#ChrisBithell

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.

Can-Am ATV and UTV racers picked up podium finishes in a variety of series this past weekend. At the Ironman GNCC, Cliff Beasley rode his Can-Am Renegade to victory in the U2 class and finished second overall in the morning session, while Tanner Bowles rode his Can-Am Outlander to a win in the 4×4 Open class and Can-Am DS 450 racer Chris Bithell finished third in the XC1 Pro ATV class.

At the final round of the New England ATV Motocross series in New York, 2012 Pro and Pro-Am class champion Josh Creamer earned two more podium finishes. In desert racing, Cory Sappington’s Desert Toyz / Can-Am team recently took a second place finish at the Best in the Desert Bluewater Desert Challenge in Parker, Ariz.

“Can-Am racers recently earned important victories and podium finishes in several events across the country. Cory Sappington’s second-place finish in the Parker, Ariz., was impressive. Josh Creamer battled through horrible mud in New York, to cap a perfect season in the NEATV Pro class,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “I was proud of the way our racers overcame the mud at the Ironman GNCC. Cliff Beasley was amazing in his U2 class win. It was also great to see 17-year-old Tanner Bowles win the 4×4 Open class.”

It was another successful weekend for Can-Am racers at the Snowshoe GNCC as Motoworks/Can-Am DS 450 racer Chris Bithell finished second overall in the XC1 Pro class, while Andrew Langston (4×4 Open) and Jordan Phillips (U2) each won their class and finished first and second on the morning overall podium.

“Motoworks / Can-Am XC1 Pro Chris Bithell provided this team with some much needed momentum and drive for the remainder of the season after earning his best race finish of the year this past weekend at Snowshoe. He now sits firmly in fourth place in season points, just four points out of third. Some of our X-Team-supported 4×4 racers faced challenges this past weekend, but Forest Whorton and Kevin Trantham continued their winning ways aboard their Outlander ATVs,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “And the depth of Can-Am mounted racers in the field was very evident, as Can-Am ATV racers earned five class victories and the morning overall. It’s great to see Can-Am privateers race their way to victory and take full advantage of the Can-Am Amateur Racing Contingency Program.“

This round of the Can-Am GNCC racing series is staged atop Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains at more than 4200 feet and is truly a rider and fan favorite due to its picturesque views and resort-type atmosphere. Snowshoe is considered one of the roughest, most challenging GNCC courses in the series and features a unique asphalt street starting line, demanding hills as well as rough-and-rocky trails.

With the first two rounds of the 2012 GNCC series in the books, Can-Am ATV and UTV racers are off to a roaring start.

Nobody does 4×4 ATV racing better than Can-Am and that’s showing as Can-Am X-Team racer Bryan Buckhannon dominated both 4×4 Open class races aboard his Outlander 800R, while Cliff Beasley also posted two consecutive class wins on the Renegade 800R 4×4. On the sport quad side of the coin, Team Motoworks / Can-Am DS 450 EFI racer Chris Bithell is third in the XC1 Pro class points after two rounds.

“Cliff and Bryan are as fast as ever and are already in the driver’s seat in their respective 4×4 classes,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “Even though there is plenty more racing left in the season, we’re content to have our riders positioned where they are after two rounds of Can-Am / GNCC racing. Bithell currently sits third in the XC1 class standings and I predict he’s about ready to show us what he’s made of as the series heads to some of his favorite tracks. I’m proud to see Kyle Chaney put the Commander side-by-side on the XC1 UTV Modified podium in Georgia in his first race with the Motoworks / Can-Am team.”

After thousands of laps at 13 different locations in the eastern U.S., the 2011 Grand National Cross Country Series came to a thrilling — albeit delayed — conclusion at Loretta Lynn’s in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. This location was originally to be round five, but diabolical weather forced a rare postponement and shift to the end of the schedule. Final celebrations may have been late in coming, but in the end there were a number of ITP riders heading for happy holidays.

Foremost Insurance/Warnert Can-Am teammates Adam McGill and Chris Bithell were consistent frontrunners all season in the premier XC1 Pro class. Implementing ITP Holeshot GNCC and QuadCross XC tires, McGill won two events and stepped onto the podium eight other times to claim an excellent second overall for the year. Bithell appeared in the top three a total of six times to finish a close fourth in the final standings.

Can-Am X-Team Outlander 800R X xc racer Bryan Buckhannon won the 4×4 Open class at the Can-Am GNCC finale in Tennessee, to earn back-to-back class championships. Warnert Racing / Can-Am DS 450 XC1 pro class racer Adam McGill finished second at Loretta Lynn’s Dude Ranch to earn second overall for the season. Warnert Racing / Can-Am teammate Chris Bithell earned fourth at Loretta’s and fourth overall in the XC1 ranks aboard his DS 450.

“I was thrilled to see Buckhannon win his class here at Loretta’s and repeat as 4×4 Open class champion,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “McGill and Bithell rode extremely hard in Tennessee, like they have all season. They each led a portion of the race, but unfortunately couldn’t finish it out. Adam truly earned his second-place podium finish today and it was a good way for him to end the year.”

Adam McGill fought his way to a third-place finish at the Ironman GNCC.

Warnert Racing / Can-Am DS 450 Pro racer Adam McGill stood tall on the all-pink GNCC cancer awareness podium after finishing third in the Pro XC1 class despite gruelling conditions at the Ironman GNCC course in Crawfordsville, Ind. Can-Am X-Team members Clifton Beasley, Forrest Whorton and Zac Zakowski each won their respective class in morning action.

“McGill and Bithell really battled out there today and I was proud of the effort they put forth on their Can-Am DS 450 ATVs. Adam notched his fourth consecutive XC1 podium and led three laps of the race. Chris put in an inspiring ride, coming from dead last at the start of the race to finish fourth,” says Jimmie O’Dell, race manager, Can-Am. “Can-Am X-Team racers Cliff Beasley and Zac Zakowski each made a powerful statement with their class victories in Indiana.”

Coming into the Ironman GNCC, McGill held second place in the XC1 point standings and needed to win at the final two rounds of the series for a shot at the championship. After leading the first three laps, it looked as if McGill would keep the hopes for a 2011 title alive, but lapped traffic slowed his pace on lap four and he dropped to fourth place. He then picked up the pace to reclaim the third-place position. He moved to within striking distance of first and second place at the end of the race, but had to settle for third.

Warnert Racing / Can-Am DS 450 racer Adam McGill finished third in the XC1 Pro class at the Powerline Park Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) race held over the weekend in St. Clairsville, Ohio. In the morning session, Can-Am X-team racers Zac Zakowski, Forrest Whorton and Kevin Trantham each won their respective classes aboard Can-Am Outlander ATVs.

“McGill rode well and was actually in contention for the win a couple of times before eventually finishing third overall. I’m happy to see him on the XC1 podium again and earn a top three overall finish,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “Our Can-Am X-Team racers continue to excel on their Outlander ATVs. It was great to see Zac ride so well today and earn his first win this season in the 4×4 Open class. It was also nice to see Zac’s teammate Kevin Trantham get back to his winning ways in the 4×4 Lites. I’m also really happy for Forrest Whorton as today he clinched the 4×4 Super Senior 45+ championship aboard his Can-Am.”

McGill held the early lead in the XC1 class. Just before lap two, he dropped one spot after having difficulty in one of the track’s muddy sections. However, on lap three, McGill put in the fastest lap of the day in the Pro class and was less than a second behind the leader. He then lost time on the next lap and fell to third. That’s where he stayed until the finish line. It was the third straight XC1 podium finish for McGill.

Warnert Racing / Can-Am DS 450 ATV Pro racers Adam McGill and Chris Bithell finished second and third in the Pro class this past weekend at the Mountain Ridge GNCC in Somerset, Pa. In the Can-Am GNCC morning session, UXC Racing / Can-Am X-Team racer Michael Swift won the morning overall and the highly competitive 4×4 Open class aboard his Can-Am Outlander 800R X xc.

“McGill was close to earning his third win of the year, but he had a minor miscue on the final lap and had to settle for second in the Pro class. He gained some valuable ground on the Pro class points leader and that’s always good. To have both McGill and Bithell on the podium together, again, was great for team Warnert Racing / Can-Am,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “We continue to excel in the morning session, winning four classes and earning 10 of the top 20 morning finishing positions, highlighted by Michael Swift, who won both the a.m. overall and the 4×4 Open class.”

McGill, who led for much of the race, regained the lead on final lap as he passed another two miles before the finish line. However, in a slippery rock section, McGill said his handguard caught on a tree and swung him sideways. By the time he recovered, he had lost the lead. He finished less than two seconds behind the winner. McGill, with his second-place overall finish, now trails the Pro class points leader by 27 points with three rounds remaining in 2011. Bithell, who earned his second straight afternoon podium, ran inside the top five all day, but worked his way into third place on the final lap. He is currently in third place in the Pro class points race, 14 points behind McGill.

“In the first lap, there were about five of us that were really close and seemed like they were just kind of playing around so I went out there and took control and set the pace,” says McGill. “I was able to make up some valuable points, but I really want to win so I am going to go out there and give it everything I’ve got for the last three rounds.”

Team Warnert Racing / Can-Am DS 450 racers Chris Bithell and Adam McGill finished second and third, respectively, in the XC1 class at the 2011 Can-Am Unadilla GNCC in New Berlin, NY.

In the morning ranks, several Can-Am racers finished on their class podium at Unadilla Valley Sports Center complex, including Bryan Buckhannon in the 4×4 Open class and Clifton Beasley in the U2 class. In fact, Beasley also secured the season championship aboard the Can-Am Renegade 800R X xc ATV by notching his ninth win in nine rounds of racing in 2011.

“I was pleased to see both Bithell and McGill reach the Pro class podium in New York. They both led the race at one time and had the speed to win, but unfortunately came up a little short on the rough, fast and short 7-mile course,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Race Manager, Can-Am. “I also have to congratulate Cliff Beasley on winning his 28th consecutive race, another U2 Class Championship and going 9-for-9 this year on his Renegade X xc.”

For the second time this year, ITP-mounted Adam McGill and Chris Bithell finished 1-2 in a Grand National Cross Country Series event. The Foremost Insurance/Warnert Can-Am teammates topped the Snowshoe GNCC, round eight of the 2011 series at Snowshoe Mountain Resort, some 4,800 feet high in the hills of West Virginia.

It was a big payday for McGill, as the Snowshoe GNCC rewards the winner an eye-popping $5,000 (the largest purse on the circuit). The win also moved McGill into close contention for the series championship with five events remaining on the 2011 schedule. Bithell holds third in the XC1 Pro class standings.

The key moment in the wet and sloppy race came on the last lap when McGill turned risk into reward by blasting directly through one of the many challenging mudholes while leader Bithell chose a more conservative route. McGill kept his momentum from there and finished the four-lap, two-hour race just 14 seconds ahead of Bithell. Both riders chose ITP’s Holeshot GNCC tires for the front of their Can-Am DS 450s, and ITP’s QuadCross XC tires for the rear.