Yamaha YFZ450R’s scored three more podiums during the day, with Ballance Racing’s Walker Fowler battling to second in the premier XC1 Pro class – his seventh podium of the year – and Patrick McGuire and Josh Merritt taking second and third, respectively, in the XC2 Pro Am class.
When the afternoon XC1 Pro event started, YFZ450R-mounted Jeff Pickens grabbed the holeshot before Fowler found his way into the early lead. As the long, two-hour race wore on, the lead swapped between Ohio native Fowler and rivals Chris Borich and Andy McGill – that is until Borich experienced mechanical problems and dropped back. From there to the flag, the fight for the XC1 Pro win came down to Fowler and McGill, with Fowler finishing second by just 1.8 sec. Including Fowler, Taylor Kiser and Johnny Gallagher, four of the top eight XC1 Pro riders were aboard YFZ450R’s. Fowler and Kiser are now second and third, respectively, in the XC1 Pro championship.
| XC1 Pro Class |
| 1 |
Adam Mcgill |
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| 2 |
Walker Fowler - YAM |
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| 3 |
Chris Bithell |
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| 4 |
Jarrod McClure |
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| 5 |
Brian Wolf |
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| 6 |
Taylor Kiser - YAM |
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| 7 |
Johnny Gallagher - YAM |
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| 8 |
Kevin Yoho - YAM |
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| 9 |
Mark Notman - YAM |
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| 10 |
Craig Bowman |
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Already a legend in ATV racing, Yamaha’s Traci Cecco just proved again why she is the GNCC Women’s series all-time best as she raced her YFZ450R to a record ninth championship with a podium finish in St. Clairsville, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 6. Cecco has earned six wins and five podiums, including Saturday’s effort, on her way to the 2012 title.
Cecco needed a strong finish at ITP Powerline Park to continue her string of GNCC championships that began way back in 2000. After starting fourth behind rivals Angel Atwell, Lexie Coulter and Kylie Ahart, she made her move into third after the halfway point and then held the position, picking up the points necessary to claim the title – and tie Yamaha legend Bill Ballance’s GNCC record in the process. “Consistency wins championships, and Traci and her YFZ450R have continually proven it with solid performances all year,” said Yamaha ATV racing coordinator Donnie Luce. “Her ninth championship is truly special.”
| Womens' Class |
| 1 |
Lexie Coulter |
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| 2 |
Angel Atwell |
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| 3 |
Traci Cecco - YAM |
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| 4 |
Kylie N. Ahart |
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| 5 |
Kara Merritt - YAM |
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