Last Updated 6/27/2004
His competition goes fast, but when four-time ATVA Grand National Cross Country Champ Bill Ballance needs to, he can go faster. Two weeks after his five-race GNCC win streak ended in the mud of Kentucky, Ballance overcame a terrible start to reel in local favorite Matt Smiley on the last lap. They battled, but Ballance made the move to take the Rausch Creek GNCC win, proving once again no lead is safe unless Ballance is holding it.
"It was a good race," said Ballance. "I didn't come off the line right and got to bumping with some guys. I played it smart for a while in the dust, and once everyone spread out I was able to work on each guy individually and get to the front."
Once up front he ran into Team Safari's Smiley and make a move. "We battled for about a half of a lap, but I was able to make the pass on him," said Ballance. "There were some lines I was looking at for a few laps, and then he went to the right behind some lappers, and I tried and line that paid off."
Smiley wants a win bad, but he knows Ballance will always make it tough.
"I'm pretty happy," said Smiley. "It's a shame I had a problem on the last lap. Bill passed me legitimately. I was working really hard, but I came up a little short. What can I say? I'll just keep plugging away."
The biggest surprise of the day involved the war for third overall. Several top GNCC contenders struggled on the ultra-rough and rocky track, opening the door for an underdog to collect third. In the end, Pro Am rider James Wahl emerged with third overall, his first career podium.
"I felt like I was on fire, I felt great, it was a perfect day," said the happy young Pennsylvanian. "You just had to ride smart in the rocks. This is my first time up here, but I'm ready for the next one now."
Wahl collected third on adjusted time, as his Pro Am class started 90 seconds behind the Pros. Pro contenders Michael Houston and Jeff Stoess actually crossed the finish before Wahl, but ended up fourth and fifth overall.
It was an intense battle between Houston and Stoess, as Houston was run into by a lapper even after taking the checkered flag. Stoess, the overall winner of the previous race in Kentucky, rolled by and thought he had collected third in the pro class, but Houston was actually awarded the spot. Regardless, all three new faces can say they earned their top spots, because even the best GNCC racers were tested on the rough track.
And where were the favorites? Suzuki's William Yokley led early, but he smashed his rear brake on a rock, rendering it useless. He still managed seventh. Chris Borich, who trains and practices at Rausch Creek, was running second early when his engine blew. And Am Pro Yamaha's Chad DuVall crashed just off the start, but spent the whole day clawing his way back into contention. After nearly two hours of effort, he got tangled up with Yokley and crashed again, possibly breaking his collarbone.
The rocky Rausch Creek track had collected its share of victims, but in the end Bill Ballance had claimed it as yet another win. With six wins in eight races this season, Ballance is staring squarely at GNCC title number five.
In the morning race, Four-Stroke Stock rider Will Cashion finally claimed an overall win on his Yamaha, a rewarding effort after leading GNCC Round 1 in Texas all day before suffering a flat tire. Fellow stock rider Mark Rhodes was second on a Honda, and Women's Class winner Stephanie Parton was third on her Troy Racing Suzuki.
The ATVA Grand National Cross Country Series continues with the Patriot GNCC in Petersburg, Virginia, on June 12.
The ATVA Grand National Cross Country series is America's premier off-road racing series. The 14-round series is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. One of the most physically demanding sports in the world, the nearly three-hour long cross-country races lead as many as 1300 riders through tracks ranging from eight to twelve miles in length. With varied terrain including hills, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC races are tests of both survival and speed. GNCC featured sponsors include Parts Unlimited, Moose, Maxxis, Yamaha, Wiseco, Klotz, FMF, Dunlop and ITP, and riders compete for over $1.3 million in series prizes and contingency money. The 2003 series aired weekly on Speed Channel. Associate sponsors include Moose Utility Division, Scott, Alpinestars, Cometic, Outerwears, Pro Armor, Race Tools, Twin Air, SFB Racing, Thor, Racer X Illustrated, EFM, Motion Pro, Tire Balls, GPR Stabilizer. Moto-Tee's, Warrior and Laeger's.
Results: Rausch Creek GNCC
Tremont, PA
1. Bill Ballance (Yam)
2. Matt Smiley (Yam)
3. James Wahl (Leg)
4. Michael Houston (Hon)
5. Jeff Stoess (ATK)
6. Jeremy Rice (Hon)
7. William Yokley (Suz)
8. Chris Jenks (Yam)
9. Chad DuVall (Yam)
10. Thomas Barrett (Hon)
AMA Grand National Cross Country Series Point Standings
(After 8 of 14 rounds)
1. Bill Ballance (219)
2. William Yokley (151)
3. Matt Smiley (122)
4. Chad DuVall (118)
5. Chris Borich (105)
6. Bryan Cook (103)
7. Greg Trew (95)
8. Brandon Ballance (87)
9. Jeff Stoess (75)
10. Chris Jenks (72)