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Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Series

Ballance on Verge of Record-Tying Seventh GNCC ATV Title This Weekend
Needs fourth or better to clinch

St. Clairsville, OH – Yamaha’s Bill Ballance wins so often in the Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Series that you can almost take his success for granted. Every year Ballance reels off wins and consistent finishes in robotic fashion, doing it all with such ease and professionalism that one could almost forget how hard he really works. But this weekend at the Power Line Park GNCC in St. Clairsville, Ohio, his accomplishment will become very clear. With a fourth-place or better finish, the Kentucky-based 30-year-old can clinch the 2006 Suzuki GNCC ATV Title, and with that, tie Barry Hawk on the all-time list with seven-straight ATV crowns.

“I never thought it would come to this,” Ballance maintains. “There was a time when I was just a kid and we were on a Banshee just trying to figure it all out. Every championship is good, but I feel just as hungry now as I did when I first started this.”

That seems true. With six wins and nine podium finishes in 11 races this year, Ballance has looked as strong this year than at any other point in his career.

His ability is obvious considering how much deeper the competition has gotten in the last few years. When the GNCC Series switched the pro class over to production rules in 2004, it opened the door for many talented racers to compete with equal equipment to the top pros. The competition has swelled, as there are now ten riders at each race that can win the event. But while the competition has stepped up, Ballance continues to exceed it.

Still, the depth means there is a chance he won’t notch a fourth this weekend and the championship celebration could wait until the Klotz Ironman GNCC finale in two weeks. Honda’s Chris Borich is second in the series and had a win in hand at the last GNCC two weeks ago at Unadilla in upstate New York, until mechanical troubles set in. Monster/Yoshimura/Suzuki’s William Yokley is always a threat, as well as newcomers Chris Bithell, Duane Johnson and Adam McGill. The field is deeper than ever, and yet Ballance remains the man to beat, just like always.

The facility is located at Exit 213 off Ohio I-70 to Route 331 N. Roughly 15 miles from Wheeling, WV.

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, Race Tools, Powersports GrafX, 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.