Kirkland takes over GNCC XC2 lead

FRE/KTM XC2 Pro-Am rider Josh Kirkland won his second consecutive race to take over the points lead heading to the final round of the GNCC Series.

Kirkland’s race did not start as well as it ended. Although he was in second position heading to the first turn he spun out when he hit the first corner and found himself back in ninth position when he recovered. Meanwhile, out front Parker Jones and Brian Wolf were battling for the lead. Shortly after, Wolf succumbed to mechanical problems and Jones started to pull out front while Kirkland was busy climbing through the pack.

As Kirkland continued to battle on, he soon found himself in second place heading to the final lap. He passed Jones for the lead and went on to win the race and inherit the championship points lead. Now with one race left, Kirkland holds a 17 point lead over Wolf.

Josh Kirkland hoists the first-place trophy at Power Line Park GNCC.

In the XC1 Pro class Adam McGill again showed he has what it takes to run up front. He started in second place behind Bill Ballance. Halfway through the race Brandon Sommers made a pass to get around Ballance and McGill and take over the lead position. Ballance took a pit stop after the first lap and McGill moved into second place. McGill soon moved into the lead later on the second lap.

The top five runners (with the exception of Ballance) took a pit on the next lap. This allowed Ballance to move back into the lead followed by McGill, Sommers, Chris Borich and Byran Cook. Borich and McGill soon made a move to get past Ballance. Borich was able to make a pass on McGill for the lead and the two riders pulled from the rest of the pack. The two riders followed each other wheel to wheel all the way to the finish with Borich just edging out McGill for the win.

In the Women’s class, Angel Atwell, who already secured the Women’s Championship, held the lead from start to finish collecting her eighth win of the season. Atwell built up over a minute lead on the rest of the field as she crossed the checkers.

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