After a 15 second penalty FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley would put together a strong performance as he fought his way to the front of the pack. Kelley steadily moved his way up, making the necessary passes to take over the lead on lap four, and hold that position until the checkered flag flew. Kelley would capture his third XC1 win of the season, and second-straight overall win in Tennessee. 

FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers’ defending XC2 250 Pro Champion Grant Davis continued to battle at the front once again as he held the lead on adjusted time for the majority of the race. However, after a crash later in the race Davis would cross the finish line to take second overall on the day, and the XC2 class win.

After starting inside the top five, AmPro Yamaha’s Kailub Russell would continue to push forward throughout the race. Russell would find himself running second at the halfway point, but he would ultimately be unable to run down Kelley to battle for the overall win. Russell would come through to finish second in XC1 and third overall on the day.

Enduro Engineering Triumph Racing’s Ricky Russell would put his Triumph motorcycle on the podium for this first time at round five in Tennessee. Russell made a statement as he battled back from an eighth place start to finish third in XC1 and fourth overall on the day.

Rounding out the top five overall finishers was XC2 250 Pro competitor, Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cody Barnes. Barnes would face a battle back-and-forth for the majority of the race, but he would prevail on the last lap earning fifth overall and second in XC2. 

Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Craig Delong put in a solid ride at round five as he finished fourth in XC1 and sixth overall on the day. Delong would start inside the top 10 and gradually make his way closer towards the front of the group. Rounding out the top five XC1 Open Pro finishers was AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper. As Draper got his momentum rolling in Tennessee, the New Zealander would cross the finish line fifth in his class and seventh overall on the day. 

Holding onto the sixth place position in the XC1 Open Pro class was Liqui Moly Factory Beta Racing’s Josh Strang. At one point Strang would find himself battling back from tenth place in the class, but as he found his flow through the technical course, he would regain the positions he once lost, earning him eighth overall on the day. 

Coming through to take third in the XC2 250 Pro class was FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers’ Angus Riordan. After feeling a bit under the weather earlier in the week, Riordan went out and gave it everything he had at round five. Riordan would push himself all the way to the end of the race where he salvaged a third in class and ninth overall on the day. Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green’s Nicholas DeFeo would come through to round out the top 10 overall finishers and fourth in the XC2 class after battling inside the top five XC2 competitors for the greater part of the race.

Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green’s Grant Baylor returned to racing after a pre-season injury left him sidelined for the first part of the season. G. Baylor would finish seventh in XC1, while brother and teammate, Steward Baylor would have a good start and lead the first couple laps of the race until a radiator issue came into play, and he had to make an unexpected longer pit stop. S. Baylor would finish eighth in XC1 and 12th overall on the day. Defending Champion FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir would be sidelined after his fall at the previous round.

As the XC3 125 Pro-Am class took off it was Marionville Powersports/Hinson/Fly Racing’s James Jenkins earning the $100 Lojak Cycle Sales XC3 Holeshot Award to start out the day and taking the early lead in the race. Jenkins would hold the lead for the first two laps of the race, but Bonecutter Off-Road/GASGAS-backed racer, Jonathan Johnson was ready to strike and did so on lap three of the race.

Johnson would hold the lead for the rest of the race, crossing the line to take the class win, followed by James Jenkins taking second. Marionville Powersports/XC Gear/Moose Racing’s Huck Jenkins would battle back-and-forth to maintain the last podium spot, which he did as he crossed the line third in XC3.

The Top Amateur podium would be a 250 A class sweep at The Specialized Old Gray GNCC as Joseph Cunningham took the class win and finished 14th overall on the day, while Gavin Simon came through second in class and earned 16th overall. Chase Landers would round out the class podium with a third in 250 A and a 17th overall finishing position.

As the morning race took off, the WXC class would rocket to the first turn with Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Korie Steede grabbing herself the $100 Landers KTM WXC Holeshot Award. Steede would lead the women into the woods and throughout the duration of the race. However, Steede would not have an easy race as both Phoenix Honda Racing’s Tayla Jones and Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green’s Rachael Archer would apply the pressure throughout the race.

Steede would maintain the lead, crossing the finish line to earn her second win of the season and overtake the WXC points lead. Jones would try to apply the pressure during the second half of the race, but she would be unable to make any passes on Steede. Jones would come through to finish second overall and in the WXC class. Archer would continue to push and cross the line third in the WXC class.

150 B Schoolboy (12-17) competitor, Seth Miller would push himself throughout the race, earning third overall in the morning race and taking home the class win.

Travis Lentz kept his momentum rolling as he earned his fifth-straight youth bike overall win and YXC1 Super Mini Sr. (14-15) class win of the season. Ace Tokar would take the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. (12-13) class win, while also coming through to earn second overall in the youth bike race. Bentley Saxon came through in third overall, rounding out the top three youth bike overall finishers, while he also took home second in the YXC2 class. Nash Peerson would battle back to take second in YXC1, followed by Lucas Skelton finishing third in the class. In the YXC2 class it was Gavin Harwell rounding out the top three finishers of the day.

In the 85 Big Wheel (14-15) class it was Hunter Carey coming through to take home the win, while Gavin Abboud took the 85 Big Wheel (11-13) class win in Tennessee. Then it would be Evan Porter earning the 85 (12-13) class win, Ryder White won the 85 (11) class, and Tripp Lewis won the 85 (7-10) class win. The 65 (10-11) class win went to Davey Fairfield, Daxton Mullins earned the 65 (9) class win, and Tanner Toland earned the 65 (7-8) class win. In the Girls Super Mini (12-16) class it was Jayden Shea earning her third win of the season, while Vaida Lavergne took the Girls 85 (7-13) class win and Aubrey Tsakanikas earned the Girls 65 (7-11) class win. Hudson Whitmire would win the Trail Rider (7-15) class in the youth bike race.

On Saturday morning, the Micro Bike race took off and it was Kane Morrison coming through timing and scoring first on the opening lap, but Daxton Mullins would come through in second as he pushed himself for the next couple of laps. Mullins would catch Morrison briefly making his way into the lead, but Morrison would make the pass back on Mullins to capture his fifth-straight MXC1 and Micro Bike overall win of the season. Mullins would hold on to finish second overall, while Krue Russell had a consistent day battling for the third overall place position and third in the MXC1 class. 

In the MXC2 class it was Ryder Baricska taking the class win, while Tank Laws and Kash Brummage rounded out the top three finishers of the class. In the 50 Sr. 1 (7) class it was Carson Zink earning the win. The 50 Sr. 2 (6) class win went to Kolt Morrison, while Jacobi Duvall took home the 50 Jr. 1 (6-7) win. Kayden Siegel would earn the 50 Jr. 2 (4-5) class win while Maverick Novak earned the Micro-E1 (7-8) win and Nathan Zhang would earn the Micro-E2 (4-6) win. In the Micro (4-6) Shaft Drive Limited class it was Ryan Zortman battling back for the win, while in the Trail Rider (7-9) class it was Crue Burdett earning the win. 

The AMSOIL Moto Hero was awarded to John “Jody” Lynch from North Carolina who is a retired U.S. Marine Colonel. He was head of Marine Raider Battalion and head of Special Forces in Iraq and Syria. Jody is racing and representing a fallen Marine Raider at various rounds this season and will be telling each of their stories throughout the year on the OTP Podcast to honor them. He will receive an AMSOIL shopping spree, commemorative American flag from Columbia flag and sign co. Plus $200 gift certificate for their online store and a $250 KANATI gift certificate.

For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or call (304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #GNCC.   

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