Kelley Wins Wild Boar GNCC
F
MF KTM Factory Racing's Ben
Kelley fought hard to take
the overall win at the Wild Boar
GNCC in Palatka, Florida, March
1. It was round two of the GNCC
Championship.
Multi-time Canadian cham
-
pion in several disciplines, Tyler
Medaglia (Yamaha), took the
holeshot, leading FMF KTM Fac-
tory Racing rider Grant Davis and
Phoenix Honda Racing's Jordan
Ashburn into perhaps the most
challenging course of the series.
Medaglia launched off the start
while the GNCC veterans knew
to pace themselves for the
tough conditions that the sandy
course would turn into after the
halfway point.
By mile-marker nine, Medaglia
was in the lead with a comfort
-
able gap, followed by two-time
Wild Boar winner and opening-
round winner Johnny Girroir, Da-
vis, Ashburn and Mike Witkowski
from Phoenix Honda Racing. A
few positions back, FMF KTM
Factory Racing rider Jason Tino
was leading the XC2 class.
Girroir took the lead on lap
two with a sweeping, outside
pass, adding some urgency to
Davis's game plan, as he didn't
want to let Girroir and Medaglia
get away. Medaglia fell near the
end of the lap, moving Davis
into second. Medaglia held onto
third, with Tino in fourth on the
track but first overall on adjusted
time. He also led the XC2 divi
-
sion.
Halfway through the second
lap, Girroir pulled into the pits,
allowing Davis to take the lead
with a hard-charging Cody
Barnes now up into third on his
Liqui Moly Beta, followed by
Witkowski and Red Bear Rocky
Mountain Kawasaki's Steward
Baylor. Not fully 100 percent
coming into the race, the heat
and rough course forced Girroir
to retire.
On lap three, Kelley, who had
been methodical and consistent
so far, began his frantic push to
WIND
IN THE
P38
In challenging
conditions, Ben
Kelley held on to
win the Wild Boar
GNCC in Palatka,
Florida.
PHOTOS:
MACK FAINT
