Borich Wins Maxxis General GNCC
Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chris Borich bested the field to win the Maxxis General GNCC, round two of the 2009 Can-Am GNCC Series in Washington, Ga. on March 7.
Borich’s win comes just a week after finishing second in the season-opening River Ranch GNCC. Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser, who took the checkered flag last week, finished second, while FRE KTM’s Adam McGill was third for a second straight week.
“It was a really fun race, we were just battling all day,” says Borich. “It was good to ride with Chris (Bithell) and those guys, it seemed like we were just on a trail ride together. It’s good to ride with people you know won’t take you out.”
Warnert Cam-Am’s Bithell was leading late in the race, but his pit strategy proved costly as he failed to finish the last lap, reportedly running out of fuel. That allowed Borich to take over the lead and secure the victory, while Kiser, who started near the back of the pack, charged hard to net second.
GT Thunder Yamaha’s Brandon Sommers took fourth, ahead of ATVRiders.com-backed Yamaha rider Jarrod McClure. GT Thunder Yamaha rookie Don Ockerman finished sixth, Duane “The Rock” Johnson was seventh on a Honda, and Yamaha’s Johnny Gallagher took eighth. Ryan Lane (Honda) and Jeff Pickens (Yamaha) rounded out the top ten.
Defending GNCC Champion Bill Ballance, still struggling just four weeks after having injured ribs surgically removed, completed four of five laps to collect 14th in the XC1 Pro class.
In the XC2 Pro-Am class, Josh Kirkland grabbed holeshot on his KTM, but Yamaha’s Brian Wolf pulled through for the win. Kirkland finished just behind in second, with Eric Hoyland (Honda) third. Sixteen-year-old Walker Fowler netted top amateur honors again with 17th overall and a win in the College A class.
In the GNCC morning race, FRE KTM’s Angel Atwell matched her win from last weekend’s race in Florida with another in Georgia. Kristin Atwell and Traci Cecco finished second and third. Bryan Buckhannon, Michael Swift and Cliff Beasley won the 4×4 Open, Limited and Lites Classes, respectively, on their Warnert Can-Ams, and Robert Smith won the U2 Class on a Kawasaki.
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series moves to Morganton, NC for the FMF Steele Creek GNCC on March 21 and 22.
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