Racing
2004 ATVA/AMA
Grand National Cross-Country Series
Jeff Stoess wins, Bill Ballance struggles, at Kentucky GNCC
By Jason Weigandt
Jun.
8, 2004 – Mud is the great equalizer in the ATVA Grand National Cross
Country series. Even the best riders can struggle in the slop, which opens the
door for a darkhorse to rise to the top.
That is exactly what happened at the ultra-muddy Spartan NCC in Sparta, Kentucky, May 1-2 where veteran ATK rider Jeff Stoess claimed his first career GNCC win after 15 years of trying.
"I’ve
been at this for 15 years so it sure feels good," says Stoess (left), who would
like to remind fans that his last name is pronounced stess. "I knew I was in
the top five, and a few guys had to pull in to pit, and I didn’t, so I got around
them. A lot of it came down to luck and just staying out of trouble."
Chris
Jenks, who races in the Pro Am class, was second overall, and veteran contender
Chad DuVall was third on his Yamaha. GNCC Champion Bill Ballance (right) saw
his five-race win streak snapped when he struggled to seventh, and other contenders,
like Matt Smiley, Chris Borich and William Yokley, also failed to crack the
top five.
All the riders had to contend with traffic jams on the slick track, which had been drenched by rain repeatedly the week before the race. The weather eventually turned so sour that Sunday’s bike race was cancelled after the pit and parking area became impassable.
But Stoess loved the conditions.
"I wish they were all like this," he said. "It wasn’t really that bad."
Stoess didn’t even stop for gas, gloves or goggles during the race, and his ATK machine, based on the old Cannondale platform, ran flawlessly.
Jenks coming from the second row to take second overall was just as surprising.
"They say number 13 is unlucky but I had a lot of luck on my side today," said Jenks. "It was bad, but I’ve seen worse. You just had to stay out of trouble and stay one step ahead of the lappers."
Jenks
and fellow Pro Am rider Jeremy Rice (left) were actually battling for the overall
win throughout the day, but Rice got stuck in the last lap, dropping him to
fourth overall. Santo DeRisi was third pro and fifth overall on his Team Safari
Yamaha.