BY SHAN MOORE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEN HILL
T
he unthinkable happened when
a seventh new winner in the first
seven rounds of the 2023 Grand
National Cross-Country Series stood atop
the middle step of the podium at this
weekend's John Penton GNCC in Millfield,
Ohio, speaking to the depth of this year's
class. The final two laps of the race came
down to a battle between Magna1 Racing
Husqvarna's Jordan Ashburn and Tely
Energy Racing/ Rocky Mountain ATV/
MC KTM Racing's Steward Baylor with
Ashburn, the defending champion, com-
ing out the victor. Never has there been
seven winners in the first seven rounds.
With his second-place finish, Baylor took
over the points lead in the series stand-
ings and will carry the white number plate
at the next round in Pennsylvania.
The action heated up early as pop-
ping out of the John Penton section
on lap one, AmPro Yamaha's Ricky
Russell led the way followed by FMF/
KTM's Johnny Girroir, Ashburn, Babbitt's
Online Monster Energy Kawasaki's Josh
Strang, and Rockstar Energy Husqvar-
na's Craig Delong heading into the
final third of the lap. Liam Draper led
the XC2 250 Pro-Am class with Cody
Barnes in second. Tely Energy Racing/
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM Racing's
Steward Baylor followed but was on the
move.
ROUND 7 / MAY 21, 2023
MILLFIELD, OHIO
OFF-ROAD I GRAND NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY SERIES
P76
ASHBURN
WINS IN OHIO
Jordan Ashburn becomes the seventh different winner
in as many rounds at the John Penton GNCC
