2025 GNCC Round 8 Results

Cycle News Staff | June 2, 2025

On Sunday, June 1, Grant Davis of the FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers team returned to victory at the Parts Unlimited Mason-Dixon GNCC in Mount Morris, Pennsylvania. Following early weekend rains, the course conditions significantly improved by Sunday afternoon during the eighth round of the Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series, presented by Specialized.

Grant Davis at Mason-Dixon GNCC — **For the second round in a row, XC2-class rider Grant Davis was the overall winner in the GNCC Championship, this time at the Mason-Dixon GNCC. He’s also the new points leader.**

Photos by Mack Faint

After taking the win two weeks ago, Davis kept the momentum going into Pennsylvania as he battled from the second row in the XC2 250 Pro class to earn his second overall victory of the season. Davis now holds the lead in the overall points standings.

“I got off to a good start, entered the [XC2] lead fast, and then I pushed hard to get to the back of the XC1 riders,” Davis said. “I started to pick them off, and once I got behind Ben [Kelley], we started going through the field together. He made a small mistake, and I went for it, got into the lead, and I was able to hold onto it. I made some mistakes toward the end, and I thought that was it, but I didn’t give up, and now we’re the overall points leader. We’ll aim to keep this going!”

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Benjamin Kelley didn’t start off well, needing to work his way to the front from a seventh-place position on the opening lap. Once Kelley reached the front, he continued to push through the course, trying to create enough of a gap over the XC2 competitors. He had a small get-off on the last lap but still crossed the finish line in second overall, earning his fifth XC1 Open Pro class win of the season.

Ben Kelley at Mason-Dixon GNCC — **Ben Kelley made it a race en route to second overall and first in XC1.**

“I’m a bit disappointed with that one,” Kelley said. “I didn’t get a great start, and it took me a bit to get going. The track was hard, and the XC2 riders were on us from the beginning, with Grant and me going back and forth a few times in the race. A quarter-mile from the finish line, I fell coming down the hill through some gnarly ruts, and it just stings to lose the overall by only a few seconds.”

Rounding out the top three overall finishers of the day was Steward Baylor Jr from the Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green, who finished second in the XC1 Open Pro class. Baylor worked his way to the front after starting in fifth place on lap one. As the race progressed, Baylor continued to push himself, trying to close the gap between him and Kelley. Unfortunately for him, Baylor was unable to catch Kelley and finished second in his class and third overall for the day.

Steward Baylor Jr at Mason-Dixon GNCC — **Steward Baylor Jr. rounded out the podium.**

XC2 competitors FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers’ Angus Riordan and Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cody Barnes once again battled for better overall and class podium positions. Riordan and Barnes exchanged positions throughout the race, with Riordan managing to fend off Barnes to secure second place in XC2 and fourth overall. Barnes closely followed Riordan to finish third in XC2 and fifth overall for the day.

“I’m a little disappointed, to be honest,” Riordan said. “Just got caught up a few times at the beginning of the race, which allowed the front-runners to get away, and I want that top step of the podium. Cody and I found each other together, again, and we swapped positions a couple of times, but overall, it was a fun day.”

Finishing sixth overall and third in the XC1 class was Flatrock Motorclub GasGas Factory Racing’s Jordan Ashburn. As the race began, Ashburn faced a significant challenge starting from eighth place. He continued to push throughout the race, making the necessary passes to complete the XC1 podium.

AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper held the lead for the first two laps of the race but fell back to third and then fourth by the time the checkered flag flew, finishing seventh overall and fourth in the XC1 class.

After running second early in the race, Ricky Russell (Enduro Engineering Triumph Racing) finished fifth in XC1 and eighth overall on the day.

Finishing ninth overall and sixth in XC1 was Phoenix Racing Honda’s Mike Witkowski.

Josh Toth (Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green) finished in the top 10 overall on the day, securing fourth place in XC2. Unfortunately for Lyndon Snodgrass, who won the $250 Landers KTM Holeshot Award, he experienced a mechanical issue after completing three laps.

Davis leads Kelley by just four points in the overall GNCC standings. Gus Riordan is third, 33 points back.

Korie Steede at Mason-Dixon GNCC — **Korie Steede went wire-to-wire in the WXC division and was second overall in the morning race.**

After earning the $100 Landers KTM WXC Holeshot Award, Korie Steede (Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing) led from start to finish, securing the WXC class win and finishing second overall in the morning race.

Rachael Archer (Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green) moved into second place in the WXC class early in the race, but she was unable to challenge for the win. Archer crossed the line five seconds behind Steede, finishing second in the class and third overall for the day. Danielle McDonald (AmPro Yamaha) maintained third place in the WXC class throughout the race, earning her third podium finish this season.

Taking the XC3 125 Pro-Am class win was James Jenkins (Marionville Powersports/Hinson/Fly Racing), who also earned the $100 Lojak Cycle Sales XC3 Holeshot Award. Jenkins battled through to make a last-lap pass, regaining the lead and clinching the win.

Bonecutter Off-Road/GasGas-backed racer Jonathan Johnson battled back and forth with Jenkins for first place, but he ultimately finished second in the class. Jayson Crawford moved up from starting fifth in the class to claim the third spot on the podium.

Taking the Parts Unlimited Mason-Dixon GNCC Top Amateur honors was Joseph Cunningham, who finished 16th overall on the day, while taking home his sixth 250 A class win of the season. CN