The GNCC Championship headed to Beckley this weekend for Round 11, The Mountaineer. And after a few challenging weeks, Brandy Richards reminded everyone why she’s one of the fastest in the world.
Fresh off her ISDE performance and a runner-up finish in the previous GNCC round, Richards returned to winning form on Sunday. After sitting second in the first half of the race, the FMF KTM Factory Racing rider unleashed a blistering third lap to take control and never looked back. She crossed the line with a little gap, securing an emphatic victory.
Archer extends her championship lead
Rachael Archer was the closest challenger. The Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki rider got the holeshot and led the first two laps before a small mistake opened the door for Richards. Archer regrouped and pushed hard on the final lap, ultimately finishing 17 seconds adrift. Still, second place was a valuable result for the New Zealander, who now holds a 20-point lead in the championship with only two rounds remaining.
McDonald fights to the podium
Danielle McDonald continues her rise. The AmPro Yamaha Racing rider started strong and battled all day with Korie Steede. On the final lap, the Australian dug deep and produced a thrilling charge to secure third place. This podium keeps her within 10 points of the championship top three—a huge motivation heading into the final stretch.
For Steede, the day was more complicated. The Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing rider couldn’t match the pace of Richards and Archer, and after her duel with McDonald she had to settle for fourth. While she remains second in the standings, Archer’s result means the gap at the top has widened.
Turner and the chase pack
Behind the front group, Shelby Turner was once again in the mix. The GasGas rider followed McDonald at the end of lap one but couldn’t hold the same rhythm as the leaders. She still secured a solid fifth place, keeping herself in contention for the final podium spot.
Further back, fans were treated to a three-way scrap for sixth place. Carly Lee (KTM) came out on top, edging out Addison Harris (KTM) and Ellie Winland (Yamaha) to close out the top positions.
The fight continues between Shea and Robinson
This weekend, Jayden Shea won the Girls Super Mini category by 30 seconds over Sahara Robinson. Robinson now has a one-point lead, and no one can predict who will win the title at the end of the season. Paisley Bland took the final podium spot and is now 21 points behind the leader.