After revisions to the results of the previous GNCC round, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Chris Borich is back on top of the points standings in the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series. The Pennsylvania-based rider looks forward to racing in his home state at this weekend's Mountain Ridge GNCC in Western Pennsylvania, where he won last year. But a variety of riders have a shot at taking the series' lead back from Borich, and the rockiest track of the season offers
Chris Borich takes on the waterfall at the Titan GNCC.
up the potential for unpredictable results.
Three different riders have led the standings at different times this year, and a variety of competitiors are waiting to knock Borich off his lead. Right now, Borich sits on top with 132 points but is followed closely behind by former leaders Taylor Kiser at 126 points and Adam McGill with 125 points.
Kiser was named the winner at the previous race, the Weekend Warrior Titan GNCC, but he missed a short section of the course and was moved down to third place after the race. But to Kiser's credit, he took the lead on his own merit, and probably would have won the race even if he had not missed a section of the course. Kiser, from Florida, was once known as a sand specialist but has proven his merit in the mud, dirt and clay, and he will no doubt he will be fired up coming into round 7.
McGill finished sixth at the Titan but was moved to ninth place after the penalty. After winning three of the first four races last year but still falling short of the title, McGill has proven to be consistent podium finishers this year and will more than likely want to come back from his 9th place finish.
Houser Racing's Bryan Cook is holding on to fourth place in the standings. Cook won at Steele Creek but hasn't been on the podium since, he needs another win to come back into contention for a top three. Defending champion, Yamaha's Bill Ballance, who won his first race at Loretta Lynn's, took home a sixth place finish at the Titan and is in 6th overall in the points race. If Ballance is to come back to win the title, he needs to win the next few rounds.
Yamaha's Brandon Sommers has been on the podium the last two races and is fifth in the points , ahead of Ballance.
Kirkland, Wolf and Jones were all smiles on the XC2 podium.
In the XC2 class, Brian Wolf is leading a dedicated charge, and has won 4 of the last six races. FRE KTM's Kirkland has won the other two and placed second on the remaining four. The two have only one point separating them in the points race.
Another battle is raging in the Women's class. A pair of Pennsylvania riders, FRE KTM's Angel Atwell and Yamaha's Traci Cecco, have been battling neck and neck. Atwell won the first four rounds to Cecco's recent wins in the past two rounds. But Atwell had her season worst race at the Titan, coming in seventh place. The two are tied in the points race but Atwell has the advantage in wins going into the Mountain Ridge GNCC.
To get to the track, located in Reels Corner, Pa., on Route 160 just South of the intersection of Route 160 and Route 30. Only 20 minutes from both the Somerset Exit 110 and the Bedford Exit 145 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
From Somerset, follow Route 281 North to Route 30 then take Route 30 East to Reels Corner and follow Route 160
South to Boone Road. Track is on the left.
From Bedford follow Route 30 West to Reels Corner and follow Route 160 South.
