Snowshoe, W. Va. – The eighth round of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series heads to the beautiful mountains of Snowshoe, W. Va. this weekend for the spectacular MotoSport.com Snowshoe GNCC. Arguably one of the toughest races on the circuit, Snowshoe always presents a challenging course that only the toughest racers survive.
Constructed around the famed Blackwater 100, participants start live engine on a paved road in groups of five, every five seconds, making for a spectacular scene. This particular GNCC has always fared as a favorite for racers and families as well as fans because of the amenities Snowshoe Mountain has to offer.
Although he hasn’t won the most races, FMF Makita Suzuki’s Josh Strang leads the points chase after landing consistent top five finishes every weekend so far. FMF KTM’s Charlie Mullins trails by a mere two points to Strang after finishing third behind the Aussie in the last round of racing in Pennsylvania.
AmPro Yamaha’s Paul Whibley captured his second win of the season in the rocky Pennsylvania terrain, with high hopes of sealing another win in the rocky grounds of Snowshoe this weekend. WMR’s Nate Kanney captured the win here at Snowshoe a year ago. The New Yorker is experienced in the rough and tough conditions of Snowshoe and is highly favored heading into the weekend.
The XC2 Lites class has provided nothing short of bar banging action this year as riders like Steward Baylor Jr., Jesse Robinson, Jason Thomas and Jordan Ashburn have battled it out to the end every weekend. With three wins on the season, Baylor inches out Thomas for the points lead while Andrew DeLong and Brad Bakken sit close behind.
Wednesday, June 22 kicks off the 4th Annual GNCC University, presented by Yamaha Racing. The three-day riding school takes place in the trails of Snowshoe Mountain and students of all skill levels will learn from Yamaha Racing’s multi-championship winning staff on both ATVs and motorcycles.
On Friday, the 9th Annual GNCC Golf Tournament returns to the picturesque Ravens Club for a day of fun and relaxation before a weekend of racing. Top racers, sponsors and fans will participate in four-person teams for a list of prizes and a spot on the coveted traveling trophy. The golf tournament is open to anyone and everyone. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. on Friday at the Ravens Club, followed by a tee time of 9 a.m. The cost is $300/team and all proceeds will benefit the Brain Injury Research Institute at West Virginia University.
Spectator passes run $20 for the full weekend, with pro pit access and pro autographs at no additional charge. On both Saturday and Sunday, youth riders race at 8 a.m., beginner riders race at 10 a.m., and the top amateurs and the pros race at 1 p.m.
For directions to Snowshoe Mountain, please click HERE. For more information, check out the official series website at www.GNCCRacing.com or call 304-284-0084.