Classic mudder conditions for round 12 of the 2024 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series, the Wiseco John Penton, saw Grant Davis claim the overall win and XC2 championship title.

Depending on your viewpoint, track conditions for the ’24 John Penton were awesome or horrendous. Although things “improved” as the main PM race ran, nothing was easy for riders racing at round 12 of 13 this season and in complete contrast to the previous dust-fest at round 11.

Evan Smith grabbed the holeshot as riders left the line and went straight into a slick turns one and two, with plenty of riders going down on the skating rink conditions.

AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell took over the lead on lap one with teammate, Liam Draper running second before Draper moved into the lead on the second lap. The tough conditions, and a long lap which as is traditional included extra John Penton sections for the Pro classes, meant the race ran to just four laps.

In the conditions, the top 10 overall was littered with XC2 250 riders with championship leader FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Grant Davis in charge of chasing down Draper on corrected time along with Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jordan Ashburn. As the white flag came out the gap was just 1.7 seconds between Draper feeling the heat from Davis with Ashburn on the gas.

Ashburn and Davis got past Draper and set about an epic final lap. Davis would try to make his way around to physically lead but Ashburn was able to hold him off by the narrowest of margins at the chequered flag.

With corrected time off the start working in his favour, Grant was awarded the overall win and with that the XC2 250 Pro National Championship.

Ashburn’s second overall on the day and first in the XC1 class was his second-best result, and fourth overall podium of the season, while Draper held on for third overall and second in XC1.

Grant Davis: “It’s pretty sick, honestly! I hope it sinks in pretty soon so I can realize this is happening. I was in third place going into the woods off the start and then got into the lead. From there, I picked off some XC1 guys and I was close to Jordan [Ashburn] there, but fell at the bottom of a hill and had to get going again.

“We were going at it on the last lap, both had some squirrelly moments, and he held me off but I still managed to win the overall. I’ve got six wins in a row now in class and the aim is to win out from here – let’s go make it seven!”

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley returned to the podium as he finished third in the XC1 class and fourth overall on the day after battling the demanding course.

Coming through fifth overall was FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Angus Riordan, who finished second in the XC2 250 Pro class. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cody Barnes would finish sixth overall on the day and round out the top three XC2.

Babbitt’s Online Kawasaki’s Lyndon Snodgrass was in the mix all day and took seventh overall. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Michael Witkowski was eighth, former John Penton wwinner JS Beta Racing’s Josh Strang was ninth and sixth in the XC1 class, while Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki’s Thad Duvall rounded out the top 10 overall and fourth in the XC2 250 Pro class.

Tough day for championship protagonists – points reshuffle

The newly crowned 2024 GNCC Champion, FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir fell in the early stages of the race, and called it a day. Steward Baylor also had troubles in the mud and clocked in a lowly 20th place OA.

The result, coupled with Davis and Ashburn’s podiums, means a change in the series standings. Davis now is second on 224 (behind the already crowned champ, Girroir on 271), Ashburn is on 217 and Baylor is on 210 in fourth. One round remains, the Ironman GNCC, on October 27.

John Penton GNCC PM Race Results:

150 Schoolboy wins AM race – Archer claims WXC title

After some more light rain fall in the morning, the AM race saw the wordst of the conditions. The tough two-hour race brought out the best from 150 B Schoolboy (12-17) racer, Cade Staats, battling his way through to become the overall winner of the race and his class.

WXC competitor, Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki’s Rachael Archer mastered the conditions in typical gritty style and, with second overall and first in class, is crowned the 2024 GNCC WXC Bike National Champion. Brandy Richards slogged it out for second place and almost four minutes down and Ellie Winland completed the WXC podium.

It made for a successful day in Steward Baylor’s Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki team camp as Archer’s title added to Caleb Wood’s 2024 GNCC Youth Bike Overall National Championship.

AM Race results:

More information: www.gnccracing.com

Photo Credit: Ken Hill + KTM