Delong Wins Mason Dixon GNCC
A
fter having seven differ-
ent winners in the first
seven rounds, the Grand National
Cross-Country Series finally saw
its first two-time winner of the
2023 season when Rockstar En-
ergy Husqvarna's Craig DeLong
took a hard-fought win at the
Mason Dixon GNCC in Mount
Morris, Pennsylvania, June 4,
over FMF/GasGas privateer
Layne Michael, topping the North
Carolina rider by eight seconds.
DeLong was in championship
contention last year thanks to
consistency, although he didn't
have a win all year. But to have
two wins this year before the
summer break is huge. With the
win, DeLong went from 16 points
behind Tely Energy Racing/
Rocky Mountain ATV-MC KTM
Racing's Steward Baylor in the
championship to an eight-point
lead after the race, when Baylor
suffered a ninth-place finish.
DeLong grabbed the holeshot
ahead of Michael to lead the
pack into the woods for the first
time.
DeLong, Michael, Magna1 Rac-
ing Husqvarna's Jordan Ashburn,
FMF/KTM's Johnny Girroir and
Baylor constituted the order at
the halfway mark of the open-
ing lap in the dry/slick and dusty
conditions. RPM Racing KTM's
Gus Riordan led the Pro 2 class.
At the halfway point of the
WIND
IN THE
P38
Eight races in and Craig
DeLong (342) finally is
the first double winner
in this year's GNCC
Series.
PHOTOS: KEN HILL
