Mud, grit and championship tension defined GNCC Racing’s return from summer break this weekend at the legendary John Penton GNCC, where Grant Davis charged to his second victory of the season. Out of championship contention and riding with little to lose, the FMF KTM Factory Racing-backed Davis led almost the entire race and crossed the finish line nearly a minute ahead of Red Bear Rocky Mountain Kawasaki’s Steward Baylor Jr.
Photos by Mack Faint
As usual, the John Penton delivered its trademark mix of medium-speed woods, technical sections and Ohio clay that became increasingly treacherous after heavy rain arrived Saturday night. By the time the Pro bikes lined up for their main event, shortened from three hours to two, the course had become a slippery, energy-sapping challenge that tested every rider’s fitness, bike setup and mental toughness.
Taking advantage of the difficult conditions, Davis took the lead early, passing Phoenix Honda Racing’s Jordan Ashburn on the opening lap to take control of the race. Davis went on to extend the lead to nearly two minutes on lap four before easing off on the final lap.
With Davis out of sight, the next hour-and-a-half boiled down to a battle between the main championship contenders, especially Ashburn and Baylor. The two entered the race separated by just 12 points, with Ashburn leading the series on 166 points and Baylor, chasing his first-ever GNCC title, sitting second with 154.
Baylor fell just after the start and had to chase down the front-runners: Davis, Ashburn, Phoenix Honda Racing’s Mike Witkowski and Am Pro Yamaha teammates Kailub Russell and Liam Draper, all running nose-to-tail in a long conga line.
Baylor started making his move on lap two and was into fourth by the end of the lap, while Davis extended his lead over Ashburn to 26 seconds. Incredibly, Davis would lead Ashburn by one minute, 50 seconds after three laps and by nearly three minutes going into the final lap.
Baylor passed Russell for third place on lap four and then powered around the outside of Ashburn to move into second on lap five.
Davis cooled his heels on the final lap and cruised across the finish to claim the win by 58 seconds, while Baylor edged Jordan for the runner-up spot by nearly a minute and a half.
“That last lap, my bike kept shutting off,” said Davis. “I had to switch air filters in the pits and get going again. I’m like, ‘No, not another DNF.’ I had to get this, bad, and I fought hard to get it.”
Second was as good as a win for Baylor, since he gained four points on Ashburn in the series standings with the finish.
“We rode very conservative today and it paid off,” said Baylor. “I think all but one time through the pits we stopped and blew the radiators out just to make sure we made it to the finish. We played that one safe, except on that last lap. I put in a pretty good charge on that last one to catch Jordan. The bike started popping and cutting out anytime you let off the throttle, but we pulled it off.”
Ashburn was all smiles after the race, his third keeping him squarely in control of the title chase, eight points up with two rounds remaining.
“It was really an old-school John Penton,” said Ashburn. “You really had to pick your lines. And if you got off the track or out of your rut, you could hardly get back into anything. I fell a couple times the last lap battling Stew and my gloves got muddy on the handlebars. After that I was just done.”
Fourth overall and first in the XC2 250 Pro class was Phoenix Honda Racing’s Angus Riordan, who claimed his fifth class win of the season.
“The first two laps I was feeling good, so I put the hammer down and broke away [from the rest of the XC2 guys],” said Riordan. “I was riding with Kailub that last lap and I just wanted to bring it home. I got stuck a few times, but other than that it was all good.”
FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley rode a steady race to finish fifth overall and fourth in the XC1 Pro division, finishing 37 seconds ahead of Russell in sixth.
Witkowski took seventh overall, while Draper and Red Bear Rocky Mountain Kawasaki teammates Grant Baylor and Josh Toth rounded out the top 10.
In the WXC division, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Korie Steede topped FMF KTM’s Brandy Richards for the win. Ellie Winland (Yamaha) was third, while Carly Lee (KTM) and Am-Pro Yamaha’s Danielle McDonald rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth.
Steede led Richards by nearly two minutes midway through the race, then got stuck in a muddy ditch and lost the lead. Steede rejoined the race and passed Richards on the final lap to take the win.
“I was upside down in a ditch,” said Steede. “I was able to get unstuck and get going, so I ended up with the win. Being the first one out there on the first lap and being the first on every part of the track was super scary. I had water up to my seat more than five times the first lap. So, it was treacherous.”CN
2026 GNCC Round 10 Results
OVERALL (Top 10)
- Grant Davis (KTM) 02:23:26.380
- Steward Baylor Jr. (Kaw) 02:24:24.238
- Jordan Ashburn (Hon) 02:25:51.918
- Angus Riordan (Hon) 02:28:05.050
- Ben Kelley (KTM) 02:28:30.098
- Kailub Russell (Yam) 02:29:07.857
- Mike Witkowski (Hon) 02:29:34.479
- Liam Draper (Yam) 02:29:35.852
- Grant Baylor (Kaw) 02:35:54.540
- Josh Toth (Kaw) 02:37:11.596
