Mountaineer GNCC, Summersville, WV 2005

The Mountaineer GNCC
Summersville, WV
June 11, 2005

Story and photos by Bonnie Hamrick

The Mountaineer GNCC made its second year on the GNCC series at the Good Evening Ranch in Summersville, WV. The weather had been nasty all year, but today, the sun was shining and the heat was rising. With temperatures reaching in the eighties, rain was not going to be a factor in today’s race since only a thirty percent chance of rain threatened the area. Dust was flying in the air during the morning race and only a few sections were going to be “Tough Spots” during the race. Walking through the pits before the race, Bill Ballance was just where he wanted to be, – holding the number one plate and the point’s lead. After a devastating Round Seven, Chris Borich lost all ground to Ballance in the current point’s chase, but when the end of the season comes closer, and the Pro’s get their two throw-aways, Borich may still be in the hunt. “This is the most motivated I have ever been. This year, I was afraid I wouldn’t feel the desire to race hard, but I do, more than ever. I am ready for another Championship, and it will probably come down to the last race. So, I will go out there and give it 100% and see where the cards fall,” said Champion Bill Ballance before the race.

As the race time dawned near, riders got dressed in their riding outfits and waited for their time to head to the line. Once the air horn buzzed for the Pro Riders to make their way, the pit crews loaded up and went off to see the start of the race. Just off the starting line, riders would race through a rocky woods section before making their way around the eleven mile course. The Good Evening Ranch track also had two gnarly hill climbs, a tricky mud hole in the middle of the field section, as well as the spectator point – a down hill covered with huge logs. So, as Ricky Towery, the GNCC Official called “Ten Seconds,” the Pro riders focused in on Towery, some with their thumbs hovering over the starter button, some with the legs cocked up on the kick starter, ready for GNCC action.

As the green flag went up, Bill Ballance took a commanding lead aboard his Team Yamaha machine, rounding turn one and two, unscathed from his brother Brandon Ballance flipping over after turn one. The Pro riders made their way through the track with the first up date coming in from the five mile marker at a rocky uphill. “Bill Ballance is all by himself after making it up the hill. Matt Smiley and William Yokley have caused the bottle neck on the hill, making it nearly impassable for the other riders.” At the second check point, an up date came across the speakers, “Bill Ballance all alone out front, coming towards the log down hill.” Spectators hovered around the log section, just before the motocross track as Bill Ballance emerged from the woods and dove down the log down hill with grace and ease. Nearly thirty seconds went by before second place came down the logs; it was none other than Alba’s Chris Borich. Holding onto third place was Andy Lagzdins, who was at a career high holding onto third. Fourth place was Jeremy Rice with Chris Jenks and Thomas Barrett battling for fifth while holding off Bryan Cook and Chad Duvall.

At the two mile marker at the mud hole in the fields, Ballance was out front, and Chris Borich was twenty seconds back in second. Chris Jenks moved into third, fifteen seconds back with Andy Lagzdins and Jeremy Rice battling for fourth. Moving up to fifth was Bryan Cook with Chad Duvall holding onto sixth. Once again, back at the five mile marker, an up date came out that this lap Bill Ballance got stuck on the gnarly up hill, allowing Chris Borich to reel in time. Just as soon as Ballance made it up the hill, Borich was right on his rear tires behind him for second. At check point two, Chris Borich had taken over the lead with Bill Ballance wheel to wheel.

Rounding the first turn of the Pro Pits was Bill Ballance ducking into his pits for a splash of gas. Rounding the turn second, also making a pit stop was Chris Borich. Borich was able to pull out of the pits first, with Ballance in the chase. Forty-five seconds later, Chris Jenks came racing down Pro Pits, not making a fuel stop. In fourth, was Bryan Cook, but making a pit stop allowed Andy Lagzdins to move back by in fourth with Cook dropping to fifth. In sixth was Brandon Ballance with Jeremy Rice falling off to seventh, trying to keep Matt Smiley behind him in eighth. In ninth, just ten seconds back was Chad Duvall with Bryan Baker rounding out the top ten.

Just before the end of lap three, coming onto the motocross track was Bill Ballance with just a few seconds between him and Chris Borich as the Battling B’s were at it again, putting on a spectacular show for the race fans. Over a minute back in third was Chris Jenks, who is from West Virginia, and also the rider featured on the event T-shirt. Fans were cheering wildly for Jenks as he made his way onto the motocross track. In fourth place, a minute back was Matt Smiley holding off Bryan Cook and Brandon Ballance. Back in seventh was Andy Lagzdins. The battle for eighth was between Jeremy Rice and Bryan Baker with Duvall running strong in tenth.

With the white flag coming out, the Battling B’s were still at it with Ballance holding onto first place and Borich right there in the hunt. Just under a minute and a half for third was still Jenks, who would be able to round out the podium finish as long as he could hold on strong and keep off an attack from Smiley who was now only fifty seconds back and on the charge aboard his Factory Polaris. Still battling hard with Smiley was Brandon Ballance with sixth place, Andy Lagzdins, just over a minute back. Bryan Cook nursed his Four Stroke Tech Yamaha back to the pits after coming onto the motocross and loosing power and having a sputtering motor to end his race day hunt.

At the mud hole, with less than nine miles of racing action to go here in West Virginia, Bill Ballance held a five second lead over Chris Borich. A minute and fifteen seconds later, Chris Jenks came through the mud hole. Nearly forty-five seconds later, Matt Smiley came through with Brandon Ballance still all over his rear tires. Holding onto fifth overall was Chris Bithell from the Pro Am Class, who was working hard to get himself a top five overall finish here at the Ranch.

For the last time, Ballance and Borich came down the hill covered with large logs nearly side by side, but Ballance held onto the far inside line, allowing him to keep up his momentum for the win. Out on the motocross, Ballance and Borich were jumping practically side by side at times, throwing up dust behind them. Ballance held his own line, and was able to pull off yet another Overall win aboard his Factory Yamaha with Alba Action’s Chris Borich just a second behind in second overall. The fans were cheering loud as the two put on yet another incredible, race to the checkered flag. Now, waiting for third overall was a little longer. Just at two minutes later, Chris Jenks brought his Mickey Dunlap’s Four Stroke Tech Honda across the finish line for his second podium finish for the 2005 season. “I knew I could finish here in third. These two (Ballance and Borich) were gone, but I was having a great race day and felt strong aboard my Honda and knew with all the fans cheering, that I could finish third.” Chris Jenks thanked all his sponsors as the hometown boy’s fans were cheering wildly for their very own West Virginia bred rider.

Taking fourth overall was Brandon Ballance, just over a minute behind Jenks with no sight of Matt Smiley. Fifth overall went to Chris Bithell, with no front plastic even left on his machine, as he was battling hard to get his finish. Taking sixth overall was Bryan Baker with Andy Lagzdins just thirty seconds behind him for seventh. Taking eighth overall for the day was Chad Duvall. Rounding out the top ten overall were Pro Am riders Duane Johnson and Joshua Ribley. Todd Rothermel took seventeenth overall and his Four Stroke A Class win. Matt Smiley brought his Team Polaris machine across the line, just outside the top twenty overall. It was amazing enough that Smiley was able to make it across the line with his sprocket nearly broken in half, the chain was barely able to run along it.

Another race is in the history books with Ballance taking his fourth win of the season. Chris Borich has only taken three overall firsts, so if he wants the Championship at the end of the season, he is going to have to step it up for the rest of the season to cover the ground he has already lost. The Championship battle will resume shortly at the Wisp Ski Resort in Maryland, where last year, Bill Ballance was the Overall winner. Will Ballance do it again? Be there to see and/or read about here on ATVScene.com.

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