2025 Ironman GNCC: Witkowski Secures First Win; Kelley Clinches Title
In a dramatic conclusion to the 2025 Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) season, Mike Witkowski (Honda) achieved his inaugural overall victory at the Ironman GNCC in Indiana. Witkowski outperformed XC2 competitor Cody Barnes (Honda) and third-place finisher Liam Draper (Yamaha) in a tightly contested race.
The championship took a pivotal turn when Grant Davis, entering the final round as the overall points leader, suffered a DNF due to lingering effects from a concussion sustained in the previous round in Ohio. With Davis sidelined, Ben Kelley (KTM) capitalized by finishing within the top ten, securing the 2025 Grand National title. This marks Kelley’s second championship, having previously won in 2021.
In the XC2 class, Barnes claimed victory, followed closely by Brody Johnson (Honda) and Angus Riordan (KTM).
The Women’s XC (WXC) event saw Korie Steede (Husqvarna) clinch both the overall win and the 2025 WXC title, with Brandy Richards (KTM) and Rachael Archer (Kawasaki) completing the podium.
This finale capped a thrilling season, showcasing the resilience and skill of the competitors. Full race results and analyses are available in the post-race recap.
