Kiser and Borich Duel to the Finish at FMF Steele Creek GNCC

By Jen Kenyon
Photo by Ken Hill

Thousands of spectators surrounded the picturesque Steele Creek Campground in Morganton, North Carolina, for round three of the 2012 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series. The FMF Steele Creek GNCC is notorious for adding an extra twist to the already suspenseful race action among the fastest off-road ATV racers in the country, and this year was no different. Taylor Kiser went toe-to-toe with defending champ Chris Borich in the final stages of Saturday’s race to ultimately secure his first XC1 Pro class win this season.

The Ballance Racing Yamaha team dominated almost every aspect of the two-hour race, beginning with Walker Fowler’s $250 Motosport.com Holeshot Award. Kiser joined Baldwin Motorsports/FRE/JG Offroad Honda’s Brian Wolf and Motoworks/Can-Am’s Chris Bithell in following his teammate during the early stages of the race, as the foursome switched off the lead during the first lap.

Maxxis/Yoshimura’s Chris Borich found himself in a less-desirable position as he struggled to fire his machine on the start, while Precision/Moto X Perts/ITP/Lonestar/RG Motorsports’ Adam McGill also experienced issues, setting the duo back nearly one minute behind the lead pack.

Bithell found himself in front after Fowler, Wolf and Kiser all pitted towards the end of the second lap, but Bithell quickly reversed roles as his Can-Am crew pitted him the following lap, knocking him from first to sixth. Meanwhile, Borich and McGill had pushed each other through the pack and into the lead mix, igniting yet another battle for the GNCC Racing history books.

Kiser took command about one hour into the race, but it was only a matter of time before Borich made his signature attempt to steal it away in the late minutes of racing.

On the final lap, Kiser and Borich charged into the finish line area, where Borich cut inside to gain ground on the leader, but Kiser railed the outside and the two riders made contact just before the next set of turns. This is where Borich made a final attempt to steal back the lead but came up a little short this time, sending himself end-over-end to the ground. Kiser went on to secure his first XC1 Pro class win since his 2010 victory at The General.

“I was able to hold Borich off there at the end, I just held my line and we came together but racing is racing,” Kiser said. “Today was a lot of fun and the Ballance Racing team is here to stay! We’re ready to get some more race wins this season,” said Kiser.

McGill capitalized on Borich’s mistake at the end of the race, taking over the second place position after an impressive comeback, moving into the third spot in the point standings. “The factory family is definitely coming together. I should be a threat [to the championship] before long,” McGill said. Borich still tops the standings, while Kiser holds second.

“I tried to make the pass on Kiser there at the end of the race but it didn’t quite work out for me,” said Borich. “We’ll take a podium finish, though, and look forward to round four.”

 Fowler finished fourth on the day and currently sits in fourth overall, while Bithell’s sixth place puts him in fifth overall, just ahead of Brian Wolf, who finished fifth on the day.

Jarrod McClure (HON) took seventh, while Kevin Yoho (YAM), Jeff Pickens (YAM) and Johnny Gallagher (YAM) rounded out the top ten.

Rookie Braden Henthorn secured his first career Pro Am win amongst a very competitive slate of XC2 competitors. Waynesburg Yamaha’s Gabe Phillips and DeRisi Racing’s Eric Hoyland got out front early on but Matt Hanna (YAM) and Patrick McGuire (YAM) held tight inside the top five early on. Hanna ended up dropping off during the fourth lap and Phillips went on to take second on the day, followed by Hoyland, McGuire and Josh Merritt (YAM) rounding out the top five.

New York’s Roman Brown grabbed the Top Amateur honors with an impressive nineteenth overall in the afternoon race, securing the College A (16-21) win over Chad Jones, Landon Wolfe and Brycen Neal.

 GT Thunder’s Dave Simmons (YAM) topped the morning race, with Indiana’s Marshall Goings (HON) close behind. Can-Am X-Team’s Kevin Trantham finished third overall and also took the top 4X4 honors, in addition to securing his third consecutive win in the 4X4 Lites class. Lexie Coulter took the Women’s class holeshot, but it was Angel Atwell (HON) who finished out front, as Yamaha Racing’s Traci Cecco came in a very close third.

South Carolina’s Zachary Jones (APX) topped the Youth overall as well the 90 Open (12-15) class, beating out (8-11) winner Carter Kerens (YAM), and fellow (12-15) competitor Seth Wilson (YAM).

Round four of the 2012 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series heads to Union, South Carolina, April 14 and 15 for the VP Racing Fuels Big Buck GNCC. For more information, go to www.gnccracing.com.

XC1 Results:

1. Taylor Kiser (YAM)

2. Adam McGill (HON)

3. Chris Borich (SUZ)

4. Walker Fowler (YAM)

5. Brian Wolf (HON)

6. Chris Bithell (CAN)

7. Jarrod McClure (HON)

8. Kevin Yoho (YAM)

9. Jeff Pickens (YAM)

10. Johnny Gallagher (YAM)

 

XC2 Pro Am Results:

1. Braden Henthorn (HON)

2. Gabe Phillips (YAM)

3. Eric Hoyland (HON)

4. Patrick McGuire (YAM)

5. Josh Merritt (YAM)

6. Michael Lancaster (HON)

7. Blake Kramer (YAM)

8. James Green (HON)

9. Jonathan Fugate (HON)

10. Nathan Wallpe (HON)

 

XC1 Standings:

1. Chris Borich (81) (2 wins)

2. Taylor Kiser (64) (1 win)

3. Adam McGill (57)

4. Walker Fowler (57)

5. Chris Bithell (52)

6. Brian Wolf (44)

7. Johnny Gallagher (40)

8. Jeff Pickens (40)

9. Derek Swartfager (37)

10. Kevin Yoho (33)

 

XC2 Pro Am Standings:

1. Patrick McGuire (73)

2. Eric Hoyland (60)

3. Braden Henthorn (58)

4. Gabe Phillips (55)

5. Josh Merritt (42)

6. Nathan Thomas (41)

7. Michael Lancaster (39)

8. Matt Hanna (35)

9. Dallas Goins (32)

10. Blake Kramer (32)

 

$250 Motosport.com Holeshot Award: Walker Fowler (YAM)

Source: GNCC Racing, www.gnccracing.com

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