Fowler Captures 2015 GNCC Championship at Ironman
Fowler Captures 2015 GNCC Championship at Ironman
Wolfe Captures First XC2 Pro Am Victory
It was a close battle from the very start.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (October 31, 2015) – For the second year in a row the XC1 Pro ATV National Championship has been decided at the final round of the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC), presented by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship. Saturday’s AMSOIL Ironman GNCC was a winner-take-all affair in the XC1 class as two of the sport’s biggest names fought to secure the major championship at the 21st running of the Ironman GNCC is Crawfordsville, Indiana.
As the green flag dropped for the highly anticipated finale, CST/PirateMX.com/LSR/DeRisi/
Fowler was able to quickly pick up the pace after having a small bobble on the first lap, and rode aggressive making his way to fifth by the second lap, and ultimately crossing the finish line in fourth. His respective finish not only made it his eleventh top five finish, but also gave him enough points to close the deal on the championship.
“By losing the championship last year I learned a lot,” said Fowler. “I had to pick up the pieces and reset. I cannot think my family enough, they are really the most important thing in helping me get up here. It is an honor to be the champion of this series. This is surreal.”
Fowler crosses the line victorious as the 2015 National Champion.
The 2015 XC2 Pro Am National Champion, N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha/Maxxis/Lonestar’s Cole Richardson wrapped up the championship at Mountain Ridge and made his XC1 Pro debut at the last round, but unfortunately suffered mechanical issues. Richardson got out to an early top five lead and powered himself into the second place position, proving that he has what it takes to contend for the National title in 2016.
JMR/ATVRiders.com’s Jarrod McClure commanded the lead for a majority of the two-hour race, but started to feel pressure from McGill on the third lap. Unfortunately, McGill would suffer a mechanical issue taking him out of the running for the overall win and championship and opening up the door for McClure to ride his own race and take home his second overall win of the season.
Overall: (1) McClure, (2) Richardson, (3) Bithell.
“I had a good start and was running up front,” said McGill. “I wrecked in the creek crossing, but made my way back up into the lead. The bike was working great and everything was just clicking until the third lap.”
Bithell Racing/Maxxis/Precision’s Chris Bithell pushed his Suzuki throughout the entire race to maintain the third place position, placing ahead of many of the sport’s best riders and wrapping up the season with a podium finish. Bithell finished the season sixth in points. In the end it would be McClure, Richardson and Bithell to claim the top three spots on the podium.
Although the XC2 Pro Am Championship was already decided heading into this round, that didn’t slow the competition down at all. Maryland native Westley Wolfe made his XC2 Pro Am debut, and came out with flying colors ultimately winning his class. JMR/ATVRiders.com’s Randy Hamilton placed second with Dillinger’s Celtic Pub/Hygear Suspension/Moose/GBC’s Marty Christofferson in third.
“After three championships this season, this just tops it off,” said Wolfe. “I can’t think my family enough for helping me make to the move to XC2.”
Wolfe wins his first ever XC2 Pro Am race. Marty Christofferson in second, and Randy Hamilton in third.
There was a large showing for the season finale in all the class divisions, but especially the XC2 Pro Am class. When the green flag waved it was Indiana’s Jake Stonebraker who claimed the $100 XC2 Holeshot award, but had a get off right after the first turn. After recovering, he would later run into issues with lapped riders and then a mechanical issue, ultimately putting him out of the race.
Honda rider Austin Abney took top amateur honors with his class win in College A (16-21) and 21st overall.
In Side-by-Side racing action, the Can-Am/Turn-Key UTV/Fox Shocks Team earned the 2015 XC1 National Championship at the sixth and final round in Indiana. Driver, Kyle Chaney, would clinch the championship with a fourth overall. Team JB Racing / Houser Racing’s Tim Farr finished first, followed by Bill Patterson and Jack’s Excavating’s Mouse Pratt in third.
In the 10 a.m. race, Can-Am’s Bryan Buckhannon capped off a successful year in the 4×4 Pro class by taking home another win and ultimately claiming the 2015 National Championship. Buckhannon maintained a consistent pace throughout the entire season by finishing on the podium at every round. It wasn’t easy for him though as Team UXC Racing/Factory Polaris’ Michael Swift came into this last round only five points behind and put up a hard fight throughout the entire race. Swift would end up taking second place after leading much of the race, and second in the championship as well. Swift’s teammate, Kevin Trantham, walked away with third place in both today’s race and the championship.
Buckhannon caps off a successful year with the 4×4 Pro championship.
The first race to hit the woods of Indiana was the Youth ATV race. It would Time Sroka jumping out to the early lead, but Ronnie Rusch proved his nickname “Rocket Ronnie” still reigns true and would be the first person to see the checkered flag. Pennsylvania’s Tim Sroka and Indiana native Micheal Myers claimed the final two spots on the podium.
In the premier women’s class it was Pennsylvania’s Traci Pickens who lead the way into the woods, followed closely by Yamaha’s Kylie Ahart. Ahart would be able to move into the lead onto the second lap until having a bad crash, where Pickens stopped to check and make sure she was okay before getting back on the bike and going on to win the race. Kara Merritt and Katelyn Osburn rounded out the podium.
WXC: (1) Traci Pickens, (2) Kara Merritt, (3) Katelyn Osburn.
The 1:00 p.m. race was broadcast LIVE in its entirety on RacerTV.com and can be viewed as an archived video now. Please click HERE to view the full two-hour race coverage. In addition to the archived race coverage on RacerTV, a highlight show featuring the event will air on NBC Sports Network Sunday, December 20 at 4:30 p.m. Complete results from today’s ATV racing can be found HERE.
For more information on the series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or call (304) 284-0084.
Stay up-to-date with exclusive content from the AMSOIL GNCC Series by following the official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.
AMSOIL Ironman GNCC
Crawfordsville, Indiana
Round 13 of 13
Saturday, October 31
XC1 Event Results:
- Jarrod McClure (HON)
- Cole Richardson (YAM)
- Chris Bithell (SUZ)
- Walker Fowler (YAM)
- Chris Borich (YAM)
- Brycen Neal (YAM)
- Brian Wolf (HON)
- Landon Wolfe (HON)
- Johnny Gallagher (YAM)
- Marshal Goings (HON)
*Overall National Championship Standings
- Walker Fowler (313)
- Adam McGill (276)
- Jarrod McClure (255)
- Chris Borich (220)
- Brycen Neal (207)
- Cole Richardson (180)
- Chris Bithell (164)
- Brian Wolf (148)
- Jay Shadron (140)
- Johnny Gallagher (130)
*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2015 National Champion.
XC2 Event Results:
- Westley Wolfe (SUZ)
- Randy Hamilton (HON)
- Marty Christofferson (HON)
- Kenny Shick (YAM)
- James Green (HON)
- Danny Rogers (YAM)
- Fred Marley (HON)
- Levi Coen (HON)
- Matthew Lindle (HON)
- Rylan Johnson (HON)
XC2 Series Standings:
- Cole Richardson (303)
- Martin Christofferson (288)
- Cody Collier (247)
- Randy Hamilton (241)
- James Green (143)
- Thomas Koontz Jr. (137)
- Michael Lancaster (135)
- Bryson Hoppes (128)
- Blake Tornes (123)
- Levi Coen (113)
About GNCC Racing:
The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis is America’s premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1975, 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 2,000 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. The series draws talent from all over the U.S., Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised weekly on NBC Sports and RacerTV.com. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.
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