GNCC XC1 Open Pro racer Steward Baylor will compete in the Japan’s AAGP season finale on November 5 in Kitashiga, Japan.
UPDATE NOVEMBER 7, 2023
GNCC Congratulates Steward Baylor on a Big Win in Japan at The JNCC Season Finale
The following is a press release from GNCC Racing from November 7, 2023…
Racer Productions, producer of the Progressive Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC) presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, would like to congratulate Rocky Mountain/Tely Energy/KTM Racing’s Steward Baylor on capturing a big win at the Japan National Cross Country (JNCC) season finale. The AAGP season finale took place on Sunday, November 5, at X-JAM Takai Fuji Park near the Yomase Onsen Ski Resort in Kitashiga, Japan.
The X-JAM Takai Fuji Park presented some rough and rocky terrain, similar to various stops along the GNCC circuit. As the series’ runner-up, Baylor would take on the challenge of racing overseas in Japan at their season finale. The South Carolina native started off the race by putting a sizeable lead on the competition.
After 12 laps of racing, and nearly three-hours of racing, Baylor would finish with a five minute gap between himself and second place to capture the overall victory in Japan. Kazuto Yano, a hard enduro racer who did not contest in the JNCC series came out to race the finale just so he could race against Baylor. Yano would finish second overall on the day. Masahiro Kobayashi who had previously won the AA2 class would finish third overall.
Congratulations to Manabu Watanabe as he would wrap up the 2023 JNCC Championship when he came through fourth overall on the day. Another notable finish was sixth overall by Akira Narita, the 12x Japan Motocross Champion, Supercross podium finisher and one of the group’s guides for the first portion of their trip.
During the morning amateur race at the JNCC Season Finale, GNCC’s Race Operations Manager, Jared Bolton got to try his hand at racing overseas. Bolton would come through to finish eighth overall in the morning race. Steward was also accompanied to Japan by his father, Steward Baylor Sr. and his mechanic, Blake Plonsky.
Earlier this year, Daiki Baba and Ryota Suzuki traveled to South Carolina and raced in the XC1 Open Pro class at the Big Buck GNCC in February where they finished 11th and 12th in the class. Baba would compete in the JNCC finale and finish ninth overall.
GNCC Racing would like to give a special thanks to JNCC President, Masami Hoshino, as well as Yoshiteru Kawana, Akira Narita, KTM of Japan, and the rest of the JNCC Community for their welcoming hospitality and kindness.
The following is a press release from GNCC Racing from October 16, 2023…
Morgantown, WV (October 16, 2023) – Racer Productions, producer of the Progressive Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, (GNCC Racing) is excited to announce that XC1 Open Pro racer Steward Baylor will compete in the AAGP season finale on Sunday, November 5, at X-JAM Takai Fuji Park near the Yomase Onsen Ski Resort in Kitashiga, Japan.
Since 2020, GNCC and the JNCC have continued their partnership, however both series have been unable to send participants to and from their respective countries. This year will now mark the 19th year in the series’ partnership.
Rocky Mountain/Tely Energy/KTM Racing’s Steward Baylor has had a remarkable 2023 GNCC season. Baylor has earned two GNCC Overall wins and is in contention for the 2023 Overall GNCC National Championship. Baylor currently sits second in the points standings with one round remaining on Sunday, October 22 at the Yamaha Racing Ironman GNCC.
“I’m happy to be going to Japan,” said Baylor. “Over the years I’ve seen other racers get the opportunity and it’s definitely one of the bucket list things that I would love to check off in my racing career. It is definitely one of the perks of the job, getting to go race and be a part of things like this.”
Baylor follows GNCC racers such as Paul Whibley, Robbie Jenks (2006), Jason Raines, Charlie Mullins and Rodney Smith (2007), Nate Kanney and Thad Duvall (2008), Josh Strang and Kailub Russell (2009), Cory Buttrick (2010), Jesse Robinson and Jason Thomas (2011), Rory Mead, Josh Strang (2013), Jordan Ashburn (2014), Chris Bach (2015), Trevor Bollinger (2016), Ricky Russell (2017), Craig Delong (2018); and most recently, Andrew Delong (2019), in being selected to represent GNCC Racing in Japan.
Accompanying Baylor to Japan will be GNCC’s Race Operations Manager, Jared Bolton. For the first time, Bolton will have the opportunity to race in the morning race.
“I’m excited to make the trip to JNCC’s AAGP event,” said Bolton. “The JNCC staff and racers are great people and I’m very excited to try my luck in their morning race for the first time. The AAGP event has been a long standing tradition in Japan off-road racing for more than 30 years, and to just be in attendance is a great honor.”
It is a tradition for JNCC President Masami Hoshino to invite GNCC riders to the season finale in exchange for Japanese riders that will compete in a single round of the GNCC series. Earlier this year, Daiki Baba and Ryota Suzuki traveled to South Carolina and raced in the XC1 Open Pro class at the Big Buck GNCC in February where they finished 11th and 12th in the class.
Daiki Baba (#117) and Ryota Suzuki (#118) came to the United States in February to take part in the Big Buck GNCC race. Photos: Ken Hill
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