Hurricane Mills, TN. (April 13, 2009)- Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Borich was the first repeat winner on the ATV side of the 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series, taking the lead in the points race and perhaps locking down a bright championship future going into round five, the Acerbis Loretta Lynn GNCC. That is, if FRE KTM's Adam McGill and Yamaha's Taylor Kiser don't catch up to him.
McGill is fast behind with only eight points separating him from Borich and Yamaha's Taylor Kiser behind McGill by just three points. The three have been trading in and out of the lead during the course of the season. Houser Racing's Bryan Cook is fourth in points and with defending GNCC Champion Bill Ballance recovering from an injury, the door is open to any of the four top riders as they prepare for round five at the historic Loretta Lynn Ranch this weekend.
The soil of the track is sandy, so the track gets whooped out. Some sections are covered in small, shale rock, probably not tire-cutting stuff, but enough to ruin traction. The whoops and the heat and humidity indigenous to this area can sap a rider's strength. That, combined with the trio's command of the points race, makes it hard for any rider to move up and become a viable contender.
Ballance struggled at the first two rounds of the season but made it up to the podium at Steele Creek and Big Buck, putting him fifth in the series, behind Cook, who won the Steele Creek race. Cook is now fourth in points, 21 points behind Kiser. Yamaha's Donald Ockerman and Brandon Sommers are behind Ballance in points, but have yet to make it onto the podium this year.
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 contingency and prize money, which draws talent from all over the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised and will air beginning April 4th 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.