It’s been nearly a decade since multiple GNCC Champions have competed against each other for a shot at the XC1 title. The last time the series saw such a star-studded championship battle was in 2004 when ’93 champ Fred Andrews, four-time Rodney Smith, five-time champ Scott Summers and ’03 champion Barry Hawk all vied for the XC1 title, in which factory Suzuki rider Rodney Smith claimed his fifth and final championship. It’s also not uncommon for some of motocross’ biggest names like Guy Cooper, Doug Henry, Ryan Hughes, Mike Kiedrowski, Mike Brown and Travis Pastrana to try their hand at GNCC Racing, and even win races!
Next week, a new generation of GNCC champions will line up next to one another in River Ranch, Florida, Tuesday, March 12, for the three-hour race in hopes of capturing a win to start off the 2013 AMSOIL GNCC season. AmPro Yamaha’s Paul Whibley leads the pack with the number-one plate for the second time in his GNCC career, aboard a YZ450F. At 34-years-old, Whibley is the oldest championship contender this season but arguably one of the toughest competitors out there.