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AMA Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Series
Parts Unlimited/Moose/Maxxis/Wiseco/Klotz/FMF/Pirelli/ITP
Ballance Clinches Sixth-Straight GNCC ATV
Title
Borich Wins Fourth Race of the Season
 St.
Clairsville, OH – Bill Ballance faced his toughest challenge
ever trying to win his sixth-straight Suzuki Grand National
Cross Country title, but he showed his true championship heart
by getting it done when it counted. With a gritty third-place
finish at the Power Line Park GNCC, fed the factory Yamaha
officially clinched the 2005 GNCC Title.
"Of all of the titles, this was definitely the toughest,”
said Ballance, who rides a YFZ450. “It just keeps getting
harder, the pace is so much faster than it was five years ago
because everyone is stepping up. And this year, starting the
year with torn ligaments in my knee and then breaking my leg and
crushing my ankle, I was really worried it was all slipping
away.”
Instead, the title slipped away from Alba Actionsport’s Honda
rider Chris Borich, who started the season with back-to-back
wins and held the points lead. Only a few small mistakes cost
Borich from taking it to the wire. “I guess it just wasn’t my
year,” said Borich after leading wire-to-wire to notch his
fourth win. “I had some problems in the mud races, but I think I
finally figured it out. I needed to slow down and go faster and
have the fans point out the right lines. This year I knew I had
the speed – but when luck is on your side it’s good, and when
it’s not, it’s not. I’m just getting ready for next year.”
Yoshimura Suzuki’s William Yokley charged hard all day and
took second. “Man it’s awesome having those fans out there, they
just keep you going and make you push a little harder,” said
Yokley. “It’s awesome to get back up here after a couple of bad
races.”
Mud was a big factor as rain all weekend left the track
super-slick. Ballance grabbed the holeshot, but Borich quickly
knifed underneath him, took the lead and was gone. Borich
struggled in the mud all year but showed major improvement with
a smooth fast pace. Yokley and Ballance battled with Polaris’
Matt Smiley and Four-Stroke Tech’s Chris Jenks, who ultimately
finished fourth and fifth.
John Natalie, the 2005 Moose ITP ATVA GNC MX Champion raced
at Power Line Park as a guest of Borich’s team, and finished an
impressive eighth overall. “Man it was a blast,” said Natalie.
“I’m a racer and I want to win. That’s my goal. I’m going to the
Ironman.”
The Ironman is the season-finale in two weeks. Ballance wants
a win there, as his recovery from a broken leg and ankle is
going well. “I think I’ll be ready. Today the track was slick
but it didn’t get too rough, and I was able to run with these
guys. It made me feel good! I think with a few more weeks to
heal I’ll be ready to go for the win.”
The Power Line Park GNCC was taped for an airing on the
Outdoor Life Network. The series resumes on television on
October 18, and the GNCC races air Tuesdays at 5 p.m., Thursdays
at 11 a.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m. EST.
The ATVA-sanctioned Suzuki Grand National Cross Country
series is America’s premier off-road racing series. The 13-round
series is produced exclusively by Racer Productions.
Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding
sports in the world. The nearly three-hour long GNCC races lead
as many as 1500 riders through tracks ranging from eight to
twelve miles in length. With varied terrain including hills,
mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests
of both survival and speed. GNCC featured sponsors include Parts
Unlimited, Moose, Maxxis, Pirelli, Wiseco, Klotz, FMF and ITP,
and riders compete for over $1.5 million in series prizes and
contingency money. Associate sponsors include Moose Utility
Division, Scott, Alpinestars, Öhlins, Cometic, Outerwears, Race
Tools, Twin Air, SFB Racing, Thor, Motion Pro, MotoTee’s,
Warrior and Laeger’s. Media Sponsors include Dirt Rider
Magazine, ATV Sport Magazine and Racer X Illustrated. For more
information log on to GNCCRacing.com.
Suzuki GNCC Series Results
Power Line Park GNCC
St. Clairsville, OH
- Chris Borich (Hon)
- William Yokley (Suz)
- Bill Ballance (Yam)
- Matt Smiley (Pol)
- Chris Jenks (Hon)
- Johnny Gallagher (Hon)
- Bryan Baker (Hon)
- John Natalie (Hon)
- Jeremy Rice (Hon)
- Chad DuVall (Yam)
Suzuki GNCC Points Standings (After 12 of 13 rounds)
- Bill Ballance 283
- Chris Borich 233
- William Yokley 203
- Chris Jenks 184
- Matt Smiley 164
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