Contact:
Jason Weigandt
jasonw@racerxill.com
304-284-0084
For Immediate
Release
May 9, 2008
Knight Looks
for GNCC Win on KTM's Big Weekend
Three-Race Streak Heading to the
John Penton GNCC
Millfield,
Ohio (May 9, 2008) -- Red
Bull KTM’s David Knight hopes to take his fourth-straight
Can-Am Grand National Cross Country win this
weekend at the Wiseco John Penton GNCC. Such
a victory is critical to his KTM team, since
the man who originally imported the KTM motorcycle
into the United States, John Penton, will be
there to watch.
John Penton
originally imported the KTM motorcycle from
Austria during his search for a true lightweight,
rugged off-road bike. In the decades since,
KTM has grown into a worldwide off-road power,
with the brand winning the last three GNCC Titles.
In his honor, the GNCC in Penton’s native Ohio
is named after him, and this weekend’s race
will feature a display of vintage Pentons courtesy
of the Penton Owner’s Group. KTM will also host
KTM Youth Day to honor the youngest riders on
the tour.
However, the
orange squad has been denied victory at The
John Penton for the last few years. Am-Pro Yamaha’s
Barry Hawk won a dramatic duel on the last lap
with Juha Salminen in 2006, and Charlie Mullins
took his first career GNCC win at the Penton
last year.
Mullins now
races for the FMF Suzuki team, a squad that
pressures Knight each weekend. Four different
Suzuki riders have visited the podium, including
Mullins, surging young Australian Josh Strang,
New Zealand’s Paul Whibley, and Ohio favorite
Jimmy Jarrett. Jarrett’s lone career GNCC victory
came at the Penton all the way back in 2001,
but his fortunes have risen again over the last
year. He could be the man to beat this weekend,
especially if it rains.
Several riders
hope Ohio will offer a breakthrough. Knight’s
teammate Nathan Kanney has shown tremendous
speed this year and took a podium finish in
front of Knight in Georgia. Australian Glenn
Kearney has rejuvenated himself with his new
Husqvarna ride, and Jason Raines has looked
stronger each week on his Am-Pro Yamaha. Kawasaki
riders Garrett Edmisten and Jesse Robinson also
need a podium to create some confidence.
In the XC2
Lites ranks, Am-Pro Yamaha’s Thad DuVall has
matched Knight with four wins in five rounds
this year. “I know I said consistency is the
key this year, but I would have loved to have
won that race in South Carolina so I could have
a full streak going,” says DuVall.
That race win
went to Monster Energy/Andrews Yamaha’s Dustin
Gibson, and his teammate Josh Weisenfels has
been close as well. Powersports GrafX KTM rookie
Kailub Russell has shown winning speed this
year, and he’s working on the stamina needed
to hold it to the finish. The Monster Energy/Kawasaki
team is on the mend, but Scott Watkins and Andrew
Matusek are getting closer to the podium each
weekend.
The race takes
place at Sunday Creek Raceway, a motocross park
in Southern Ohio just outside of Athens. A 12-mile
course will test the best pro riders and over
1,000 amateur bike and ATV racers with hills,
rocks, mud and motocross sections.
Fast
Facts:
What: The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country
Series (GNCC), America's Largest Off Road Racing
Series. Cross-country racing is one of the most
physically demanding sports in the world. The
nearly three-hour long GNCC races lead as many
as 1,800 riders through tracks ranging from
eight to 12 miles in length. With varied terrain
including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and
motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of
both survival and speed.
When: May 10 and 11, 2008
Where: The race takes place at Sunday Creek Raceway.
From Athens: Take Rt. 33 W. 1 mile to 13N (Chauncey
Exit). Go 3 miles into Chauncey. Turn right—staying
on Route 13 North. Continue for 10 miles to
Jacksonville. Go right on Sixth St. for 2 miles,
then turn left.
Who: The Can-Am GNCC Series pits the
best of the best in off-road racing against
each other. More than 1,500 amateur racers are
expected to compete on custom-built dirt bikes
and four-wheeled ATVs. Top pro motorcycle riders
include David Knight, Barry Hawk, Jr., Charles
Mullins, Jimmy Jarrett and Shane Watts. ATV
pro riders include Bill Ballance, Chris Borich,
Chris Bithell, Matt Smiley and Adam McGill.
About
GNCC Racing:
The Can-Am
Grand National Cross Country series is America’s
premier off-road racing series. The 13-round
championship series is produced exclusively
by Racer Productions and has run since 1973.
Cross country racing is one of the most physically
demanding sports in the world. The nearly three-hour
long GNCC races lead as many as 1,800 riders
through tracks ranging from eight to twelve
miles in length. With varied terrain including
hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross
sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival
and speed. GNCC Racing will air weekly television
shows on the Versus network starting August
2. GNCC featured sponsors include Can-Am, Parts Unlimited, Moose
Racing, Maxxis, Pirelli, Wiseco, Acerbis, Elka,
Geico, Klotz, FMF, ITP andWeekend Warrior,
and riders compete for over $3 million in series
prizes and contingency money. Associate sponsors
include Alpinestars,
Cometic, HiPer Technology, Laegers, Moose Utility
Division, The National Guard, Powersport Grafx,
REM, Scott, Thor, Tire Balls, Twin Air, Ogio,
Rekluse, and MotoTee’s. For more information
log on to www.gnccracing.com.
###
