GNCC Round 10
Chris Jenks earns first GNCC win at the Stomp in North Carolina
By Jason Weigandt
September 15, 2005 – When Team Yamaha's defending GNCC Champion Bill Ballance went down with an injury over the summer, the door was open for the field to break through and get some wins. Ballance's championship rival Chris Borich was hoping to take advantage at the Stomp in Yadkinville, North Carolina, September 10-11.
But in the end it was Four-Stroke Tech's Chris Jenks who emerged with his first-ever Suzuki Grand National Cross Country victory.
"I always wondered what it would be like up here," said Jenks, who raced the Pro-Am class last year but has broken through with several solid rides this season. "Any time it's hot and dusty like this, and tight, at this level, everyone has a chance. You can't just jump into this and do super-well. You need to have knowledge around you and people helping you out. And the fans, they were great for cheering us on."
On a tight track where passing would be at a premium, Borich was able to work his way into second but couldn't get Jenks at the end.
"It was hard back there, it was hard to pass," said Borich. "It was pretty nuts there in the creek section, if you wanted to banzai through you could make a pass there, but I wanted to keep my hands dry. Chris was trying to step it up, and I was trying to pass him but I was afraid to hit a tree or something and lose some points. I'm just happy to finish second."
With Bill Ballance out, his younger brother, Brandon, was left to carry the flag for the Ballance Racing team. Brandon did all he could to keep Borich behind him and steal some points, but he was passed while gassing in the pits. Still, he held on for third.
"Bill called me before the race even started, and he told me to get out there and get a holeshot. I knew after the first lap if I could just stay with William (Yokley) I would be good, and then when he pitted I took the lead. Chris (Jenks) got past me in the creek. I wanted to get up here and hold Chris back for the points. I bet when I call Bill he's going to be calling me a, well, a blank, blank, blank, but these guys are good."
Yoshimura Suzuki's William Yokley got the holeshot and led early, but he was suffering from a pulled hamstring and dropped back to fifth. Meanwhile, Jenks' Four-Stroke Tech teammate Bryan Cook was on the gas and moved to fourth.