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Privateer Bryan Cook takes hard fought win at
Steele Creek GNCC
McGill, Ballance on Podium
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And the XC1 guys are off!
McGill, Cook and Ballance taking in
their success
Wolf, Kirkland and Highland having a
good time on the XC2 Podium
McGill said his day is coming soon.
In one day, Cook wins round three and
finds out he's going to be a proud papa!
Welcome back Ballance. |
Morganton, NC (March 21, 2009) -- Derisi
Racing's Bryan Cook battled a determined pack of
contenders to win the 2009 FMF Steele Creek GNCC
in his home state of North Carolina, in round
three of the 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross
Country Series. The race proved that this season
could be anyone's year to take the GNCC
Championship, as what can best be described as a
"freight train of 12 riders" battled neck and
neck for a podium win.
KTM's Adam McGill, defending GNCC Champion,
Yamaha's Bill Ballance, Rockstar Makita Suzuki's
Chris Borich and Yamaha's Taylor Kiser battled
wheel-to-wheel until the final lap, when Cook
claimed first with McGill fast behind in second
and Ballance in third. The leaders traded in and
out of first place as the notorious Steele Creek
mud hole after the concrete bridge captured more
than a few riders.
"It was awesome, but nerve wracking there in the
middle," Cook said. "I had a good start but I
made a mistake there at the mud hole. I thought
I had thrown it away because it was so hard to
pass. I was pretty confident {going into the
fourth lap} but it really depended on how you
caught the lappers. It was just a fun day."
Cook also got another nice surprise, as he found
out this morning that he and his wife Bonnie are
expecting!
Yamaha's Donald Ockerman scored the $250
MotorcycleUSA.com Holeshot Award and led the
pack on the first lap around until McGill caught
up to him. McGill led the way for several laps
until his lead grew to 20 seconds. Cook caught
up to him in the fourth lap after lapped riders
started to slow him down.
"Lappers definitely played a big role," McGill
said. "Everyone's out there to race. You've just
got to deal with it. I'll have my day here
soon."
Ballance, who struggled for weeks after having
injured ribs surgically removed, was welcomed
back to the podium to applause.
"The last three months have been pretty tough,"
said an emotional Ballance. "I was thrown a
little bit of a curveball (at the beginning of
the season) and I was wondering if we'd ever be
back in this place again."
Yamaha's Taylor Kiser came in fourth, ahead of
round two winner, Suzuki'sChris Borich. Can-Am's
Chris Bithell came in sixth, Honda's Duane
Johnson in seventh and Yamaha's Brandon Sommers
in eighth. Rounding out the top 10 was Yamaha's
Johnny Gallagher and in tenth, Can-Am's Brent
Sturdivant.
In the XC2 Pro-Am class,KTM's Josh Kirkland
nabbed first place and the Rekluse $100 holeshot
award. Following him in second was Yamaha's
Brian Wolf and in third, Honda's Eric Hoyland.
In the GNCC morning race, the ladies ruled the
podium. FRE KTM's Angel Atwell claimed her third
win in a row, despite skipping a gear on the
start. Atwell also collected another $100 from
GT Thunder for the Morning Race Overall Win.
Can-Am's Lexie Coulter took second place and
Yamaha's Traci Cecco came in third.
Can-Am's Bryan Buckhannon took first in 4X4
Open, while Clifton Beasley took the win in 4X4
Lites and Michael Swift took first in 4X4
Limited.
The FMF Steele Creek GNCC continues tomorrow
with bike racing. The Can-Am Grand National
Cross Country Series then moves on to the
Pirelli Big Buck in Union, South Carolina on
April 4-5.
XC1 Class
1. Bryan Cook (Hon)
2. Adam McGill (KTM)
3. Bill Ballance (Yam)
4. Taylor Kiser (Yam)
5. Chris Borich (Suz)
6. Chris Bithell (Can)
7. Duane Johnson (Hon)
8. Brandon Sommers (Yam)
9. Johnny Gallagher (Yam)
10. Brent Sturdivant (Can)
XC2
1. Josh Kirkland (KTM)
2. Brian Wolf (Yam)
3. Eric Hoyland (Hon)
4. Dustin Canipe (Kaw)
5. Gabe Phillips (Hon)
6. Parker Johnson (Hon)
7. Rob Hertz (Hon)
8. Scottie Rich (Kaw)
9. Josh Beavers (KTM)
10. Jeremy Rice (Pol)
2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series
Point Standings (After 3 of 13 rounds)
XC1 Class:
1. Taylor Kiser (73/1 win);
2. Chris Borich
(70/1 win);
3. Adam McGill (67);
4. Bryan Cook
(50/1 win);
5. Donald Ockerman (39);
6. TIE
Chris Bithell (37)/Duane Johnson (37);
8. TIE
Johnny Gallagher/Brandon Sommers (36);
10.
Jarrod McClure (32).
About GNCC Racing
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series
is America's premier off-road racing series.
Founded in 1973, the 13-round championship is
produced exclusively by Racer Productions.
Cross-country racing is one of the most
physically demanding sports in the world. The
grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as
1,800 riders through tracks ranging in length
from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain,
including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and
motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of
both survival and speed. Riders compete for more
than $3 million in prize money, which draws
talent from all over the U.S., Europe, Australia
and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised and
airs every Saturday and Thursday on the Versus
Network. For more information, please visit
www.gnccracing.com.
About Racer Productions
A West Virginia-based motorcycle and ATV event
production company, Racer Productions has been a
leader in the off-road racing industry for more
than 30 years. It's repertoire of events
includes the 13-round Can-Am Grand National
Cross Country Series, held since 1973; The
Kawasaki/Monster Energy High Point National in
Mount Morris, Pa., held since 1977; The ATV Dirt
Days at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills,
Tenn., held since 1985; The U.S. World Motocross
Gran Prix at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa.
in 1987; The Monster Energy/Kawasaki Steel City
National, held since 1988; The ATV Stampede
National Motocross at High Point Raceway, held
since 1994; The AMA Pro ATV Open at Steel City
in 2007; as well as numerous other amateur
motocross events. In addition, Racer Productions
staffs the prestigious Air Nautiques/AMA
Amateur National Motocross Championship at
Loretta Lynn's Ranch, held since 1982. For more
information, please visit
www.racerproductions.com.
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