2026 Grand National Cross Country series round five, the Duke’s GNCC in Kentucky, Results and RAW highlights – Jordan Ashburn chases down Liam Draper to snatch first victory of the season and the win for Phoenix Honda.

Dry, dusty, rocky…we’re glad it’s not just EnduroGP, Italian and Spanish Enduro championships which serve up these conditions as we storm through April 2026!

The inaugural Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Dukes GNCC welcomed racers and fans to fresh terrain and a highly anticipated and exciting new venue on the schedule at Mine Made Adventure Park in Knott County, Kentucky.  

Like so many races in GNCC, the result was something to look and look again at with former overall champion Jordan Ashburn putting Phoenix Honda on the top step of the podium while series big hitters floundered in the dust.

As the early leader, Ashburn was overtaken by an in-form Liam Draper with the Kiwi riding the AM Pro Yamaha and aiming for his own maiden victory.

Gambling with a trials-type rear tyre, Draper’s mid-race pace began to evaporate and Ashburn kept hounding to eventually take over the on the final lap for his first win of the season.

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Draper had to console himself with second on a tyre better suited to road racing but has dramatically reduced the advantage of Ben Kelley at the top of the points to just three (series standing below).

Pushing hard all the way for the final step on the podium, Craig Delong showed a rare smile at the finish as these three showed as the clear fastest riders on the day.

Back from injury, Kailub Russell came on stronger as the race conditions deteriorated to claim his best results of the season in fourth ahead of Mike Witkowski completing the top five overall.

XC2 Pro 250

Bike problems for Beta USA’s Jhak Walker while chasing an overall podium, and the XC2 250 class win, handed FMF KTM Factory Racing’s new recruit Jason Tino a career first Pro Class victory (in class).

Props to Josh Toth who sacrificed his result, helping Cody Barnes who crashed hard on the "sketchy" track during lap one, until medical help arrived. Toth's (XC1) teammate in the Rocky Mountain Red Bear Racing Kawasaki team, Steward Baylor, yet again went out with a mechanical. 

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It was another FMF KTM Factory Racing rider Brandy Richards who grabbed the AM race and Women’s victory. Richards was consistent in the conditions which she described as all-too easy to crash in and picked off Korie Steede for her second WXC win of the season.

PM results:

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AM results:

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Overall standings after round 5:

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Complete results and more information: www.racer-results.net

Video Credit: On The Pipe Podcast

Photo Credit: Mack Faint