on the day . In just his second attempt at GNCC , the reigning ISDE winner landed on the podium at the toughest race of the year . Ashburn would round out the podium ahead of Delong and Bollinger .
When the XC2 class rocketed off the line , it was round one winner AmPro Yamaha ’ s Mike Witkowski taking the holeshot ahead of Tely Energy KTM ’ s Liam Draper and 760 Motorsports Husqvarna ’ s Thorn Devlin as the field headed into the woods . Witkowski would enter into a dogfight for the first two hours of the race with Magna1 Motorsports Husqvarna ’ s Jack Edmonson . Witkowski would lead every lap across the line , with Edmonson less than ten seconds behind the first half of the race . Edmonson would fall off the pace on lap four , crossing the line 43 seconds behind leader Witkowski .
Entering into the frame would be Phoenix Racing Honda mounted Cody Barnes . Barnes would be just off the pace of the front two for most of the race , before taking over second position from Edmonson after the British riders high sided in front of the Florida fans half way through lap 5 . At the checkered flag it was Witkowski , ahead of Barnes , while the battle for third went all the way to the wire between Edmonson , and Trail Jester KTM ’ s Jesse Ansley , who would come from behind , crossing the line 12th after lap one , to right on Jack Eddie ’ s rear wheel
VOL . 7 ISSUE 4 - APRIL 2022 // PAGE 99