INTERVIEW I GRAND NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPION JORDAN ASHBURN
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much. But the longer ones,
we've got to be on it a little more.
That's where some other teams
can play different cards as far as
the stops go."
Growing up in Tennessee,
Ashburn's practice areas are
more on the technical side,
which has given him an ad-
vantage on the more technical
tracks. In fact, Ashburn's first
win came on the very techni-
cal Showshoe course. He also
made the final at the Tennessee
Knockout in 2020, riding a 1997
KDX, which says a lot about his
technical riding skills!
"We've got a couple places
to practice that are pretty wide
open, but for the most part I
ride pretty technical stuff all the
time," said Ashburn. "When we
go up north, that's kind of where
I shine more than on the south-
ern tracks. In the past I've had to
try to be a better-rounded rider
in the south. Those southern
tracks, South Carolina and Geor-
gia, are different from the area I
live. They've got pine trees and
clay. They're rougher. They're
just a different kind of track. I
just think the fact that I've raced
so many years in the series,
going fast is about knowing how
to go fast. Really, it's about the
training and how you do it and
put it all together."
Speaking of training. Most of
the circuit's top racers work with
both riding coaches and fitness
trainers to guide them. Ashburn
does it mostly all on his own.
"I've got some help from
some outside guys, but it's still
kind of a self-motivated, do-it-
yourself-kind of program," said
Ashburn. "I do gym work, and
we'll also cycle a lot, combined
with the riding. My teammate,
Chase Landers, he's in the A
class and we train together all
the time. But still, it's all up to
self-motivation. Chase and I live
close to each other, and that's
really benefitted both of us this
year as far as training. So, in the
This year's GNCC Championship
was the first for the Husqvarna
brand since Ed Lojak in 1988.
