Championship uncertainty defined the opening rounds of the 2026 Grand National Cross Country Series, and that unpredictability carried into round four at the Camp Coker Bullet GNCC, set against the scenic backdrop of Moree’s Sportsman Preserve in Society Hill, South Carolina, March 28-29.
Photos by Mack Faint
With three different winners in three rounds, the title fight was wide open. FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley entered the weekend leading the standings, followed closely by Phoenix Honda Racing’s Jordan Ashburn and Red Bear Rocky Mountain Kawasaki’s Steward Baylor Jr, as inconsistency had plagued all the top contenders. It was anyone’s championship.
On a slick, dust-filled course, FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Grant Davis delivered a composed, veteran-like performance. Calm and calculated, Davis managed the race patiently before making a decisive move that would secure his first victory of the season (making four different winners in four rounds).
Phoenix Honda Racing’s Mike Witkowski launched off the line with blistering speed, too much, as it turned out. A jump-start penalty cost him 30 seconds at the end of the opening lap, dropping him to third behind Ashburn and Davis. Kelley and AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper settled into fourth and fifth, respectively. Phoenix Honda’s Gus Riordan ran sixth and led the XC2 class, while South Carolina native Steward Baylor Jr followed in seventh. FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir, round-one winner, remained sidelined due to illness.
By lap two, Davis—making the jump 350 to 450—began applying pressure to Ashburn, sitting just off the Honda rider’s rear wheel. Behind them, Witkowski worked to recover from his penalty as Kelley, Draper, and Baylor battled intensely for position. Davis remained patient, matching Ashburn’s pace and waiting for the right moment, while the fight for third tightened just seconds behind.
In the XC2 division, Liqui Moly Beta’s Jhak Walker closed in on class leader Phoenix Honda Racing’s Gus Riordan, with Husqvarna’s Toby Cleveland holding third. Meanwhile, Baylor began to charge forward, pressuring Draper as Ashburn maintained control up front.
The race turned on lap three. Davis closed to striking distance and made a forceful pass for the lead at the two-mile mark. Once out front, he immediately opened the gap, cutting 30 seconds off his previous lap time. Witkowski’s early pace faded, allowing Kelley to move into third before Baylor surged past both Kelley and Ashburn to take second at the halfway point.
Davis was in a class of his own. Entering the weekend with two 11th-place finishes and a second at Talladega, he produced his most dominant ride of the season, setting the fastest lap on lap four and stretching his lead to more than a minute. At the two-hour mark, Baylor moved into second and began closing the gap, but heartbreak struck on the final lap when a mechanical issue forced him out of the race.
Baylor’s misfortune promoted Draper to second and Kelley to third, allowing Kelley to retain the series points lead. Davis crossed the line first, earning his maiden victory of the season by one minute, 51 seconds.
“I jumped to the 450 for this race and felt really comfortable,” said Davis. “I stayed patient early, learned the track, then pushed for one lap to build a gap and managed it from there. It feels great to get my first win of the year.”
Draper capitalized on Baylor’s issue to secure second overall. “Once Grant got away in the dust, I couldn’t see him,” Draper said. “It was a track where one mistake could ruin your season, so I’m happy with the points and getting out safely.”
Despite calling it a tough day, Kelley salvaged third and extended his championship lead. “My rhythm was off and I made some mistakes, but I fought back and limited the damage,” he said.
Riordan was first in the XC2 division with his seventh overall finish, with Walker finishing second in XC2 and ninth overall. KTM rider Jason Tino was third in the XC2 class with a 12th overall.
In the WXC Women’s Pro class, AmPro Yamaha’s Danielle McDonald claimed a convincing victory, defeating Phoenix Honda Racing’s Tayla Jones by nearly two minutes. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Racing’s Korie Steede completed the podium in third.CN
2026 GNCC Round 4 Results
OVERALL (Top 10)
- Grant Davis (KTM)
- Liam Draper (Yam)
- Ben Kelley (KTM)
- Cody Barnes (Bet)
- Jordan Ashburn (Hon)
- Craig DeLong (Hus)
- Angus Riordan (Hon)
- Josh Strang (Bet)
- Jhak Walker (Bet)
- Mike Witkowski (Hon)
