Honda Offers Up $46,750 in Contingency for Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series

Courtesy of GNCC Racing

Honda Offers Up $46,750 in Contingency for Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series

Morgantown, W.Va. (January 18, 2010) - Longtime Can-Am GNCC supporter Honda returns for the 2010 tour with $46,750 in Contingency payout. Honda supports the top 5 finishers in several amateur and Pro bike classes for five events.
"We are very proud of our 2010 Contingency program," said Keith Dowdle, Assistant Manager of Honda Riders Club of America. "Our contingency program pays for 2008 and newer models. This economy is tough, and some may not be able to buy a new bike, even though we'd like you to. So if you're riding red, we'll support you."
Honda will award the XC1 Pro and XC2Pro Lites first place winner $150, followed by $125 for second, and $75 for third.
For more information on Contingency payouts for the 2010 season and for program rules, go to http://www.gnccracing.com/pages/2010-gncc-contingency-programs.
The 2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series kicks off on February 27- March 2 as part of Daytona Bike Week at the Westgate River Ranch Resort in River Ranch, Florida, with the Parts Unlimited River Ranch GNCC. ATVs race on Sunday, February 28, and bikes race on Tuesday, March 2.
For more information, check out the official series website at www.GNCCRacing.com or call 304-284-0084.
About GNCC Racing
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1979, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 1,800 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles, competing for more than $3 million in prizes. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed.  For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.
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Yamaha posts $52,250 in 2010 Can-Am GNCC Contingency Payout

Courtesy of GNCC Racing

Morgantown, W.Va. (January 19, 2010) - Long-time Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series supporter Yamaha has returned for the 2010 tour with $52,250 in Contingency payout. Yamaha supports the top 3 finishers in the youth and amateur classes all the way up to the pro ranks for 10 events.
"Yamaha is proud to announce our continued support of the GNCC series in 2010 by offering Yamaha motorcycle riders from the 85cc Youth to the Super Senior classes access to our 2010 Contingency program," said Donnie Luce, Yamaha's ATV and Off-Road Coordinator. Our program was designed to reward qualified riders for their efforts while competing in one of toughest series in Off-Road Racing as well as helping them build a strong relationship with their local Yamaha Dealers."
Yamaha awards the XC1 1^st place rider $400, followed by $300 for second and $200 for first.  In the XC2 Pro-Lites class, Yamaha awards 1^st place with $250 followed by $200 for second and $150 for third.
The 2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series kicks off on February 27- March 2 as part of Daytona Bike Week at the Westgate River Ranch Resort in River Ranch, Florida, with the Parts Unlimited River Ranch GNCC. ATVs race on Sunday, February 28, and bikes race on Tuesday, March 2.
For more information, check out the official series website at www.GNCCRacing.com or 304-284-0084.
About GNCC Racing
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1979, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 1,800 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles, competing for more than $3 million in prizes. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed.  For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.

FMF will back factory KTM off-road and MX teams

Courtesy of KTM
Murrieta, CA – KTM Motorsports is proud to announce FMF as the title sponsor of the 2010 KTM Factory Off-Road and Supercross/Motocross Lites Racing Teams.
FMF has been a contributing sponsor of the KTM Factory Racing Teams longer than KTM motorcycles have been the color orange. The partnership also extends into the KTM PowerParts division as FMF offers exclusive FMF/KTM exhaust pipes available only at KTM dealers. “The strong relationship between the two companies made FMF a perfect fit when looking for a title sponsor. It was also important to work with a company that had a strong presence in the off-road community as well as the motocross community and we found that with FMF,” commented KTM President Jon-Erik Burleson.
“The FMF products are unbeatable. All of our riders are excited to have them on board and to go to the line with the best performing exhaust system available,” remarked Motocross Team Manager Casey Lytle.
“We have been at this for over 35 years and 2010 marks another history mile marker for our company. KTM is a first class operation and we couldn’t be more excited to take our support to the next level. KTM understands the different facets of off-road motorcycles and we are glad they see FMF Racing as a great fit,” said Don Emler Owner and Founder FMF Racing.
The off-road racing efforts will fall under the official name of the FMF/KTM Off-Road Factory Race Team and will include KTM riders participating in the Hare & Hound, GNCC, National Enduro, WORCS and EnduroCross Series. “FMF has been a crucial sponsor of our program over the past years and the championships won have been possible with their support and superior product,” stated Antti Kallonen FMF/KTM Off-Road Racing Team Manager.
FMF is also the title sponsor of the FMF/KTM Factory Motocross/Supercross Lites Racing Team featuring Tommy Searle. The FMF Titanium 4.1 Megabomb System will be Searle’s pipe of choice when he lines the gate for the West Supercross Lites and Motocross Lites Series for the 2010 season. In addition, FMF will support KTM’s Motocross rider Mike Alessi as a corporate sponsor of his 2010 Motocross effort.

Husqvarna officially returns to AMA National Enduro competition

Image via Wikipedia

Courtesy of Husqvarna USA
December 21, 2009 - Woodcliff Lake, NJ - Look for Team Husqvarna to take the podium in several different disciplines during the 2010 season as the factory plans to reestablish the brand as the leader in off-road racing. The past season provided an excellent starting point according to Husqvarna Motorcycles NA president Mark Brady. "We are very pleased to build on Husqvarna's rich racing heritage," says Brady. "However, we are now ready to make some more history!"
Speaking of history in the making, Husqvarna's Glenn Kearney campaigned the GNCC series on a 2-stroke WR300. He also won the overall at the infamous SETRA Little Brown Jug for good measure. Meanwhile Adrien Chareyre bagged an X Games medal on a SM450; bubbly Canadian export Cory Graffunder earned EnduroCross cheers with a couple of podiums and 4 heat race wins aboard his TC250. And then the Ty Davis-led Zip-Ty Racing team finished top 2-Stroke and 3rd overall at the grueling Glen Helen 24-Hour.
However Husqvarna's top 2009 moments may have been when Desert Master Nick Burson won the United States Desert Racing Series on his TC510, not to mention winning the overall at the legendary Elsinore GP. And to top it all off Nick earned the #1 Open Plate in AMA District 37 Desert competition - an accomplishment that Husqvarna hadn't achieved in more than a decade! But as the man said, "you ain't seen nothing yet!"
Moving forward into 2010, the factory racers have been signed, including the return of the Zip-Ty Racing effort on the West Coast and Glenn Kearney back East. AMA Hall Of Famer Scot Harden also takes over as the racing chief and will be overseeing all the programs. "The real news is that the program is growing and we plan to really step up the level of our competitiveness," Harden announces as Husqvarna is looking to take back leadership in woods racing. "Husqvarna will be reentering the AMA National Enduro Series after a 20-year hiatus."
Aussie export Glenn Kearney will be back in 2010, competing in AMA GNCC and AMA National Enduro events. "We are glad to have Glenn back and look forward to him reuniting the Husqvarna name with Enduro dominance on his TXC250," says Harden. Kearney will be supported by his brother Ben who will be traveling with him to provide technical support.
"We have contracted Zip-Ty Racing again to compete in the 2010 WORCS, AMA National Hare & Hound, EnduroCross, District 37, Big 6 and other major West Coast events," Harden adds. The riders are:

• Ty Davis, Team Manager (also competing in select races).
• Bobby Garrison, Former WORCS Champion - Garrison will compete in the WORCS series and other select West Coast off-road events on his TC450. He will also compete in AMA District 37 Big 6 Grand Prix Events.
• Cory Graffunder - AMA EnduroCross, World EnduroCross, Hell's Gate and other extreme events aboard a TC250 or WR300 2-Stroke.
• Nick Burson, Defending USDR #1 Plate Holder/Elsinore GP Champ - Burson will race AMA National Hare & Hound, U.S. Desert Racing, D-37 Desert and Big 6 series on his Desert Master TXC450.

"After reentering the racing arena in 2009, Husqvarna is focused on improving its results and competing for championships in 2010," explains Harden. "We have a very talented team with the right combination of youth and experience to drive the program forward. We look forward to competing throughout the year to reestablish Husqvarna as the leader in off-road racing."

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ricky Dietrich Wins Vegas EnduroCross Final Colton Haaker wins E3 Spark Plugs Junior Championship

Courtesy of Endurocross

LAS VEGAS, NV (November 21, 2009) –  After a close second place finish at the opening round, Ricky Dietrich, the defending EnduroCross Champion suffered an injury at round two of the 2009 Geico EnduroCross Series presented by E3 Spark Plugs and was not a factor in the championship.  But tonight, Dietrich played the role of spoiler.  KTM’s Taddy Blazusiak had the $50,000 Geico Triple Crown bonus on the line if he could win the Vegas final.  But Blazusiak did not get a great start and went down hard while trying to make up time on the first lap. 

Muscle Milk KTM’s Mike Brown set the fastest hot lap to get the day started.  Blazusiak had the second fastest time ahead of Sherco mounted Graham Jarvis, a top trials rider from the UK that is proving his ability at EnduroCross type events on both sides of the pond. 

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Destry Abbot competed in the Baja 1000 the day before and made the long drive to Vegas pay off by collecting the $500 Girardi Wealth Management Holeshot award to start the main event.  His lead was short lived however as there was a lot of bumping and banging during the first lap and most of the field got stuck in the in the large rock pile.  Christini KTM mounted Geoff Aaron took the lead and appeared to be on his way to his second main event win of the season but Dietrich pushed hard to close the gap and made a pass for the lead on lap six.  Aaron held onto second while Damon Huffman won a race long battle with Lucas Oil backed Colton Haaker for the final podium position.  Taddy Blazusiak recovered from his first lap crash to finish fifth but has an extremely sore knee. 

Blazusiak had already clinched the 2009 Geico Powersports EnduroCross championship and Geoff Aaron finished second ahead of Huffman.  By finishing fourth overall in the series, Colton Haaker won the inaugural E3 Spark Plugs’ EnduroCross Pro Junior Championship, the series within a series that allows riders aged 16-21 to compete for an AMA number one plate.  Husqvarna’s Cory Graffunder finished fifth overall and second in the chase for the Junior Championship. 

The Las Vegas EnduroCross final also played host to three classes of Amateur Grand Championships.  Riders qualified by finishing in the top two at the previous five rounds to earn a place in the Amateur finals in Las Vegas.  Geico backed Eric Rodgers won the Open Amateur title.  Sixteen year old Ryan Sandoval won the TrialsCross title and Joe Kopp, the former Grand National Dirt Track champion won the Vet Grand Championship. 

Las Vegas, NV, Geico Powersports AMA EnduroCross Expert Main Event Results

1. Ricky Dietrich            Kawasaki
2. Geoff Aaron               Christini KTM
3. Damon Huffman        Kawasaki
4. Colton Haaker           Kawasaki
5. Taddy Blazusiak        KTM
6. Cody Webb               KTM
7. Bobby Prochnau       KTM
8. Cory Graffunder         Husqvarna
9. Mike Brown                KTM
10. Graham Jarvis           Sherco
11. Destry Abbott            Kawasaki

All six rounds of the 2009 Geico AMA EnduroCross will air on the Lucas Motosports Hour on the Versus Network starting in October.  For more information and air times, check www.motorsportshour.com. 

EnduroCross tracks incorporate various elements of off road racing into a supercross-style setting, including rocks, boulders, logs, sand, mud, a water-hole… and even a few special obstacles like giant tires thrown in!  Known as the “toughest racing on two wheels,” this indoor version of extreme off road racing will certainly keep you on your feet. The GEICO Powersports AMA EnduroCross series, presented by E3 Spark Plugs, will be captured by the Versus Network, to be aired on the popular grassroots racing program; The Lucas Motorsports Hour. With its excitement and unpredictability, the EnduroCross championship has always down to the wire and this year will be no different as the series starts and finishes at Vegas’ Orleans Arena! Don’t miss your chance to see GEICO Powersports AMA Endurocross “Live” - and be sure to log-on to www.Versus.com for local airing dates/times for the Lucas Motorsports Hour.

2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series Schedule Announced

Courtesy of GNCC Racing

2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series Schedule Announced

Morgantown, W.Va. (November 19, 2009) - Racer Productions, producers of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series, have announced the final schedule and locations for the 2010 Can-Am GNCC tour. The 13-round series schedule mimics the highly successful 2009 Schedule except for Round 6 of the series, the location of which is yet to be announced.
The series begins for the second year in a row at the West Gate River Ranch in River Ranch, Florida as part of Daytona Bike Week from February 27 to March 2, and will conclude with the series favorite, the Ironman GNCC in Crawfordsville, Indiana, on October 23-24.
Rd. 1 Feb 27-Mar 2    West Gate River Ranch,  River Ranch, FL
Rd. 2 Mar 6/7            The General,  Washington, GA
Rd. 3 Mar 20/21         Steele Creek,  Morganton, NC
Rd. 4 Apr 10/11          Big Buck,  Union, SC
Rd. 5 Apr 24/25          Loretta Lynn's,  Hurricane Mills, TN
Rd. 6 May 8/9            TBA
Rd. 7 May 22/23         Mountain Ridge,  Somerset, PA
Rd. 8 Jun 5/6             The John Penton,  Millfield, OH
Rd. 9 Jun 26/27         Snowshoe Resort,  Snowshoe, WV
Rd. 10 Sep 11/12       Unadilla, New Berlin, NY
Rd. 11 Sep 25/26       The Titan, Lafayette,TN
Rd. 12 Oct 9/10          Power Line Park,  St. Clairsville, OH
Rd. 13 Oct 23/24        The Ironman,  Crawfordsville, IN
For more information, check out the official series website at www.GNCCRacing.com or call 304-284-0084.
About GNCC Racing
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1979, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 1,800 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles, competing for more than $3 million in prizes. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed.  For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.

Coppersmith Suspension Partners with NEPG for 2010!

Courtesy of NEPG
The NEPG is proud to announce Coppersmith Suspension as one of our newest sponsors of the 2010 AMA/Rekluse National Enduro Series presented by Moose Racing. Coppersmith Suspension of Akron Ohio specializes in Ohlins suspension components and steering dampers for MX, Off-Road, Street and ATV’s Coppersmith owner Thom Smith handles suspension set-up and track side assistance at various events throughout the country each year, while still taking time to travel to Sweden yearly, to spend time with the Őhlins engineers. This gives Thom firsthand knowledge of the new product before it hits the US as well as what is on the drawing board for the future. As an avid Off-Road racer Thom has hands on experience with the conditions you will face in one of America’s premier off-road racing series. NEPG President Alan Randt: “We are very excited to have Coppersmith provide suspension set-up and track side support at our events in 2010, Thom brings years of experience of the Ohlins product to the table benefiting riders from the beginner to the pro.”
You can contact Coppersmith at (330) 724-2900 or www.coppersmithusa.com

Bridgestone Announces 2010 Tire Lineup

Courtesy of Bridgestone

NASHVILLE, TN (November 3, 2009) - With Bridgestone-equipped riders winning all three Supercross (SX) championships and both Motocross (MX) championships in 2009, Bridgestone's off-road technology and products remain highly competitive.  For 2010, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) will have a complete line of off-road tires available through the current distribution system, including the following motocross products:

M203 / M204:  Soft - Intermediate Terrain
The soft to intermediate terrain M203/M204 returns to the Bridgestone MX line-up for 2010.  Designed to work well in soft terrain conditions, these tires also cross over well to intermediate soils, while offering good durability and handling.  Key features and benefits are listed below.

•   M203 (front) has tire design technology for a broad range of soft and intermediate terrain applications
•   M203 (front) provides improved grip traction with directional pattern rotation to enhance stability and increase braking power
•   M204 (rear) offers a race-proven tread pattern designed with extra wide block spacing for great drive performance and improved slide control on firm base soil
•   M204 (rear) has tall tread blocks with shoulder steps and large base angle radius for reliable stability and durability in a broad range of abusive soil conditions
•   Solid grip and traction matched with available sizing adapts to the demands of today's four-stroke machines

M403 / M404:  Intermediate Terrain
Bridgestone's most popular off-road tire combination stays in the line up as the M403/M404.  These tires offer great performance in many varied terrain applications.

•   Bridgestone's broadest range motocross and off-road tires
•   Complete sizing and applications for all machines 50cc up to 450cc
•   Improved rubber compounds and tread design patterns
•   Fine-tuned casing constructions
•   Derived from top factory SX/MX and off-road racing technologies
•   Improved durability covers wider range of soils
•   M403 (front) provides improved cornering control and feedback even at full lean angles
•   M404 (rear) offers added traction and slide control for better acceleration out of corners

M603 / M604:  Intermediate - Hard Terrain
In hard terrain applications, the M603/M604 provides solid performance and durability while crossing over to intermediate conditions as well.

•   M603 (front) features a mid-camber basin with decreased rubber thickness between the tread blocks to give flexibility and plant to the tire without dropping stiffness of the tread block
•   The M603 (front) allows each block to adapt to the ground surface which gives an improved balance of lean grip, straight drive stability and light handling
•   M604 (rear) has a redesigned broad range SX proven tread pattern which cuts through loose terrain to find traction and grip on a firm base
•   Improved grip and traction adapts to the high power and torque of current four-stroke machines

About Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Reporting into the BATO business unit are the company's Latin American tire operations, the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses and the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The business unit is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in the Americas. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions unit, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.

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