DeLong Claims First Career GNCC Victory
T
he 2023 Grand National
Cross Country Series saw
its third winner of the first three
rounds when Rockstar En-
ergy Husqvarna's Craig DeLong
claimed his first-ever XC-1 win at
March 12 General GNCC at Aonia
Pass in Washington, Georgia.
Just one week after racing the
Wild Boar GNCC in Florida, the
GNCC regulars lined up again for
an extremely muddy round three
of the series in the slippery red
clay of Georgia.
DeLong has been steadily
improving throughout the year,
finishing fifth at the opener at Big
Buck, and then third last week
-
end at the Wild Boar. In Georgia,
DeLong finally broke through for
the win in difficult conditions,
which was one of the wettest
GNCCs in recent history.
DeLong grabbed the holeshot
to lead the race early but was
passed midlap by Tely Racing
Rocky Mountain MC KTM's Stew-
ard Baylor, with FMF/KTM team-
mates Ben Kelley and Johnny
Girroir running third and fourth,
respectively.
After passing DeLong and
leading half a lap, Baylor buried
his bike in a mudhole, handing
the lead back to DeLong. This
would be the story of the day
for all the riders, as each would
gain ground, only to lose valu-
able seconds getting stuck in a
mudhole.
At the end of lap one, a trio of
XC-2 250 Pro riders—Evan Smith,
Jonathan Johnson, both factory
Beta riders, and Trail Jesters
KTM's Grant Davis—held the top
three positions on adjusted time,
taking advantage of the XC-1
WIND
IN THE
P54
(Above) Andrew DeLong captured
his first career GNCC win at a soggy
one in Georgia. (Right) Evan Smith
(347) gets off to a fast start in the
XC-2 Pro class, but Angus Riordan
emerged with the win, just ahead of
Smith.
PHOTOS: KEN HILL
