Johnny Girroir (FMF KTM Factory Racing) battled through mud conditions to earn the overall win at the 2026 Grand National Cross Country season opener at the Big Buck GNCC – Australian Danielle Macdonald storms to maiden WXC win.

The 2026 season roared to life at the legendary VP Racing Fuels Big Buck GNCC, where riders were greeted by deep ruts, bar-to-bar chaos, and the kind of slick Southern mud that turns a race into pure survival.

Held in the rolling woods of Union, South Carolina, the opening round of the Progressive Insurance Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series, an AMA National Championship, delivered difficult conditions 12 months ago and it was a relentless battlefield once again in 2026 which would ultimately see some big names packing up and going home early.

The Pro Bike race at the Big Buck GNCC saw Jordan Ashburn set the pace on his maiden appearance on the Phoenix Racing Honda, grabbing the early lead and holding it through much of the race. As the track cut up and lines disappeared, Ashburn’s smooth riding kept him out front, and keeping his challengers at bay despite relentless conditions.

However, it wasn’t over until the flag flew and FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Jonathan Girroir closed the gap lap by lap. In a dramatic final few laps the pair traded the lead before, a goggle-less Girroir made a decisive pass on the last lap to grab the lead and ultimately the overall win.

Ashburn said after the race that the crashes had left him with no grip on the bars in the final lap and that meant Girroir could gap him, meaning second overall on the day, and in the XC1 Open Pro class.

Rounding out the podium in an impressive third overall was Nick DeFeo, the historic overall winner 12 months ago riding for Rocky Mountain ATV MC/Red Bear/Kawasaki Team Green, rode a strong race to lead overall through mid-race. With Girroir and Ashburn pushing hard in the final laps, Defeo had to focus more on fending off his hard charging team boss behind to take an eventual third overall and the XC2 class win.

Big Buck GNCC 2026 Results (Top 20):

Video recap highlights are here: GNCC Racing 2026: Big Buck Rnd1 Race Recap

Attrition rate was high

Day one of the 2026 GNCC Pro class season was a tough one for many of the established podium contenders with a long list falling at this first, muddy hurdle. Those included Kailub Russell, Josh Strang, Grant Baylor, Cody Barnes, Thad Duvall and last year’s runner-up Grant Davis.

Steward Baylor Jr. charged from 12th on the line to finish fourth overall and third in XC1 after pressuring Defeo on the final lap.

Angus Riordan overcame early struggles to finish fifth overall and second in XC2. Craig Delong ran near the front before a crash dropped him back, recovering to sixth overall and fourth in XC1.

A tight battle for the top 10 saw Ryder Lafferty take seventh, Liam Draper eighth after the XC1 holeshot, Ben Kelley ninth and Mike Witkowski 10th.

Top Amateur honours went to Cooper Jones with the 250 A win in 11th overall. Cole Whitmer (Open A) and Chase Landers (250 A) completed the amateur podium.

Maiden victory for Aussie Macdonald in WXC

The WXC class faced some of the toughest conditions of the day at the Big Buck GNCC, as deep ruts, standing water and slick red clay turned the course into a true test of endurance and bike control.

Danielle McDonald it was who stuck it out and was rewarded with top step of the podium and her first WXC victory in her young career. The AmPro Yamaha rider navigated the brutal terrain and kept her momentum flowing while others struggled with tip-overs and bottlenecks in the tight woods.

Brandy Richards charged her FMF KTM to second overall, keeping the pressure on throughout the race despite the track conditions. Rounding out the podium was reigning champion Korie Steede, who delivered a gritty ride for Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing. Steede battled through the slick terrain and traffic to claim third place, capping off a hard-fought WXC showdown.

AM race results:

More information: www.gnccracing.com

Photo Credit: Mack Faint