Steward Baylor Finally Conquers Snowshoe GNCC

The 2026 Yamaha Racing Snowshoe GNCC concluded another unforgettable weekend of racing atop Snowshoe Mountain, as the world’s best off-road racers conquered one of the most demanding and iconic events on the Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series, an AMA National Championship. With championship battles tightening, milestone victories earned, and valuable points on the line, the ninth round of the season delivered excitement from start to finish before the series heads into its annual summer break ahead of the championship stretch run in September.

Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green’s Steward Baylor finally checked one of the biggest accomplishments off his GNCC career by conquering Snowshoe Mountain and earning his first overall victory at the legendary Yamaha Racing Snowshoe GNCC. After years of coming close at one of the toughest and most unpredictable races on the schedule, Baylor put together a masterful ride through the rocky, technical terrain to claim the overall win.

“It was a frustrating day, a little bit right off the bat. I just made a mistake, and I knew at the back of my mind we’re swapping that tire,” said Steward Baylor. “So, I guess not frustrating, but struggled throughout the day, just knowing we’ve got to have that gap to do that tire and man, it really went away there on lap three and I wasn’t able to keep the gap that I had. So those guys closed in a good bit, but I knew if I can make it to the pits I was anywhere close. I knew I had an advantage on those last two with a fresh tire and that’s what we did. But yeah, it was fun. I mean, I led obviously most of that race and had a lot of speed. We did a lot of work this week. I think my mechanic is better than anybody at changing tires at this point. I think we went through 16 or 17 tires, four miles out in the woods off the jeep path.”

Baylor’s Snowshoe victory comes at a pivotal point in the championship chase, as he has battled back from three DNFs earlier in the season to move within just 12 points of the points leader. With the series now heading into its summer break, Baylor carries major momentum into the second half of the year and has firmly put himself back in contention for the GNCC National Championship.

Baylor continued, “It’s the best year I feel like I’ve personally had, obviously, those few bike issues at the beginning of the year, set us back. But now the goal is definitely set on the championship. I think just quick math doing it here at about nine points down, 10 points down, which is, we’re back in this thing after three DNF’s if that’s not dominance I don’t know what is.”

Phoenix Racing Honda’s Angus Riordan turned in an outstanding performance at the Yamaha Racing Snowshoe GNCC, battling through the grueling mountain terrain to earn second overall and claim the XC2 250 Pro class victory. Riordan maintained an impressive pace throughout the race, mixing it up with the XC1 Open Pro riders while staying in control of the XC2 class. His runner-up overall finish and class win added another impressive result to his season, further strengthening his position in the XC2 250 Pro championship as the series heads into its summer break.

“It feels unreal. This hill normally kicks my ass. I told the boys I’m going to make this hill my – I better not say the other world, and yeah, I felt good,” said Angus Riordan. “I got off to a good start, I was last off the jump and then I tucked up the inside, and I was second in our group, and it was sort of a big train – I was feeling good the whole time. Then it was one hell of a race.”

With his Snowshoe victory, Riordan also took over the lead in the XC2 250 Pro championship standings heading into the GNCC Racing summer break. The Australian rider plans to keep his momentum rolling by mixing up his schedule over the break, lining up at select AMA Pro Motocross events before returning to defend his points lead when the GNCC season resumes later this summer.

Riordan continued, “I feel good after how my year started. I said my goal was points lead by summer break, and I’ve got it and the way my years started I’m pretty happy, it makes me confident that I’ve got it. And yeah, bit of a break now might go do a few pro motocross rounds and mix it up a bit and then come out swinging for the last four, but three points, which has been annoying, but yeah, say, ready to go.”