Yamaha YFZ450R Rider, Walker Fowler Wins Pennsylvania GNCC ATV
- Updated: September 22, 2014
N-Fab/AmPro/Yamaha’s Walker Fowler dominated the 11th round of the 2014 GNCC ATV XC1 Pro event in Central City, Penn. on Saturday, Sept. 20. With defending series champion Chris Borich finishing only fifth, the YFZ450R racer thus closes to within two points of his rival with just two rounds remaining. He has now won four of the last five rounds and has tied Borich with five wins apiece so far this year. The title race tightened up in the XC2 Pro Am class as well, with Yamaha-mounted Cole Richardson finishing second to rival Marshal Goings in a gritty, dusty contest that took a toll on all competitors. Richardson and his YFZ450R now lead the title chase by a narrow five points. With so few points separating the first and second place riders in both classes, the final events of the season are going to be incredible. Next up is St. Clairsville, Ohio on Oct. 4.
In the XC1 Pro race, rival Adam McGill grabbed the holeshot. Dusty conditions enabled him to pull out an early lead over Fowler and the rest of the pack, with points leader Chris Borich held back inside the top five. Fowler kept his distance behind McGill for the first two laps, and then took control of the race by running an extra lap before stopping to refuel. The strategy worked, vaulting Fowler into the clear, and then to an impressive 48-second advantage over McGill at the flag. However mechanical problems held rival Borich to a top-five finish, letting Fowler inch closer to the points lead. In the XC2 Pro Am class, Richardson took the holeshot on his N-Fab/AmPro/Yamaha YFZ450R, but the choking dust forced him to pit for a new air filter during the event. However he heroically returned to battle, finishing second and preserving his points lead.
A welcome bit of rain on Sunday morning offered some relief from the dust – but not for long, because the choking conditions were still an issue later in the day. When the afternoon combined XC1 Pro and XC2 Pro Lites races finally started, N-Fab/AmPro/Yamaha’s Jordan Ashburn crashed in first turn, but quickly remounted his YZ450F and battled his way up front on the first lap. He initially held a solid lead over teammates Paul Whibley and Josh Strang, but little by little rival Kailub Russell chipped away and worked his way forward, sneaking by the Yamaha rider with in the last third of the marathon three-hour event, and then inching away. Nevertheless, Ashburn’s fourth podium of the year moves him to
within four points of teammate Josh Strang for second in the standings as the season heads into the final rounds. Great job all!
