FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley has clinched the 2021 GNCC National Championship with a thriving performance in what ultimately came down to a grueling race of survival at Sunday’s Ironman GNCC finale.

Poised to fight all the way to the final checkers, the tightly-contested championship battle experienced yet another hurdle with immense rainfall coming down all morning, causing a delay in the start of the race, along with a condensed two-hour competition and drastically altered course for the normal three-hour bout. Kelley had a good jump off the start in second but his bike fell victim to the adverse conditions towards the end of the first lap and as a result, the points leader found himself in 88th overall with his championship rival, Steward Baylor Jr., close in tow. With the title still on the line, Kelley dug deep to fight his way through the chaos, passing his way up to a points-paying position later in the race. With a strong finish, Kelley was able to come away with ninth overall, which was enough to wrap up his first premier class title in 2021.

Ben Kelley: “That was a crazy way to end the season like this. I wanted to go out on top with a win but I did what I had to do to finish and get this championship. It was mayhem, total survival out there. I was trying to be cautious but it was nearly impossible – if you went slow, you’d submerge your bike. After a crazy day, it feels really good and all the hard work paid off, I’m stoked!”

KTM has maintained control of GNCC’s XC1 title for nine consecutive years following a hearty run by eight-time champ Kailub Russell, who held the crown from 2013 to 2020. Now, earning the title in his first full season in the class, the 25-year-old Kelley carries the torch into the next generation of KTM’s offroad racing talent. His path was anything but clear, as the three-time race-winner experienced stiff competition from Baylor all season long but he maintained consistency by finishing 10 of the 13 rounds on the podium. He put his best foot forward in the final moments of the series to uphold his points lead under pressure, further showcasing his drive and determination to transition from an up-and-coming two-time XC2 250 Pro Champion to the No. 1 rider in the premier division. (source: fmf ktm factory racing)

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photos (c) Shan Moore