over Kevin Trantham who grabbed second almost ten minutes back. Bryan Buchannon made easy work of the Yadkin valley and came out on top of the 4x4 open class. Want to lose some weight? Well, just get into the 4x4 lites class where 500cc or less 4x4's embarrass even the veteran riders. Jerime Dudding took this class win but with only two seconds to spare as teammate Cliff Beasley was right on his tail to grab second.

So we have come down to the last two races of the 2007 GNCC race season and this has been a great year of racing. The next round is in Stclairsville Ohio and Off-Road.com will be there to watch the championships come to a close and for some it will be a lead-in to the last race of the season in Crawfordsville Indiana.

See ya at the races,

RS