2020 Ironman GNCC | Race Highlights

October 29, 2020

2020 IRONMAN GNCC | COMPLETE COVERAGE
www.gnccracing.com

PHOTOS | KTM & GNCC
VIDEO | GNCC

Welcome to Checkpoint, a new weekly feature that will cover the ongoings in the off-road motorcycle racing world, presented by Moose Racing. Although motocross and Supercross is the center of the SML universe, our staff has massive respect for the varied disciplines of off-road, from SuperEnduro to Rally to GNCC to Big Six, and we always have an eye on what’s happening in the professional racing series. Every week we will bring updates from around the world, including race results, photos, video highlights, and new bike or product debuts.

There are few races in the US race season, MX or off-road, that match the hype and turnout of the Ironman GNCC. Fans flock to the Indiana property every year to cheer on every class at the Grand National Cross Country Series race and you can count on them to line the wooded hills, no matter the weather. Those that made it to Crawfordsville were given a glimpse at the future of the East Coast off-road series when Josh Strang and Steward Baylor, two riders that could step up when Kaliub Russell goes into retirement, battled at the front of the pack for the win.

Strang started well aboard his Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki and by the halfway point of the race, had worked his way into the top spot with a move on the early leader Baylor. The AmPro Yamaha rider came into round twelve with plenty of confidence, thanks to a streak of three wins, and looked poised for another victory until the race-deciding pass exchange and then a crash in the closing moments. The time in the lead was crucial for Strang, who won the fifth round of the series but spent the summer break dealing with an injury, and it proved that he’s again able to run the pace. There is one race left in the schedule, the Buckwheat 100 next weekend, for the duo to settle the score.

For Strang and Baylor, these final races really are about making their mark for 2021. Strang has second place overall in the championship on lock, while Baylor is currently fourth after missing much of the year due to personal issues.

Ben Kelley is another that is expected to take the next step forward in 2021, as he’ll be filling the void left by teammate Russell at FMF/KTM Factory Racing, and his third-place finish at Ironman continued his current run of podiums (four in a row, five this season total).

Craig DeLong controlled the XC2 line of the Ironman GNCC. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider claimed the holeshot, crashed and dropped down the running order, then worked his way back into the lead. During his charge through the pack, DeLong caught and passed championship rivals AmPro Yamaha’s Mike Witkowski and Trail Jesters KTM’s Jonathan Girroir, two riders that held the lead at different moments over the three-hour race duration, and rode on to his fourth win of the season.

Girroir was set to score a podium finish, but a crash late in the race dropped him to 11th place in the final results. Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Lyndon Snodgrass picked up second place after Girroir’s mistakes and AmPro Yamaha’s Mike Witkowski claimed third place.

These results were critical to the championship. With this win, DeLong is now at the top of the standings as the series heads to the final round with 296 points, Witkowski is second overall with 285 points, and Girroir is third with 280 points.

2020 Ironman GNCC