Bithell Wins MotorcycleUSA.com Yadkin Valley Stomp

Bithell Wins MotorcycleUSA.com Yadkin Valley Stomp
Kirkland wins XC2

Photo By: Shan Moore
Chris Bithell got his first win of the year in North Carolina.

Despite the fact that most of the GNCC-regulars consider the Yadkinville course to be one of the toughest to pass on, Bithell was dead last at the start of the two-hour race, and still managed to pass the rest of the XC1 field, and most of the XC2 riders, en route to the victory.

Ballance Racing/Yamaha's Taylor Kiser appeared to be heading to his second win of the year nearing the end of the race, until Bithell came calling on the final lap, as the two riders diced back and forth for the lead.

Photo By: Shan Moore
Taylor Kiser was second.

Bithell admitted that he made up most of his time in the tight woods sections.

"My bike didn't fire up at the start and I went into the woods in dead last," said Bithell. "I was thinking at first that I was just going to try to stay strong and hope to finish top 10, but then I started passing people. It was tough passing out there but I really started working hard in the tight sections. When it comes to the woods, if you can just scoot through there a hair-bit faster you can make up time on these guys, and that's what I did."

In the end, Kiser settled for the runner-up position, his fourth such finish of the year. He was pleased that he gained some ground on points leader Chris Borich, but he was disappointed at letting a win slip away.

"I was kind of pacing myself, trying to stay out front and be as smooth as I could and Bithell just came up on me and made a good, clean pass," said Kiser. "The consistency is a good thing, but not getting the win hurts. However, overall I had a good day and gained some valuable points, but we're looking to get another before the end of the year."

Photo By: Shan Moore
Chris Borich clears the creek jump en route to third.

"I got a big stick jammed in the A-arm and I don't know if I bent something - it was pretty hard to turn all day," said Borich. "It just wasn't my day. I clipped a couple of things and went over the bars a couple of times, but we were able to work up into third, and I'm pretty happy I was able to salvage those points."

Yamaha rider Don Ockerman grabbed the $250 MotorcycleUSA.com Holeshot Award to start the race, and ran in the top three during the early going before dropping behind fourth-place finisher FRE KTM's Bryan Cook, and fifth-place finisher Can-Am's Adam McGill at the end of the race.

"Things went good for me off the start," said Ockerman. "But then some of the XC2 guys cut the course and got in front of us and it stirred up a lot of dust, which kind of messed things up for me."

Polaris rider Jarrod McClure ended up a solid seventh ahead of Yamaha's Johnny Gallagher, while Honda riders Sloan Jackson and Harold Goodman rounded out the top 10.

Photo By: Shan Moore
Josh Kirkland won the XC2 class.

"I got off to a good start, and I don't really know what happened or where I did it, but I knew I was running alone, I didn't hear any bikes, and then on the second lap my pit crew told me I cut a corner," explained Kirkland. "I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, so I just kept pushing and it ended up I had enough time to still take the win."

Photo By: Shan Moore
Bryan Buckhannon won the 4x4 Open race.

In the morning race, Kristen Atwell won the GT Thunder ATV Amateur $100 Overall Award, beating out Yamaha's Traci Cecco and FRE KTM's Angel Atwell.

"This is by far my favorite track," said Kristen Atwell. "I got my first podium here, my first overall last year and this overall. This track just seems to roll for me and I like the tight stuff."

In the 4x4 Open class, Bryan Buckhannon beat out fellow Can-Am rider Richard Cecco and Polaris rider Daryl Rath to take the win.

Racing resumes tomorrow at the MotorcycleUSA.com Yadkin Valley Stomp GNCC, with a full slate of motorcycle classes.

XC1 Results:

1. Chris Bithell (CAN)

2. Taylor Kiser (Yam)

3. Chris Borich (Suz)

4. Adam McGill (CAN)

5. Bryan Cook (KTM)

6. Don Ockerman (Yam)

7. Jarrod McClure (Pol)

8. Johnny Gallagher (Yam)

9. Sloan Jackson (Hon)

10. Harold Goodman (Hon)

XC1 Standings:

1. Chris Borich (166/4 wins)

2. Taylor Kiser (148/1 win)

3. Adam McGill (111)

4. Chris Bithell (96/1 win)

5. Don Ockerman (88)

6. Bryan Cook (85)

7. Johnny Gallagher (80)

8. Jeffrey Pickens (72)

9. Jarrod McClure (67)

10. Brandon Sommers (64)

XC2 Results:

1. Josh Kirkland (KTM)

2. Brian Wolf (Hon)

3. Walker Fowler (Yam)

4. Kevin Yoho (Yam)

5. Gabe Phillips (Yam)

6. Dustin Canipe (Kaw)

7. Corbin Knox (Hon)

8. Blake Kramer (Suz)

9. Josh Beavers (KTM)

10. Erin Hoyland (Yam)

XC2 Standings:

1. Brian Wolf (135/2 wins)

2. Josh Kirkland (122/1 win)

3. Kevin Yoho (119)

4. Walker Fowler (116/2 wins)

5. Gabe Phillips (104/1 win)

6. Eric Hoyland (77)

7. Blake Kramer (76)

8. Dustin Canipe (74)

9. Parker Jones (68)

10. Mark Notman (62)

MotorcycleUSA.com $250 XC1 holeshot - Don Ockerman

MotorcycleUSA.com $100 XC2 holeshot - Josh Kirkland

GT Thunder - Kristen Atwell

About GNCC Racing:

The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1979, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 1,800 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles, competing for more than $3 million in prizes. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.