Walker
Fowler Signs with Am-Pro Yamaha & GT Thunder
for 2008
Yamaha 250F Motorcycle & Raptor
250 ATV
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Walker
Fowler was both the 2007 GNCC ATV Youth
Production & Big Wheel Bike Champion |
Cranberry, PA (11/26/2007)
- Walker Fowler has had an incredible
2007 season. Walker was recently awarded the AMA
Youth Rider of The Year in both the ATV world
and in the dirtbike world as well, but neither
of those announcements were as surprising as the
news Fowler received at the GNCC Bike Awards ceremony
on November 24th. Only ten minutes before the
official announcement was made at the Awards Ceremony
was Walker informed that he would be the newest
member of the Yamaha Factory Team.
“Randy Hawkins came up to us at the awards
banquet and told us that I was officially on the
team. We had been talking with Yamaha for about
a month, and then only about 10 minutes before
he made the announcement he came over and told
us it was official.” Stated Walker excitedly.
Walker will be riding a four stroke 250F in the
4-Stroke A Lites class at the GNCC, however, due
to CPSC age restrictions on ATV’s and the
fact that Fowler is under 16 years of age, Yamaha
cannot directly support Fowler on the ATV side
of the deal. That support will be directed through
GT Thunder, which will put Walker on a new Yamaha
Raptor 250 ATV for the 2008 season.
“I’ve been riding KTM two strokes
for 11 years and have never really ridden a four
stroke before, so it’s going to take some
getting used to.” Said Walker. “Honestly,
I was a little bummed at first since I had been
riding KTM’s for so long, but now I am really
excited about it.” Despite the differences,
Walker believes he has made the right decision.
“It seemed like my career was at a little
bit of a stand still, but I think having that
factory support, and having Randy help me out,
I think this can help take my career to the next
level.” He said.
Walker, who has no intension of slacking off
over the winter, is already training hard for
next season. “There isn’t a lot of
riding going on in Ohio in the winter except for
a couple of indoor races, but I am hitting the
gym 3-4 times a week with my sister. She is going
to school to become a personal trainer, so she
really helps me out a lot” Said Walker who
will need to be in good shape to run both the
ATV and bike GNCC races. Besides the GNCC walker
also plans a few other races in between. “I
will be racing some of the CRA series, which is
an Ohio/Pennsylvania series, and I may also do
a couple of WORCS races, those look like they
would be fun!” He said.
Walker will definitely have his work cut out
for him next season, but he is more than up for
the challenge, and is looking forward to the factory
support that he is so deserving of. It will be
exciting to see this promising young racer’s
progression through the upcoming season with Yamaha
as he makes the transition from two stroke to
four stroke.
About
GNCC Racing:
The
AMA/ATVA-sanctioned Grand National Cross Country
series is America’s premier off-road racing
series. The 13-round series is produced exclusively
by Racer Productions. 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 1800 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 airs weekly
television shows on Versus (formerly Outdoor Life
Network) every Saturday at 3 p.m. and Thursday
at 4 p.m. beginning on April 14. GNCC featured
sponsors include Parts Unlimited, Moose, Maxxis,
Pirelli, Wiseco, Acerbis, Elka, Geico, Klotz,
FMF, ITP and Tire Balls, and riders compete for
over $3 million in series prizes and contingency
money. Associate sponsors include Alpinestars,
Cometic, EK Chain, HiPer Technology, Laegers,
Motion Pro, Moose Utility Division, Powersport
Grafx, Pro Clean, Race Tools, REM, Scott, Thor,
Twin Air, Weekend Warrior, and MotoTee’s.
Media Sponsors include Racer X Illustrated, ATV
Rider, ATV Sport, www.ATVRiders.com,
Dirt Rider and ATV Insider. For more information
log on to www.GNCCRacing.com.
www.gnccracing.com
122 Vista Del Rio Drive,
Morgantown, WV 26508
304-284-0084
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