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Borich Facing Stiff
Challenge Heading Into This Weekend's Georgia
GNCC
Morgantown, W.Va. (March 4, 2010) - The
opening round of the 2010 Can-Am Grand National
Cross Country season saw thrilling
wheel-to-wheel action from the top three XC1 ATV
riders, Yoshimura/Suzuki mounted Chris Borich,
Yamaha's Taylor Kiser and Warnert Can-Am's Adam
McGill, as they battled down to the wire at the
Parts Unlimited River Ranch GNCC.
While in 2009, Borich was able to run away with
the championship with 10 wins and a 100 point
margin over Kiser, after the Florida event, many
speculate that this year, the Suzuki rider won't
have an easy time defending his first
championship. The three riders finished just
seconds apart after a tough race in the Florida
sand.
Last year, McGill was unable to clinch a win
while competing on the FRE KTM team, but at the
Ranch, he was the first to lead the 2-hour race
on the Can-Am DS450. Even though McGill is new
to the team this year, it is apparent he will be
a threat on the course. Kiser also had a strong
2009 season, and leaped from 6th in the series
to 2nd by the end of the year. In Florida, Kiser
nipped at Borich's heels until the end of race,
with McGill just seconds behind. Another big
surprise of the opening round is Can-Am's Chris
Bithell who after a 6th place start, moved up to
2nd in the second lap. Bithell ran in the top 3
riders until the final lap and finished less
than a minute behind the top riders.
But with less than a week between the Florida
and Georgia rounds, the true test will be who is
in the best shape. The Florida track was brutal
and riders will need to rest before this
weekend's Maxxis General GNCC. In 2009, Borich,
McGill and Kiser finished in the top three at
both Florida and Georgia, but with Borich
without full support on the Suzuki team, and
McGill on a new ride, it will be hard to tell
who could take the win.
Not to be counted out of a win at the General is
the rest of the supremely talented top ten,
Yamaha's Bill Ballance and Johnny Gallagher both
had strong showings in the opening round with
5th and 8th place finishes, respectively, and
Donnie Ockerman in 9th. FRE KTM's new rider
Bryan Cook also had a top 10 finish on his new
ride and National Guard Polaris rider Jarrod
McClure broke the top ten with a 6th place
finish. Jeffrey Pickens, number 15 in the
series, riding a Yamaha, also saw a top 10
finish, breaking up the usual leaders and
Yamaha's Brandon Sommers, despite still
recovering from mono, finished 12th.
The race takes place at the Aonia Pass motocross
facility, located in Wilkes County between
Athens and Augusta. From Atlanta: Take
Interstate 20 East to exit #160 (Hwy 223 Norwood
Exit). Go left and travel on Hwy 223 until it
dead-ends with Hwy 78 (roughly 12-15 miles).
Turn right on Hwy 78. The General is 2.5 miles
down on your right (look for the Aonia Pass
Motoplex sign). For more information, log on to
www.gnccracing.com or call 304-284-0084.
Spectator passes run $15 for the entire weekend,
with access to the pro pit area included.
Children six and under are admitted free. On
both days, youth riders race at 8 a.m., amateur
riders race at 10 a.m., and the top amateurs and
the pros race at 1 p.m.
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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