19.02.2024

JOHNNY GIRROIR AND ANGUS RIORDAN DELIVER IN BIG BUCK GNCC SEASON-OPENER

KTM Offroad Weekend Update
This press release has: 7 Images
FMF KTM Factory Racing's Johnny Girroir has won the opening round of the 2024 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series in the XC1 Open Pro division, as Angus Riordan opened his XC2 250 Pro account with a class victory on debut with FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers at the Big Buck event in South Carolina.
Girroir led all six laps and remained composed under pressure to take home his second-career GNCC overall win onboard the KTM 350 XC-F. Building on experience gained last year, it's been an impressive start to the year for Girroir, and that continued in Round 1 of the GNCC season.

Lining up alongside Girroir in select rounds of GNCC this year is Dante Oliveira while filling in for Ben Kelley, who started strongly to complete the opening lap in seventh position, before climbing to P6 soon afterward. He then settled into an eighth-place result, banking valuable knowledge in the tighter confines of XC competition and making the most of the experience.

Johnny Girroir: "I felt good right from the start. I kind of just maintained the gap at the front, I was hitting my marks from start to finish, didn't make many mistakes and it was a good race. I learned a lot last year and have been working hard with the team, learning when to go fast and when to back it down, which paid off today. I feel fit and strong, had a really good off-season, so I'm excited to keep this going."

Dante Oliveira: "Today was a decent start at Big Buck. I started off around fourth and got into the tighter stuff, pushed the front in the roots, and dropped back before I got to find a few more lines and was able to pick it up. It's a different beast out here, but I'm in one piece, learned a lot, and had fun. We'll keep building off this for the next one. I know what I need to work on and had a great time racing in GNCC again."

FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers had all three riders on the podium in Round 1 at the Union venue, with Riordan edging his way to the first XC2 250 Pro win of 2024. He led four of the six laps, including the one that counted on his KTM 250 XC-F in a convincing performance.

Alongside Riordan on the XC2 250 Pro podium was teammate Grant Davis in third place, climbing as high as second position on lap two, and then going on to finish in P3 for the weekend. In addition, Brandy Richards' third-place result in the WXC ranks was a welcome start to her campaign in the woods, providing a strong foundation to build upon in these early stages of the series.

Angus Riordan: "It was a good, fun race. I felt like I had to get some redemption from last year, so I'm really happy to win this one and start the season on top. I've been training with Kailub Russell, grinding it out in Florida and it's paying off, so I'm looking forward to the next round now."

Grant Davis: "It was a really solid to start the season on the podium, so hopefully we can keep this going and put ourselves in a position to be in the fight for the championship."

Brandy Richards: "I got off to a great start and I just tried to stay smooth and consistent. On the second lap, I tried to pick it up, but the roots were slick out there and I went down. These girls were ripping and I had a good time – it was a great race!"

XC1 Open Pro Class Results
1. Johnny Girroir, KTM
2. Steward Baylor Jr, KAW
3. Grant Baylor, KAW
OTHER KTM
8. Dante Oliveira, KTM

XC2 250 Pro Class Results
1. Angus Riordan, KTM
2. Liam Draper, YAM
3. Grant Davis, KTM

WXC Class Results
1. Rachael Archer, KAW
2. Korie Steede, HQV
3. Brandy Richards, KTM

Upcoming Offroad Races – March 2024
3/4: Grand National Cross Country Series - Round 2
3/4: National Grand Prix Championship - Round 2
3/11: Grand National Cross Country Series - Round 3
3/17: West Hare Scrambles - Round 1
3/25: Grand National Cross Country Series - Round 4
3/25: U.S. Hard Enduro Series - Round 2
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Images (7)

JOHNNY GIRROIR - FMF KTM FACTORY RACING
2 400 x 1 600 © Mack Faint
JOHNNY GIRROIR 02 - FMF KTM FACTORY RACING
2 400 x 1 600 © Mack Faint
JOHNNY GIRROIR 03 - FMF KTM FACTORY RACING
2 400 x 1 600 © Mack Faint
DANTE OLIVEIRA - FMF KTM FACTORY RACING
2 400 x 1 600 © Mack Faint
ANGUS RIORDAN - FMF KTM FACTORY RACING TEAM LANDERS
2 400 x 1 600 © Mack Faint
GRANT DAVIS - FMF KTM FACTORY RACING TEAM LANDERS
2 400 x 1 600 © Mack Faint
BRANDY RICHARDS - FMF KTM FACTORY RACING TEAM LANDERS
2 400 x 1 600 © Mack Faint

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