Ben Kelley continues dominant AMA GNCC season with FMF Camp Coker Bullet win

April 12, 2022

By Keaton Maisano

Photos by Ken Hill

FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley has been defending his 2021 AMA Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series Overall Championship to the tune of five consecutive wins — his most recent coming Sunday at the FMF Camp Coker Bullet.

Round five of the GNCC Series was a microcosm of Kelley’s season so far, as he dominated throughout the race. Leading from the opening lap until the finish of his nearly three-hour ride, Kelley bolstered his lead in the Overall National Championship Standings to 53 points with eight rounds remaining.

Finishing more than two minutes behind Kelley was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Trevor Bollinger, who climbed up to second position after finding himself in fifth after the first lap. With 89 points, Bollinger sits in third in the Overall National Championship standings.

In the XC2 250 Pro class, Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing’s Ryder Lafferty overtook the lead in the fourth lap and held on to claim his first career win in the class. His performance placed him fourth overall in the afternoon race.

The top amateur honors went to Team Green Kawasaki’s Grant Davis, who finished 21st overall and first in the 250 A Class by more than two minutes over Driven MX training/Coppersmith Racing/XC Gear’s Trevor Maley.

In the morning race, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna/Surge Off-Road Coaching Team’s Tayla Jones finished more than two minutes behind the lead in third place, but the solid performance earned Jones the WXC class win.

In the youth race, Team Green Kawasaki’s Nicholas DeFeo continued his impressive season by extending his winning streak to five.

GNCC Racing Series competition continues May 7-8 with the Hoosier at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Ind.