The VP Racing Big Buck GNCC, round one of the Grand National Cross Country Series burst into life with another historic results as XC2 Pro 250 class riders clean sweep the podium.

GNCC Racing has both a new team dominating and seemingly a new regime as XC2 (row two) riders picked up where they left off in the ’24 season. XC2 riders went from never winning to first Josh Toth, then Grant Davis taking two overalls at the end of the season. 

At round one of the ’25 season, a new milestone was reached as the whole podium featured 250 riders and, for the first time, the outright winner, Nick Defeo, won the race overall, overtaking and gapping the best of the XC1 class by minutes to claim victory ahead of Toth and ’24 XC2 class runner-up Angus Riordan on the Landers KTM.

DeFeo is the reigning GNCC 250 A Class Champion and therefore a rookie in the Pro classes. The 19-year-old pulled the holeshot and within two laps had caught the XC1 Pro leaders on adjusted time but kept on going to physically pass them all and pull away, winning the overall by over three minutes.

It’s the first time in the 50-year history that an XC2 rider has crossed the finish line first. “I don't even know what to think right now. I just kept telling myself; ‘You can do this, keep pushing’. I felt great and the bike worked amazing out there,” said DeFeo.

This season opener in South Carolina was anything by ordinary as the results show with 250 A riders inside the top 10 overall plus the reigning champion who grabbed the early lead, FMF KTM’s Johnny Girroir getting stuck on a hill early on and suffering mechanical issues which saw him out of the points.

So too was another of the pre-season favourites, Steward Baylor who also had mechanical issues in the very muddy conditions although he can count on the great day for his team and the fact many of his rivals failed to take big points (or points at all.

Other top competitors who failed to make the distance included Enduro Engineering Triumph Racing’s Ricky Russell, AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper and Racecraft Racing Team’s Thad Duval, Flatrock Motorclub GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jordan Ashburn would and Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Craig Delong.

History boys

Some riders who would make better luck for themselves with consistant speed on the tough course were  DeFeo, who started his day by claiming the $150 Landers KTM XC2 Holeshot Award, and his teammate Josh Toth (who had similar problems in the hills including hitting a spectator before quickly regrouping) and comeback kid Riordan who had to work hard to earn his third late in the race but got there.

The slick, muddy conditions saw Defeo come away with his first career overall and XC2 250 Pro class win at the 2025 season opener in South Carolina. His teammate, Toth, would follow and earn second overall and in the XC2 class while Riordan held onto third overall on the day and third in the XC2 class, making it the first-ever XC2 250 Pro class sweep for the top three overall positions.

Top 10 for 250 A riders Cunningham and Simon

KTM Factory Racing Ben Kelley worked his way into the XC1 Open Pro class lead with two laps remaining. Kelley crossed the line fourth overall on the day, but he would earn the XC1 Open Pro class win to start the year.

Coming through fifth and sixth overall were two, 250 A competitors, Phoenix Racing Honda’s Joseph Cunningham and Precision Off-Road/Viral Optics/Husqvarna’s Gavin Simon. Both Cunningham and Simon would push themselves through the conditions to score a top 10 overall finish position on the day.

Lyndon Snodgrass claimed second in XC1, finishing seventh overall on the day. Snodgrass had a good start to the day and would even hold the lead on the opening lap, but he would find himself in fourth for the next two laps. Snodgrass pushed his way back up and would finish second in XC1.

The defending XC2 250 Pro Class Champion, FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Grant Davis would run at the front for the first part of the race before encountering some problems on the last lap, dropping him to fourth in class and eighth overall.

Phoenix Racing Honda teammates Cody Barnes and Michael Witkowski would round out the top 10 overall finishers on the day at Big Buck, with Barnes fifth in the XC2 class and Witkowski the last spot on the XC1 Open Pro podium in third.

Big hitters outside the top 10

Finishing just outside of the top 10 overall finishers in 11th was Liqui Moly Factory Beta Racing’s Josh Strang. AmPro Yamaha’s Kailub Russell made his return to GNCC Racing and would finish 14th overall and fifth in XC1 on the day.

In the XC3 125 Pro-Am class it was James Jenkins getting the early lead after Luke Brown earned the $100 Lojak Cycle Sales Holeshot Award. Jenkins would hold the lead as they came through on the opening lap, with Brown working his way back up to second. Jenkins continued to place a gap over the rest of the XC3 class and would earn the round one win. Brown crossed the line second, while Isaiah Brown battled back to finish third in the class.

Phoenix Racing Honda’s Joseph Cunningham took home the VP Racing Big Buck GNCC Top Amateur honours on Sunday afternoon as he finished fifth overall on the day and first in the 250 A class. Gavin Simon finished sixth overall on the day, and second in the 250 A class, earning himself the second place on the Top Amateur podium. Lane Whitmer would come through 15th overall on the day and third in 250 A to take the last spot atop the Top Amateur podium.

Women’s Pro win for RMRB Kawasaki’s defending champ

As the morning bike race took off it was Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green’s Rachael Archer getting through the first turn to earn the $100 Landers KTM WXC Holeshot Award. Archer would continue to lead the way for the duration of the race, continuing her winning ways and taking the early points lead in defending her National Championship. 

Second overall in the morning race went to Colton McQuarrie in the 150 B Schoolboy (12-17) class, while third overall would go to Gary Fridley in the Super Senior A (45+) class.

With Archer taking the WXC class win, Enduro Engineering’s Shelby Turner would battle her way her way back up towards the front of the class and make the pass for second in the WXC class. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede had a good start to the day and battled hard to take P3 ahead of FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers Brandy Richards and Phoenix Racing Honda’s Tayla Jones fifth.

Saturday winners

The Youth Bike racers would lineup to race at 4 pm on Saturday at the VP Racing Big Buck, and coming out on top was Travis Lentz who took the overall win and YXC1 Super Mini Sr. (14-15) class. Following Lentz was Cooper Duff coming through second overall in the class, while Lucas Skelton rounded out the top three overall and YXC1 class finishers. 

In the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. (12-13) class it was Hayden Dupuis coming through to finish first, while Ace Tokar and Hunter Hawkinberry rounded out the top three in the class.

Hunter Carey would take the 85 Big Wheel (14-15) class win and Caleb Johnson took the 85 Big Wheel (11-13) class win. Evan Porter battled through to earn the 85 (12-13) class win, Trason Landrum earned the 85 (11) class win and Cason Knecht took the 85 (7-10) class win. 

Ellis Austin earned the 65 (10-11) class win in South Carolina while Matthew Simoneaux earned the 65 (9) class win and Cash Knecht took the 65 (7-8) class win home. 

Jayden Shea earned the Girls Super Mini (12-16) season opener win, while Cassie Fairfield earned the Girls 85 (7-13) class win and Aubrey Tsakanikas earned the Girls 65 (7-11) class win. Hudson Whitmire would take the Trail Rider (7-15) class win.

The 2025 GNCC Series continues on March 1-2, with the Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC in Palatka, Florida.

More information: www.gnccracing.com

Photo Credit: Mack Faint