Bill Ballance wins GNCC Rider of the Year

In addition to officially taking possession of his 2005 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) ATV #1 plate, six-time champ Bill Ballance also took home his sixth straight GNCC Rider of the Year award. Presented at the season-ending GNCC ATV Banquet held November 25, 2005, at the Lakeview Resort in Morgantown, West Virginia, the Rider of the Year award is voted on by the riders themselves. To take home the trophy for six straight years is an excellent indication of the amount of respect Bill receives from his fellow racers.
"I am honored and humbled to have received Rider of the Year," said Ballance. "It can sometimes be boring to see the same face up here year after year, so to get this award six straight times is a pretty cool deal."
In addition to the Rider of the Year plague, his 2005 #1 plate and the numerous race-win trophies he earned over the course of this year's series, Bill also received a ring with six diamonds at the GNCC ATV Banquet to commemorate his sixth championship.