Chris Borich Tries to Keep Streak Alive at Limestone 100 GNCC

Lucas Cooney
by Lucas Cooney
Chris Borich

Can anybody get to the checkers before Chris Borich? (Photo by Ken Hill)

We’re nearing the half-way point of the 2013 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country season and nobody has been able to stop Chris Borich. The four-time champ looks for his sixth straight win to start the season at this weekend’s Dunlop Limestone 100 GNC in Springville, Ind.

With 64 career wins to date, Borich has already proven his merit amongst the best XC ATV racers in GNCC history as he nears the all time wins record. Eight-Time GNCC champ Barry Hawk currently holds the record with 68 total wins, which is within reach for the consistent Borich as eight races still remain in 2013.

Reliable Tool Supply/Maxxis rider Chris Bithell could perhaps be the one to break his Suzuki-mounted teammate’s win streak, leading the champ for more laps than anyone else this season. Riding aboard an all-new machine and program for 2013, Bithell continues to become more comfortable each round and looks to secure a race win this season. Bithell currently sits third overall in the championship standings, only five points below AmPro Yamaha’s Walker Fowler.

Chris Bithell and Walker Fowler

Chris Bithelll (left) is chasing Walker Fowler (right) for second place in the standings. (Photo by Ken Hill)

Following an unpredictable mud race at the last round, both Fowler and Bithell failed to score points toward the National Championship. Fowler was forced to retire from the race after acquiring so much mud in his eyes that he was unable to continue on. Similarly, Bithell also ran into issues late in the race that dropped him outside of the top 20 overall.

Lonestar/Precision/ITP’s Adam McGill sits only two points behind Bithell in the overall standings with a pair of podium finishes so far this season. McGill is yet another XC1 front-runner who is capable of securing a race win over Borich.

The battle for the fifth place in the standings continues between BNR’s Kevin Yoho and Waynesburg Yamaha’s Jeff Pickens, who sit less than five points apart heading into Round 6. Pickens made a jump in the points after securing his first-ever podium finish last round. JB Offroad/Can-Am’s Jarrod McClure tops Yamaha/GBC/HMF’s Johnny Gallagher by four points for the seventh place spot, while Team Woodhead/DeRisi Racing’s Braden Henthorn and XC2 rider Patrick McGuire round out the top ten with a tied score of 53 points in the overall standings.

GNCC Action

(Photo by Ken Hill)

XC2 Pro Am rookie Brycen Neal leads the way in the class standings, sitting only six points ahead of McGuire heading into this weekend’s race. Defending XC2 champ McGuire has been one of the most consistent finishers so far as he’s stayed inside the top five each round this season. XC2 rookie Landon Wolfe holds the third place position, while Indiana’s Chad Jones and Round 5 class winner Randy Hamilton round out the XC2 top five.

Youth ATV racing will take place Saturday at 8 a.m., followed by amateurs, 4×4 and Women at 10 a.m. and the top amateurs and pros at 1 p.m. 50cc Micro racing returns to the schedule this weekend, taking place on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Lucas Cooney
Lucas Cooney

I have been working exclusively in digital media since 1997. I started out with TSN.ca, spending nearly nine years creating and editing content on Canada's leading sports website. I left to join VerticalScope, Inc., one of the world's largest online publishers, to start a number of powersports publications. While at VerticalScope, I've helped create and oversee content for a wide variety of different publications, including ATV.com, Off-Road.com, ArcheryTalk.com, Tractor.com, RVGuide.com, and many more.

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