2016 GNCC Series Debuts This Weekend

The 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC) presented by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship kicks off this Saturday, March 5 with the Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC in Palatka, Fla. at the Rodman Planation.

N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha/Maxxis/Lonestar/MXP’s Walker Fowler will be sporting the No. 1 plate as he leads the rest of the XC1 Pro class in the Sunshine State.

Situated just an hour north of Daytona’s “Bike Week” festivities, the season-opening GNCC at the Rodman Plantation will make for an action packed event. This round typically draws fans from all disciplines of racing. This unique sand course mixed with mud holes and grueling obstacles is a staple stop in America’s premier off-road racing series.

Fowler took home the overall win at the Wild Boar GNCC last year, but CST/LSR/Induction Solutions/Derisi/SG/Tire Blocks’ Adam McGill was right behind him crossing the finish line a mere two seconds after Fowler. The battle between these two continued throughout the season, and McGill will start the season nationally ranked second but will run his signature number 521.

JMR/ATVRiders.com-backed Jarrod McClure finished a career-best third overall last season picked up his first career overall race win at the AMSOIL Snowshoe GNCC and the season finale race at the AMSOIL Ironman GNCC.

Six-time GNCC champion, Chris Borich, recently announced that he will once again be racing a Suzuki for the 2016 GNCC series. The Maxxis/Fly Racing/HMF/Ye Olde Cycle Barn/Suzuki-backed rider hopes to return to his winning ways in 2016.

After strong rookie XC1 Pro season, Brycen Neal will return nationally ranked number five and join the brand-new Coastal Racing/MSR/Maxxis team managed by eight-time GNCC champion Barry Hawk.

With the absence of N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha’s Cole Richardson in the XC2 Pro Am class, it leaves the door open for a new XC2 champion. While Richardson will be competing in his first full XC1 Pro season, many others will be fighting for the top spot on the box in the XC2 Pro Am class. Dillinger’s Celtic Pub & Eatery/GBC Motorsports/Moose Racing’s Marty Christofferson, Pierce Performance’s Cody Collier and Ye Olde Cycle Barn/Walsh/Hetrick Racing’s Westley Wolfe will all be looking to capitalize on their off-season training and claim the first XC2 Pro Am win of the season.

Unique to any other GNCC round, this weekend’s schedule begins on Friday, March 4 with ATV practice and race registration at 11 a.m. GNCC Racing offers a practice session for all ATV racers, excluding UTVs, on Friday before the event. The cost is $20 per rider. Youth ATV practice will begin at 1 p.m. with all other racers practicing from 2 – 4 p.m. The practice course will be separate from the race course, but it will incorporate a small preview of what racers can expect when the green flag drops on race day.

Saturday’s race schedule is as follows: Youth ATV racing begins at 8 a.m., with Single Seat UTV racing at 9 a.m., followed by amateurs, 4×4 Pro and Women at 10 a.m., and the top amateurs and pros race at 1 p.m. Following Saturday’s afternoon race will be Side-by-Side racing taking place at 4:00 p.m.

Adult (12+) gate admission is $20 for the full weekend and $10 for kids (6-11), with kids five and under free. Gate admission includes pro pit access and pro autographs at no additional charge.

Local racers are invited to compete at this event, as GNCC Racing offers classes for riders of all skill and experience levels. The amateur race entry fee is $40 and riders can sign up at the track. The local racers expected to compete Saturday will be: Cary Atkinson (Silver Masters 55+), father Jim (4×4 Senior 40+) and son Ryan Cain (70 CVT 6-11), Anthony Davidson (30+ C), Brandon Frazier (Schoolboy Sr. 14-17), father James (35+ C) and daughter Mikayla Hayes (Girls 8-15), Jacob Jackson (125 Jr. 8-11), Christan Jasperson (30+ C), Joshua Jeffreys (Schoolboy Jr. 13-15), Bryanne Parks (Women Amateur), Tre Seiffert (Schoolboy Jr. 13-15), Michael Shaffer (College B 16-21), father Michael (Super Senior 45+) and son Dylan Terango (125 Sr. 12-15), Cole Tucker (90 8-12), Cliff Williams (40+ C) and father Michael Sr. (40+ C) and son Michael Yodonis Jr. (50 CVT 6-11).