Davis Wins Buckwheat 100 GNCC
F
or only the second time in the
history of the Grand National
Cross Country Series, an XC2 rid-
er claimed the overall win when
FMF KTM Factory Racing Team
Landers' Grant Davis surprised
the field by beating FMF KTM
Factory Racing's Johnny Girroir
by two seconds on adjusted time
at the Buckwheat 100 GNCC at
CJ Raceway in Newburg, West
Virginia, on September 1.
"It feels amazing right now,"
said Davis. "I can't believe this
even is happening. I mean, get
-
ting on the overall podium is
cool, but to win it, that's just a
whole different story."
Although Girroir was physi-
cally in first place on the track
and crossed the finish line first,
the KTM rider ended up second
overall (first in the XC1 class)
on corrected time since the XC2
riders leave 10 seconds behind
the XC1 class. Girroir's runner-
up finish at the Buckwheat 100
went a long way toward putting
his stamp on this year's GNCC
Championship. Girroir was com
-
ing off of back-to-back overall
wins heading into the race, mak-
ing for four total overall wins on
the season, with his worst finish
so far a third overall at round
five in Tennessee. With only
three rounds remaining, Girroir
now holds a 53-point lead in the
series standings ahead of Rocky
Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki's
Steward Baylor.
Another rider having a surpris
-
ing day was AmPro Yamaha's
Liam Draper, who was making
his first ride in the XC1 class.
The up-and-coming Aussie
finished third overall and second
in the XC2 class, despite hav
-
ing surgery to remove hardware
from his knee at the start of the
summer. Draper passed Coastal
Racing GasGas' Jordan Ashburn
on the final lap to secure the
podium finish.
IN THE
P58
Grant Davis became
just the second rider in
GNCC history to take the
overall victory from the
XC2 class.
WIND
