BY SHAN MOORE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEN HILL
F
MF/KTM's Ben Kelley moved back to the
top of the Grand National Cross Country
Series Championship chase with just one
round remaining after taking a runaway win at the
Buckwheat 100 GNCC in Newburg, West Virginia.
Kelley came into the race trailing Steward Baylor
by one point in the standings, but now heads
into the series finale at Ironman with a four-point
advantage over the AmPro Yamaha rider, setting up
a scenario where whichever rider finishes ahead of
the other will take the title in a last-gasp race for the
gold. Results from the Buckwheat race, however,
are still provisional. Race officials are following up
on a protest which could alter overall results. But,
for now, Kelley is the new points leader.
Kelley had been in position to win the previ-
ous two rounds, leading most of the two races
only to have Baylor escape with dramatic, last-lap
rallies to take down both wins. However, at the
Buckwheat, Kelley was determined not to let that
happen again.
VOLUME 58 ISSUE 41 OCTOBER 12, 2021 P89
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