Shan Moore | June 5, 2024
In one of the most exciting GNCC races of the year, FMF KTM Factory Racer Johnny Girroir took advantage of a slip by Red Bear Rocky Mountain Kawasaki’s Steward Baylor at the Mason-Dixon GNCC, June 2, to become the first rider of the season to claim three overall wins.
With his victory at the Mason-Dixon GNCC, Johnny Girroir is now the first rider of the season with three overall wins to his name.
Photos: Ken Hill
Baylor worked his way to the front from an incident with AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell on the first lap, which knocked him back aways. However, Steward eventually took a comfortable lead going into the final lap, where disaster struck when he washed his front end halfway through the lap, allowing Girroir to take over, as the two riders were less than a bikelength apart for the final half-mile en route to Girroir’s win. Girroir now takes a 34-point lead in the championship standings over Baylor with the win.
Jordan Ashburn (3) led most of the race until Girroir (not pictured here) and Steward Baylor (514) went by on lap four.
Babbitt’s Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Lyndon Snodgrass grabbed the holeshot to start the race, leading the XC-1 riders into the first lap. However, Coastal Racing GasGas’ Jordan Ashburn took a commanding lead over the course of the next two laps and leading most of the race until Girroir and Baylor went by on lap four.
Lyndon Snodgrass grabbed the holeshot to start the race, leading the XC-1 riders into the first lap.
The XC-2 riders had a big day early, with Am Pro Yamaha’s Liam Draper leading on adjusted time for the first few laps, but then he went down hard, ending his day and giving XC-2 riders FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Grant Davis and his teammate Angus Riordan to have a chance at the lead.
In the woods, Baylor managed to wrestle the lead away from Girroir, while JS7 Sherco’s Josh Strang moved into third.
Baylor pushed hard, hoping to take the win and pick up five points on Girroir, but Girroir found a way around Baylor on the next lap, and the race between Girroir and Baylor began in earnest.
On the final lap, Baylor lost the front end, allowing Girroir to take over and set up the final exciting sprint to the finish. Girroir crossed the finish line first, with Baylor right on his rear tire. Davis ended up third overall on adjusted time and first in the XC-2 class, with Riordan fourth overall and second XC-2 rider. Ashburn was fifth overall and third XC-1 rider.
Grant Davis walked away with a first in the XC-2 class and third overall on adjusted time.
“I was getting pit boards all race about where the XC-2 guys were,” said Girroir. “I didn’t want one of those guys to slip up on me. I tucked the front out there once, and Stew got by me; it was really slick out there and hard to make up time. I got Ashburn going up the hill on the final lap, and then Stew went down, and I took the lead, and then I rode like nothing really mattered. Me and Stew came together a couple of times and I had a couple of close calls. Stew was riding like an animal.”
Stew was happy for Girroir but obviously disappointed, especially after his previous disastrous race, in which he finished 15th. Stew was hoping to gain five points on Girroir instead of losing five.
“It was a bit bumpy right off the start. I was fourth or fifth going into the woods, and Ricky [Russell] went down right in front of me, and there was nothing I could do,” said Baylor. “We both got up near the back of the pack. I had to charge and make some passes, but these tracks this year haven’t been good for passing. I had to do some aggressive passing to get to the front. I got a cushion, and thought I had what I needed. I knew at one point I was over 30 seconds out front. I just made a slight mistake there at the end, and Johnny got by.”
Jonathan Girroir leads the points standings with (207) over Steward Baylor (173) and Grant Davis (130).
Davis has been coming on strong all year and was third overall at one of the previous rounds, but after Draper went down, Davis and Riordan battled over second and third overall on adjusted time and first in the XC-2 class. In the end it was Davis who came out on top with Riordan taking fourth overall and second XC-2 rider.
“I got off to a good start, and then Liam got by me,” said Davis. “I think something happened to Liam’s bike a bit later, and I got by him, and then Angus caught me and passed me. I broke my ribs a week and a half ago, and I fell on them, but I got up and just put my head down and charged. I got Angus about a mile before the finish, so it was a good race.”
Ashburn has been running at the front and leading a lot of laps all year, and this race was no different. The Husqvarna rider led at least three of the six laps, but sore hands forced him to back off the pace.
“I had a solid day; I got off to a decent start,” said Ashburn. “I think I was fourth at the start, and you really had to feel out how hard you could push on this track, and I figured it out early and kind of just led the day. I felt comfortable but there towards the end my hands tore a little bit and I just got off pace. I pushed hard all day to keep up with XC-2; I knew they were charging. Overall, I’m just happy to be on the XC-1 podium.”
Liam Draper led the XC-2 riders for the first few laps on adjusted time, but then he went down hard, ending his day.
Phoenix Honda Racing’s Mike Witkowski (282), who ran second during the early going, finished ninth.
FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Dante Oliveira finished one second ahead of last-round winner Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Craig DeLong to claim sixth.
After grabbing the holeshot, Snodgrass held on for eighth, while Phoenix Honda Racing’s Mike Witkowski, who ran second during the early going, finished ninth.
Husqvarna’s Evan Smith rounded out the top 10.
XC1 Open Pro podium
XC2 250 Pro podium
In the WXC division, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Korie Steede claimed her second-straight win, topping FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Brandy Richards and Husqvarna’s Tayla Jones.
Korie Steede put her Husqvarna on the top step of WXC podium for the second time in a row.
As the WXC class took off in the morning race it was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede grabbing the $100 Kanati WXC Holeshot Award and the early lead. Steede would continue to push herself at the front of the pack, and lead from start to finish as she crossed the finish line 4.1 seconds ahead of her competition.
Korie Steede grabbing the $100 Kanati WXC Holeshot Award and the early lead.
Battling her way up to second in the class was FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Brandy Richards. Richards started her day in third, but she would make a last lap push to take over the second place position as the checkered flag came out. Moose Racing/Husqvarna’s Tayla Jones made her way back to the GNCC starting line this weekend. Jones would get off to a great start as she sat second for the first half of the race, but with a hard-charging Richards behind her she would be unable to hold her off for the last lap. Jones would come through to round out the top three WXC finishers.
Brandy Richards started her day in third, but she would make a last lap push to take over the second place position as the checkered flag came out.
Tayla Jones rounded out the WXC podium.
In the FMF XC-3 125 Pro-Am class, Dakoda Devore (KTM) took an 11-second win over Jhak Walker (Beta) with Sawyer Carratura (Yamaha) in third.
Dakoda Devore battled back to earn the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class win.
OVERALL
- Johnny Girroir (KTM)
- Steward Baylor (Kaw)
- Grant Davis (KTM)
- Angus Riordan (KTM)
- Jordan Ashburn (GG)
- Dante Oliveira (KTM)
- Craig DeLong (Hus)
- Lyndon Snodgrass (Kaw)
- Mike Witkowski (Hon)
- Evan Smith (Hus)
