Checkpoint | 2020 John Penton GNCC Highlights

June 30, 2020

2020 JOHN PENTON GNCC | COMPLETE COVERAGE

Retirement tour or title run? Kailub Russell has made 2020 a bit of both and he scored another win, the 66th of his career, in Ohio. The FMF/KTM Factory Racing rider was dominant through the race, thanks to the holeshot he scored at the start, the brief battle he had with teammate Ben Kelley, a second-lap overtake for the top spot, and then a 58-second margin of victory. With six wins in seven races, Russell holds a 33-point advantage in the championship standings as the series nears its summer break.

Josh Strang’s second-place finish was a hard-earned result for the Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki rider. Third on the opening lap, Strang stayed close to the KTM duo of Russell and Kelley in the early moments of the long race. When Russell moved into the lead, Strang upped his intensity to catch and pass Kelley, then spent the rest of the race in pursuit of the leader. Strang’s string of podium results is impressive, as he’s yet to finish out of the top-three and is the only rider to beat Russell in 2020, and currently sits second overall in the championship standings.

Grant Baylor has been a little up and down through 2020, with last weekend’s race being an “up” result for the FactoryONE Sherco rider. Baylor started near the front of the pack and by lap three was in third place, a position that he’d hold all the way to the checkered flag. This is his third podium result of the season and with 6-8-4-6-3-7-3 scores, Baylor is fourth overall in the championship.

FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley started the race with the aforementioned duel with teammate Russell, but Kelley’s shoulder is still not up to full strength from a prior injury, and he backed down the pace in the last half of the three-hour run through the woods for a fourth-place finish.

With Russell and Strang in their title fight, Jordan Ashburn has taken on the unofficial rank as “Best of the Rest.” The Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki rider finished fifth over the weekend, a result that came after some battles with others in the pack, and it keeps him third overall in the points.

The John Penton GNCC was a big day for Craig DeLong. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider claimed the win in the XC2 division, an impressive feat in itself, and his two-minute margin of victory was a statement to the rest in the class. With this win, and a fourth-place finish by rival Michael Witkowski, DeLong moves to the top of the championship standings in the XC2 class.

Cody Barnes nabbed his second podium of the season aboard his Factory Beta, a finish that came thanks to a stellar start and mid-race pass on another rider.

Jonathan Girroir’s race started with the Trail Jesters KTM rider in the middle of the pack and he spent his hours in the woods passing other riders in a charge to third place. This finish keeps Girroir ranked third in the championship.

XC1 Pro Event Results

1. Kailub Russell
2. Josh Strang
3. Grant Baylor
4. Benjamin Kelley
5. Jordan Ashburn
6. Joshua Toth
7. Dante Oliveira
8. Levi Keller
9. Cory Buttrick

XC2 250 Pro Event Results

1. Craig DeLong
2. Cody Barnes
3. Jonathan Girroir
4. Michael Witkowski
5. Ryder Lafferty
6. Jonathan Johnson
7. Liam Draper
8. Ben Nelko
9. Thorn Devlin
10. Ben Parsons

Overall National Championship Standings

XC2 250 Pro Series Standings

2020 HOOSIER GNCC | VENUE CHANGE

With the announcement of the Ironman Pro Motocross National being postponed until later in the year, the 2020 Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, has made the decision to move round eight from the Hoosier in Crawfordsville, Indiana to the High Voltage in Dunkard, Pennsylvania.

The decision was made in consideration to avoid conflicts with local series, including Indiana Cross Country Racing (IXCR), as well as travel accommodations for multiple team members and racing series. This will give the Racer Productions team valuable time in preparations for the upcoming GNCC round, in addition to groundwork for the AMA Amateur National in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee set to take place August 3-8.

Riders who are already pre-entered for round eight, the Hoosier GNCC, will have their registration transferred to the High Voltage GNCC, which will take place the same weekend as previously announced on July 11-12. If you are unable to attend the newly announced venue, please send an email to [email protected] requesting a refund.

High Voltage joined the GNCC circuit last year in July as the ‘reserved rain date’ race, however the off-road racing history goes well beyond just last year. Landowner Warren Lilly is a long-time GNCC competitor, and his venue has hosted several local racing events and private ride days. You will find similar terrain to the recently run High Point GNCC, with some fun rolling hills and a bit of black dirt mixed with gray clay. The existing trails include some fast and flowing sections along with tight and technical spots as well.

For more information about the High Voltage GNCC, and its surrounding areas click HERE. Special events happening at round eight will include ePeeWee (STACYC) Racing on Saturday, July 11 at 6:30 p.m. followed by Team Faiths Non-Denominational Church Service with Chuck Lemaster at 7 p.m. ET.