GNCC Powerline Park: Stu Baylor, Gus Riordan and Rachael Archer Win in the Mud.
Story: GNCC Press Release
May 5, 2025
Powerline Park GNCC overall podium: Stu Baylor (c), Jordan Ashburn (l), Gus Riordan (r).
Image: Mack Faint courtesy GNCC
The Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, continued racing with slick, muddy conditions on Sunday, May 4 in St. Clairsville, Ohio with the Kenda Tires Powerline Park GNCC.
As the afternoon race got underway, Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green’s Steward Baylor got off to a good start, earning himself the $250 Landers KTM XC1 Open Pro Holeshot Award. Baylor would continue to lead the opening lap, but soon Flatrock Motorclub GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jordan Ashburn would make his way up to battle with Baylor for the remainder of the race.
Stu Baylor wins in the Ohio mud.
Image: Mack Faint courtesy GNCC
Ashburn would physically hold the lead on the second and third laps of the race, while Baylor battled back and would be able to make the pass back into the lead with one lap to go. As the two headed out on the last lap, Baylor would continue to push ahead of Ashburn but as they made their way towards the finish line Ashburn would close the gap until a mistake right before the finish line put him out of contention on making the pass for the win.
Baylor would cross the line to earn his second overall win of the season, while Ashburn came through to finish second overall just 13 seconds off of Baylor.
XC2 250 Pro class competitor, FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Angus Riordan would have to work his way up through the pack after he started back in fourth on the opening lap. Riordan would continue to push, making the move into the XC2 lead for the last three laps. Riordan would continue to push forward and as he crossed the line would finish third overall in race, while earning his class win.
AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper had a consistent day through the slick, yet tacky conditions throughout the Ohio course. Draper would hold the third place position in the XC1 Open Pro class for the duration of the race, ultimately crossing the line third in his class and fourth overall on the day.
Finishing fifth overall was XC2 250 Pro racer, Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cody Barnes. As the race got underway Barnes would find himself holding the lead on lap two, but he would soon face a battle with Riordan for that number one spot. After battling off and on, Barnes would cross the finish line to finish second in his class.
FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Grant Davis would earn the $150 Landers KTM XC2 250 Pro Holeshot Award to start his day, and he would battle within the top three in the XC2 class for the majority of the race. Coming to the finish line, Davis would be unable to make any further passes and would finish third in XC2 and sixth overall on the day.
Coming through to take seventh overall, and fourth in XC1 was Liqui Moly Factory Beta Racing’s Josh Strang. Strang would have a steady day as he continued to battle inside the top five throughout the duration of the race. Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Craig DeLong would make his way up to fifth in XC1 and eighth overall on the day after starting back in tenth place position.
Rocket Racing/Bonecutter Off-Road’s Brody Johnson would battle back to earn fourth in the XC2 250 Pro class, while finishing ninth overall on the day at round six. After leading early on in the race, Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green’s Joshua Toth would cross the line fifth in XC2, and he would round out the top 10 overall finishers of the day in Ohio. It was a rough day for the overall points leader as FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley finished eleventh overall.
As the morning race got underway and the WXC line took off, it was Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green’s Rachael Archer grabbing the $100 Landers KTM WXC Holeshot Award. Archer would continue to lead the way for the duration of the race, crossing the line with over a two-minute lead on her fellow WXC competitors.
Enduro Engineering-backed Shelby Turner would battle back-and-forth with Phoenix Racing Honda’s Tayla Jones throughout the race. Turner would be able to make the pass stick and hold on to finish second in the WXC class, while Jones rounded out the top three WXC finishers at the Kenda Tires Powerline Park GNCC.
