McGill Takes the Checkers at Mountaineer Run GNCC
Adam McGill picked up his third win of the season at the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Mountaineer Run GNCC, round seven of the 2015 Grand National Cross Country Series, presented by Maxxis.
McGill (CST/Lonestar/DeRisi/Tire Blocks/Spider Graphics) has held the championship points’ lead since round two of the series, but this is his first win since round three. The win gives McGill an 18-point lead in the series.
Bithell Racing/Maxxis/Precision’s Chris Bithell claimed the $250 AMSOIL XC1 Pro Holeshot Award, leading the XC1 Pro ATV class through the woods on lap one. McGill worked his way into the lead on the second lap and stayed in front of his competitors all the way to the checkers of the two-hour race.
Chris Bithell jumped out to an early lead at the FMF Steele Creek GNCC.
After starting his machine early on the dead engine start, N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha/Maxxis/Lonestar’s Walker Fowler suffered a time penalty at the conclusion of the opening lap. Fowler managed to put on a charge, working his way through the pack and gaining seven positions on lap two. He continued charging throughout the race, coming up ten seconds short of McGill at the finish. After a start that put him towards the back of the pack, Team Maxxis’ Chris Borich found himself working through the pack. As the white flag flew, Borich sat fifth and put together a last lap charge, making the pass for third just two turns before the finish.
Adam McGill picked up his third win of the year, increasing his championship lead.
Maxxis/B. Neal Motorsports Brycen Neal had a good start heading into the woods, fighting for third place. Neal challenged for the third place spot throughout the race before Borich passed him at the last minute. Neal finished fourth overall, and is currently sixth overall in the championship points standings.
Although JMR/ATVRiders.com’s Jarrod McClure finished off the podium for the first time in four races, he continued his consistent season with a fifth place finish. After his great start, Bithell finished the day in sixth place in the XC1 Pro ATV class. However, Bithell did find his way to the podium as Kyle Chaney’s passenger for the XC1 Pro UTV class podium. Chaney and Bithell finished first overall, and now hold the lead in the XC1 Pro UTV championship standings.
Walker Fowler rebounded from a rough start to finish second in the XC1 class.
Coastal/Waynesburg Yamaha’s Jay Shadron started the day off in fourth place and held that position until pressure came from Neal and McClure. Shadron finished the day off seventh in XC1 and eighth overall. BNR/GBC’s Kevin Yoho didn’t have the greatest jump at the start and was sitting in 10th place after the first lap. He worked his way through to an eighth place finish in XC1 and a ninth place finish overall.
Maxxis/BNR/Moose rider Josh Merritt had another impressive ride. Starting from around the eleventh position, Merritt worked his way back to finish ninth in XC1 and tenth overall. Fasttrax/Wolf Racing’s Brian Wolf struggled throughout the day, but managed a 10th place finish in XC1 and 12th overall.
In the XC2 Pro Am class, N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha/Maxxis/Lonestar’s Cole Richardson found himself back in the center of the podium. After some unfortunate luck two weeks ago in New York, Richardson returned to his winning ways, earning his sixth victory of the year. Honda’s Levi Coen got a good jump off the starting line and earned himself the $100 All Balls Racing XC2 Holeshot Award. Coen eventually fell to 15th in the XC2 Pro Am class.
Cole Richardson (middle) celebrates his victory in the XC2 class.
After a third place start, Dillingers/Hygnr/Moose’s Martin Christofferson battled with RYCO Racing’s Cody Collier before Collier had an unfortunate crash. Christofferson worked his way into second place on lap three and remained there until the checkers came out.
JMR/ATVRiders.com’s rider Randy Hamilton started his day just outside the top five, but worked his way through the pack and made a last lap pass on Collier for third place in the XC2 Pro Am class. After crashing, Collier never fell out of the top five in XC2 and rebounded to finish fourth in XC2 and 16th overall. Yamaha’s Thomas Koontz had his second best finish of the season this weekend in West Virginia with a fifth in XC2 and 17th overall.
The 2015 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series resumes June 6 and 7 with the Wiseco John Penton in Millfield, Ohio. Visit GNCCRacing.com for more information.
XC1 Event Results
Overall National Championship Standings
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