DeLong Tops Buckwheat 100 GNCC
C
raig DeLong led the next-
to-last round of the Grand
National Cross-Country series in
Newburg, West Virginia, October
7-8, from start to finish, leaving
the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna
rider solidly in control of the
2023 Overall Grand National
Championship. His nearest rival,
Steward Baylor, had a race to for-
get, finishing 19th, now 23 points
behind DeLong in the series
standings with one race remain-
ing. In addition, a 13th-place
overall finish after crashing
during the opening stages of the
race by FMF KTM's Ben Kelley
mathematically eliminated the
defending champ from the title
chase.
"It was a rough day for me,"
said Kelley. "I got off to a good
start, although had a big crash
just a few miles into the race,
which dropped me right down
to the rear of the field. I tried
to charge, although I was a bit
shaken up by the fall and strug-
gled for comfort, which marked
a very frustrating day for me and
a big letdown to the entire team.
After getting kicked around and
having another couple of crash-
es, I decided to settle and bring
it home in one piece in ninth
place."
Before the race, Delong was
intent on getting the win, and
that's precisely what he did, lead-
ing the race from start to finish.
"It just doesn't feel real," said De-
Long. "It wasn't easy; Ricky and
Ryder were on my tail, and then
I heard Steward had a mechani-
cal, which I hate. We were bat-
tling all year, and to have it come
down to a mechanical, nobody
wants that."
AmPro Yamaha's Ricky Rus-
WIND
IN THE
P50
Craig DeLong (342) scored a narrow
win at the Buckwheat 100 GNCC in
West Virginia and is now poised to
win the championship.
PHOTOS: KEN HILL
