2025 Snowshoe GNCC: Josh Toth and Stew Baylor take Kawasaki one-two
Grand National Cross Country Racing (GNCC) round nine landed in Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort for typically tough off-road racing conditions and one-two results for Rocky Mountain red bear Kawasaki boys Josh Toth and Steward Baylor – FMF KTM’s Ben Kelley opens slender points lead ahead of summer break.
As the traditional last GNCC round before the summer break, which this year again includes the ISDE for many of the riders, the annual visit to Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia marks a milestone for the off-road racing season in the US.
2025 proved no different with what points leader Ben Kelley called “the hardest Snowshoe I’ve ever done”, it was the most like a sprint race you could get.
Ricky Russell set the pace early in a race which proved physically and mentally tough, like sprint race from the start some said, plus a race for the smart thinkers where line choices and not making mistakes in the mud proved crucial.
Josh Toth on the Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Racing was on a mission from the second row (riders started with live engines and in championship order so not the usual XC1 row followed by XC1 and so on).
Pro 2 class riders have a habit of leading overall this year and by lap two it was Toth out front ahead on the track and the time sheets from FMF KTM’s Ben Kelley and Landers KTM Grant Davis, who would later have bike problems and struggled generally at this round.
“I just sent it at the beginning. I knew I needed to be up front early and set my own pace. The race was super tough this year. I definitely got tired, but I think everyone did. I trusted and relied on my technique, and that got me through it,” said Toth. Toth kept the lead until the last lap, when a charging Baylor caught up and made it a battle against teammates.
Toth hung on for the overall win by 2.5 seconds over Baylor, and took the XC2 Class win with a dominant seven-minute lead.
Steward Baylor was a mistake away from possibly winning the overall himself. Baylor passed Toth for the lead with a few miles to go, then a small tipover allowed Toth back by. Baylor finished second overall, but first in the XC1 Class. “I knew I was catching Josh [Toth] the last few laps. I was pushing harder than I ever have and riding well, but came up just short again. I really wanted that win, but I’m happy for Josh and the team. We did good today,” said Baylor.
At the flag the RMRB Kawasaki riders crossed the line three seconds apart allowing Toth to take overall and Pro 2 victory, his first of the 2025 GNCC season, ahead of Stew Baylor, second OA and XC1 Pro winner, with Ben Kelley third.
With third place, and Grant Davis down in P11, Ben Kelley opens a small eight-point lead heading to the summer break: “That was gnarly! It was the hardest Snowshoe I’ve ever done. It was hot today and on lap four I was already suffering. I made a mistake at the beginning, so I had to charge through the pack, and I was then yoyo-ing with the leaders, but it was a struggle. I’m so pumped to get to the podium, all things considered, and it feels awesome to bank solid points toward the title.”
2025 Snowshoe GNCC PM race results:
Archer untouchable in WXC
WXC class also saw Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team on top but it was no surprise as reigning champion and points leader Rachael Archer grabbed the early lead and held the number one position until the checkered flag for a near six-minute advantage over her nearest rival in class.
Archer holds a 25-point WXC National Championship lead as the series heads into its summer break.
Enduro Engineering’s Shelby Turner battled from fourth and then fifth on the second lap to get herself in contention for an eventual second place in the tough conditions.
AmPro Yamaha’s Danielle McDonald, again impressing in her debut GNCC season, took third in the WXC class after a hard-fought battle throughout the race to better Korie Steede.
AM Snowshoe overall race results:
Overall National Championship Standings (after Rnd9):
- Benjamin Kelley (194)
- Grant Davis (187)
- Angus Riordan (148)
- Steward Baylor (139)
- Cody Barnes (136)
- Liam Draper (119)
- Josh Toth (106)
- Kailub Russell (96)
- Craig Delong (96)
- Michael Witkowski (93)
Photo Credit: Mack Faint
Video Credit: Racer TV
