Ironman GNCC Round 13
Crawfordsville, IN
October 22, 2005
by Nathan Delabar
William Yokley and Bill Ballance respectfully congratulate each other on their 2005 seasons.
With heavy rains leading up to the race everyone feared another muddy event. As race day came the rains stopped, the clouds left and the sun began to shine leaving almost a perfect track for the largest ATV Grand National Cross Country race of the year. Held at the family farm in the back yard of Tom’s Marine and ATV Sales, what seems like the entire town of Crawfordsville, Indiana gathers for the race. Each year there are shuttle busses that take spectators from the pits to different sections of the track where they can witness the steepest hill climbs of the season. On Saturday night Parts Unlimited provided a great free dinner for all in attendance. Meanwhile a ton of fun was had at the nearby pit bike race. Shortly after a live band played late into the night. As you can see the Ironman isn’t your typical GNCC. If you miss this event you’re missing a lot more than just a race.
With the above said it’s no wonder Yamaha decided to use this event to unveil their newest addition to their 2006 line up, an all new special addition black and yellow Raptor 700, Banshee and YFZ450. “This is a great event overall,” said Yamaha ATV PR Manager Steve Nessl. “We are here celebrating 50 years of Yamaha. We have Bill (Ballance) running our new yellow and black colors today.” Yamaha thought enough of the Ironman GNCC grand finale to throw a party. They invited several members of the media and some VIPs from Yamaha of Japan including Yamaha’s President.
Yamaha chose to announce their 50th year anniversary Special Edition yellow and black ATV lineup at the Ironman GNCC. Bill Ballance pulled the holeshot and finished on the podium with the sexy new YFZ. While there Yamaha also awarded Bill Ballance a 6-time championship collage.
Congrats to Traci Cecco for winning the 2005 GNCC Championship!
Yokley’s win didn’t come easy as he received pressure up front most of day with factory Yamaha support rider Bill Ballance and this season’s ATVA Grand National Motocross Champion John Natalie. Both 2005 champions took their turns up front throughout the day. Though Ballance was able to keep the pressure on Yokley late in the race, Natalie faded back to finish 10th. “I had fun,” said Natalie. “But like I said last race I am very competitive and I always want to win, I am sure you will see me at a few GNCC races next year.” As the laps ran down Yokley never saw his next closest competitor on the track, 17 year old pro-am rider Chris Bithell. Bithell came within 14 second of being the first to ever overall a GNCC from the pro-am class. “I was excited to get out there and run, but I never expected this,” said young-gun Bithell, a senior in high school. “I didn’t know where I was, but people were really starting to yell and cheer for me, so I knew I must have been close. I just pinned it some more and got up here.”
Even though Ballance had the title wrapped up he always wants to win. “The title was already wrapped up, and I don’t think William had much to gain either, but we were going at it like it was worth a million dollars,” said Ballance, who stood out like no other with his new sharp yellow and black 2006 50th Anniversary YFZ450. “It was a lot of fun out there, this is the best track I remember having here. At the top of the hill climb I just used a different line trying to pass William, and a lapper had stalled his bike. I killed some time there. I tried to run him down but William was really rolling out there today.”
Do I look fat in this dress?
Johnny lost a bet with his main sponsor GT Thunder’s Laz Summers. He was supposed to wear the skirt at the first race next season. Since Johnny G has been considering retirement, Bill Ballance thought he should wear it this round – and saw to it that he did just that.
Check this out…
17 year old Chris Bithel came from the second row in the Pro Am ranks and finished runner up overall! Impressive to say the least – nice ride Chris!
“Give me a HELL YEAH,” yelled William Yokley after he fought the steep hills and water crossings of the Klotz Ironman GNCC to claim his second overall win of the season. Yokley and the Ironman GNCC seem to be meant for each other. “This is five or six times, I think. It was awesome. We had a great battle out there. I love all of those guys, and I was just glad to come out on top,” explained Yokley. “I really like this track and how all the fans gather on the awesome hill climbs yelling and screaming.”
Another season has come and gone. ATV Scene salutes Yamaha’s Bill Ballance for his incredible persistence and his ability to overcome pitfalls that would leave ordinary racers settling for a top ten. In case you weren’t counting Bill has come within one championship of reaching Barry Hawk’s record of seven GNCCC pro titles, which was thought by many to be untouchable.
