Grant Davis wins John Penton GNCC as KTM riders take podiums in GNCC and Hare & Hound
FMF KTM Factory Racing's Grant Davis won Round 10 of the 2026 GNCC series in rain-soaked Ohio, while Brandy Richards took second in WXC and Dante Oliveira finished second in the Hare & Hound Pro class.
- 2:23:26
- 2:07:35
- 20 points
- 4 points
What Happened
FMF KTM Factory Racing's Grant Davis won Round 10 of the 2026 Grand National Cross Country Series at The John Penton GNCC on Sunday, his second XC1 Open Pro class and overall victory of the season. Riding a KTM 450 XC-F in rain-soaked conditions in Ohio, Davis combined a fast start with a measured ride through the mud to finish with a total time of 2:23:26. The result moves him up to seventh in the XC1 standings during his rookie season in the premier class.
“I felt amazing today! On Lap 1, I already knew that I'd be up there by the end of the moto, and when I started to open a gap, I calmed down and just rode my own race. I slowed it down a little bit for consistency, but I am pumped. I'm back - I've been putting in hard work over the break, and it showed here today.”
Reigning GNCC champion Ben Kelley, on a KTM 350 XC-F Factory Edition, finished fourth in the XC1 Open Pro class after being caught in the mid-field off the start. He mounted a convincing comeback over the final stages of the three-hour race, and the points keep him fourth in the standings as he defends his title. In the XC2 250 Pro division, Jason Tino took fifth on a KTM 250 XC-F after spinning at the start left him dead last, leaving him third in the XC2 standings, 23 points outside the lead.
- Grant Davis - 1st, XC1 Open Pro, KTM 450 XC-F
- Ben Kelley - 4th, XC1 Open Pro, KTM 350 XC-F Factory Edition; 4th in the XC1 standings
- Jason Tino - 5th, XC2 250 Pro, KTM 250 XC-F; 3rd in the XC2 standings, 23 points off the lead
- Brandy Richards - 2nd, WXC, KTM 350 XC-F Factory Edition; her eighth podium of the season, 2nd in the WXC standings, four points from the lead with three rounds remaining
2:23:26
Round 10 of the 2026 GNCC series, raced in rain-soaked, muddy conditions in Ohio.
In the National Hare & Hound Series, defending champion Dante Oliveira finished second in the Pro class at Round 6, the Muley Run National in Panaca, Nevada, on his KTM 450 XC-F. He held second position throughout the two-lap format and crossed the line in 2:07:35, a consistent outing for the number one as he eyes a successful title defense. After victories at each of the five previous rounds, Oliveira holds a 20-point advantage going into the season finale at The 100's National in Ridgecrest, California, on October 31-November 1. Zane Roberts (Beta) won the round, with Ryder Thomaselli (Husqvarna) third.
“I felt amazing on the bike - we put a lot of work in with the team this week in developing settings and getting more and more comfortable, and that paid off massively. The team at WP did an amazing job in getting me in the right direction, and we got off to the holeshot here with Zane right on my rear wheel. I went a little far wide on one of the turns, which allowed him through, and then we fought for the whole two hours. There are so many positives to take away with my riding, I just can't give those guys an inch, as they'll take a mile, but we'll get stronger and come out firing at the next one.”
Previously from KTM AG
KTM's racing programs had a busy weekend in mid-September 2026. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing claimed a double victory at Los Angeles SMX Playoff 2 on September 20, and a day earlier in the Austria MotoGP Sprint at the Red Bull Ring, Red Bull KTM's Pedro Acosta led most of the race before crashing out, leaving Brad Binder to take ninth place and the final point.
- Red Bull KTM Factory Racing takes double victory at Los Angeles SMX Playoff 2
- Binder salvages ninth as Acosta crashes out of Austria MotoGP Sprint at Red Bull Ring
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of KTM AG's official releases.
Why this matters
Off-road race results decide championships, and this weekend's rounds shifted the title math for several KTM riders. Davis moves to seventh in the XC1 standings in his rookie season in the premier class, Brandy Richards sits four points from the WXC lead with three rounds left, and Dante Oliveira carries a 20-point Hare & Hound lead into the season finale.
Terms in This Story
- GNCC
- Grand National Cross Country, an off-road motorcycle racing series.
- Holeshot
- Being first through the opening corner at the start of a race.
- Hare and Hound
- An off-road desert racing format in which riders chase a course marked by a leading rider.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.