The Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series, presented by Specialized, resumed after its traditional summer break with the Buckwheat 100 in Newburg, West Virginia, on September 7. It was round 10 of 13 in the championship.
Photos by Mack Faint
FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ Grant Davis returned to the top of the podium, reclaiming the overall points lead and extending his lead in the XC2 250 Pro class.
A quick start, which included both the XC1 and XC2 classes running together, was followed by an early fall for Davis. The 29-year-old maintained a strong pace throughout the race’s three-hour duration, climbing all the way back to the front not only for his seventh XC2 250 Pro class win of 2025 but also for his third overall victory of the year.
“I was chasing a good start today, and I got one,” said Davis, who rounded the first turn in second place, right behind FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley from the XC1 class. “[But] I was too pumped up about it and went down in turn three.”
While Davis began his charge to the front, Kelley, AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper (XC1) and Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green’s Steward Baylor Jr (XC1) all traded places for the lead. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Craig DeLong (XC1) was right there, too, as was Flatrock Motorclub GasGas Factory Racing’s Jordan Ashburn (XC1).
Draper took charge for a while, leading for three laps before Baylor slipped past everyone and looked to have the race won heading into the last lap. However, Baylor encountered problems and dropped to 11th overall, handing the lead over to Davis, who had surprisingly worked his way into second overall. After passing Baylor, Davis increased his pace and took the checkered flag 15 seconds ahead of second overall and the first XC1 rider, Ashburn, who was just five seconds ahead of Draper, and DeLong, who was only two seconds behind Draper. Ten seconds later came the second XC2 rider, Cody Barnes. Just 32 seconds separated the top five overall.
“That wasn’t a great way to begin [the race],” Davis said. “Making passes here was so hard, so I made it difficult on myself coming back through. I made a pass for the lead on the final lap, and then I managed to pull away a little bit, so I’m pumped to come away with the overall win. I wanted that win today. I’m comfortable on my bike right now.”
For the former GNCC champ, this was Ashburn’s first XC1-class win of the year. “We had a different format today, and it was straight-up racing between all of us in both the XC1 and XC2 classes. I found myself battling inside the top three, top four, all day today, and a lot of passes were made on a track that was hard to pass on. Everyone was sending it, and then that last lap, I made a few important passes and got to the lead of XC1, which was awesome.”
Kelley, who started fast, said he just wasn’t comfortable on the bike and struggled to maintain pace with the leaders. He drifted back to sixth overall.
“I ripped the start, which was awesome, and then, yeah, it’s a tough track to feel comfortable on,” Kelley said. “It was one of those days where I struggled a little bit, but I gave it all I had.”
Beta’s Josh Strang was only approximately 45 seconds behind winner Davis at the finish, which was good for seventh overall and fifth XC1. Michael Witkowski, Angus Riordan and Kailub Russell completed the top 10 overall.
The top XC3 125cc Pro-Am rider was Jonathan Johnson (GasGas) in 28th overall. He took the class lead from James Jenkins on lap three and never looked back. Jenkins was second and Jayson Crawford third.
Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Korie Steede took a hard-fought WXC-class win during Sunday’s morning race. FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers’ Brandy Richards and AmPro Yamaha’s Danielle McDonald pushed her every step of the way. Despite their best efforts, Steede held firm and crossed the line first, while Richards and McDonald followed close behind to secure second and third.
“I started strong with the holeshot and led the first two laps until a bottleneck cost me some time and dropped me to fourth,” Steede said. “That just fueled the fire. I put my head down, kept charging, and clawed my way back to the front.”
In the overall GNCC Championship, Davis is back out in front with 217 points, followed by Kelley with 209 and Riordan with 160. In the XC1 class, Kelley leads Steward Baylor Jr 209-149, and in the XC2 class, Davis leads over Riordan, 265-229. Close behind in third is Barnes with 225 points.
Jenkin has a 64-point lead over Crawford in XC3 125 Pro-Am, and Rachael Archer, fourth on the day, leads Steede, 257-244.CN
2025 GNCC Round 10 ResultsOVERALL (Top 10)
- Grant Davis (KTM)
- Jordan Ashburn (GG)
- Liam Draper (Yam)
- Craig DeLong (Hus)
- Cody Barnes (Hon)
- Ben Kelley (KTM)
- Josh Strang (Bet)
- Michael Witkowski (Hon)
- Angus Riordan (KTM)
- Kailub Russell (Yam)
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