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Parts Unlimited/Moose/Maxxis/Yamaha/Wiseco/Klotz/FMF/Dunlop/ITP/Tire
Balls
Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Series
Ballance finally gets it at
the Tire Balls Spartan ATV GNCC
Another hard battle puts Bithell and
Borich on the podium
 Sparta,
KY – It’s been a season of upsets in the Suzuki
Grand National Cross Country Series, but all
year long six-time GNCC ATV Champion Bill
Ballance has remained confident that he is still
the man in the series. Ballance was just hoping
for a clean race to prove himself again, and he
finally got it at the Spartan GNCC in Sparta,
Kentucky, taking his third win of the season on
his factory Yamaha YFZ450.
“This is what we had been looking for all
season long,” said Balance, who won another
close one. “I know I’m in the best physical
shape of my life. I can ride the whole race and
not get tired. It’s just a matter of not having
stupid little things happen, and today it
finally came together for us.”
But the competition put up one heck of a
fight, as LTERacing.com’s rookie threat Chris
Bithell put in another inspired ride and fought
Ballance all the way through the last lap. “I
had a good start and I just tried to ride smart
and stay with them,” said Bithell. “At one point
Bill and Chris (Jenks) tried to make a run and
they started to get away, but then they made a
mistake and I was back on them. On the last lap,
Bill made a couple mistakes in the trees and I
almost got around. I was just pushing as hard as
I could to get that win, but he rode really
well.”
East Coast ATV Honda’s Chris Borich ended up
third after a come-from-behind effort.
After grabbing the $100 ITP Holeshot Award,
Ballance jetted away out front. The pack stayed
close all day, but GT Thunder’s Chris Jenks made
the big move by pitting a lap later than
everyone else to take the lead. Jenks was trying
to win his third GNCC in a row, but Ballance
managed to catch up to him and then pass him
when Jenks had to pit on lap three. “I knew he
had to pit, so I just tried to get close to
him,” said Ballance. “It was a good strategy on
his part. I just didn’t need to take any chances
and force it since he was going to pit.”
When Jenks pitted on lap three he dropped
back to third, but instead of mounting a charge,
he made a few mistakes and dropped back.
“Just wasn’t my day I guess,” said Jenks. “I
made too many mistakes. I couldn’t keep it out
of the trees.”
On the last lap Jenks came under fire from
Borich, who was charging hard after crashes of
his own. “I didn’t get a good start and the
track was so tight, it was hard to make up
ground on these guys,” said Borich. “A holeshot
would have helped today. I’m happy to get in
here in third, I was pretty far back. I just
charged as hard as I could on the last lap. Me
and Chris had a good battle, he made a mistake
and we ended up wedged between the trees. I just
couldn’t make up the time after that.”
Bill Ballance taking the win at the Tire
Balls Spartan GNCC |
“I apologized to Chris for that one,” said
Jenks. “I have respect for all of these guys.”
Borich accepted a third-place finish, but the
former series points leader knows he needs to
win again to prevent Ballance from getting on a
roll.
Team Excell Motorsports/DeRisi Racing rider
Bryan Cook put in his best ride of the season to
finish fourth. After a shoulder injury early in
the year, Cook is marching his way back to the
front. “I’m just trying to get the mindset
back,” said Cook. “It feels really really good
to get back up here in the top five.”
Jenks was fifth and Yoshimura Suzuki’s
William Yokley ended up sixth after a horrible
start. “I don’t know what happened,” said Yokley,
who rides the LT-R450 Suzuki. “I thought I had
it all ready, but it just didn’t crank on the
line. We’re just learning things with this new
machine. The track was so tight it was hard to
get around guys, and I didn’t want to start
pushing people out of the way or end up getting
myself hurt.”
In the GNCC morning race, Alba Yamaha’s Traci
Cecco took another overall win on her factory
Yamaha YFZ. Polaris’ Stephanie Parton took
second overall on an Outlaw 500, and Novice
rider Glenn Pritchard put in the best race of
his career with third overall. Michael Shelley
was the top utility rider with 12th overall.
The Suzuki GNCC Series continues in two weeks
with the Parts Unlimited Wisp GNCC in Deep
Creek, MD. For more information, log on to
GNCCRacing.com.
The AMA-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 1800 riders through tracks ranging from eight
to twelve miles in length. 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 Parts Unlimited, Moose, Maxxis, Pirelli,
Wiseco, Klotz, FMF, ITP and Tire Balls, and
riders compete for over $3 million in series
prizes and contingency money. Associate sponsors
include Moose Utility Division, Scott, Acerbis,
Alpinestars, Cometic, Outerwears, Twin Air,
Polisport Plastics, Thor, Motion Pro, Hyper
Wheels, Elka Suspension, MotoTee’s, Weekend
Warrior, Owens Motorsports, Tom’s Marina
Polaris, EK Chain and Laeger’s. Media Sponsors
include Dirt Rider Magazine, ATV Sport Magazine,
www.ATVRiders.com and Racer X Illustrated. For
more information log on to
www.GNCCRacing.com.
Results:
Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Series -
Round 8
The Tire Balls Spartan GNCC
June 10, 2006
ATV Top Twenty Overall
1. Bill Ballance Oakland, KY YAM 01:59:40
2. Chris Bithell Irwin, PA HON 01:59:42
3. Chris Borich Sunbury, PA HON 02:00:15
4. Bryan Cook Casar, NC HON 02:00:18
5. Chris Jenks Washington, WV HON 02:00:21
6. William Yokley Thompkinsville, KY SUZ
02:02:14
7. Duane Johnson Trenton, MO HON 02:02:17
8. Brent Sturdivant Montrose, WV HON 02:02:19
9. Tyler Lenig Shamokin, PA HON 02:03:00
10. Michael Houston Hickory, NC HON 02:03:58
11. Brandon Ballance Oakland, KY YAM 02:04:00
12. Johnny Gallagher Aurora, OH HON 02:04:06
13. Santo Derisi Casar, NC HON 02:05:25
14. Kyle Martin Winona, MO HON 02:05:51
15. Jarrod Mcclure Kaska, PA HON 02:05:56
16. Rob Hertz Brookhaven, PA HON 02:06:22
17. Ryan Morphew Cookeville, TN HON 02:06:26
18. Bryan Baker Knob Noster, MO HON 02:06:35
19. Jeremy Rice Fombell, PA SUZ 02:06:45
20. Andris Lagzdins Baltimore, MD ROL
02:06:54
Suzuki GNCC Points Standings (After 8 of 13
rounds)
1. Bill Ballance 196/3 wins
2. Chris Borich 185/2 wins
3. Chris Jenks 166/2 wins
4. Duane Johnson 126
5. William Yokley 125
6. Chris Bithell 102
7. Michael Houston 79/1 win
8. Adam McGill 67
9. Bryan Baker 65
10. Andris Lagzdins 64
Photo by David Scearce
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