Can-Am GNCC Series
Readies for Peach State Classic
David Knight & Chris Borich
Set To Defend Points Leads
Morgantown, WV (3/5/2008)
- The 2008 Can-Am Grand National Championship
(GNCC) will trade Florida sand for red Georgia
clay as America's largest off-road racing series
will bring its brand of ATV and dirt bike racing
to Aonia Pass MX this weekend. The MAXXIS General
is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9.
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series
is the largest off-road racing series in the nation.
The top pro racers make a lucrative living in
the sport, reigning in six-figure salaries and
endorsements, as well as a share of a $130,000
prize purse and more than $3 million in contingency
and bonus money. GNCC events also offer classes
for amateur riders of all skill and experience
levels. Four-wheeled ATVs will compete on Saturday,
March 8. Dirt bikes will race on Sunday, March
9. Riders can sign up at the track. The amateur
racer entry fee is $40. Spectator passes run $15.
Pro pit access and pro autographs are included
at no additional charge.
The event takes place at Aonia Pass MX just off
Highway 78 in Washington, Ga. The track features
a modified Motocross course with trails through
the surrounding woods. Georgia's distinctive red
clay makes the General what it is. If there's
rain, the soil gets soft and builds deep ruts,
so riders need to be very careful when approaching
traffic and bottlenecks. But when it's dry, the
course gets hard and fast.
The race will be telecast on Versus Network on
Saturday, Aug. 16 (ATV) at 3 p.m. and Aug. 21
(motorcycle) at 4 p.m. EDT.
Defending motorcycle champion David Knight set
the tone early with a victory in Round 1The Isle
of Man, UK native dominated the Parts Unlimited
Triton beating out a who's who of endurance racing
to net the victory and the points lead. Jimmy
Jarrett finished second in Florida, while Garrett
Edmiston fought off fatigue and finished third.
Many other riders will also be in contention here,
including Americans Barry Hawk, Jr. and Charles
Mullins, as well as New Zealand's Paul Whibley
and Australia's Shane Watts.
Chris Borich gave Suzuki the Florida ATV victory,
handily beating Bryan Cook and defending champion
Bill Ballance. Borich joined the Rockstar Energy/Yoshimura
Suzuki factory team this season, and the move
paid off, as the Pennsylvanian took the win and
the points lead. Kentucky's Ballance has won the
last eight GNCC ATV Titles, which is a record,
but he knows there are young guns looking to end
his run. However, there's more factory support
than ever in the four-wheeled ranks with Can-Am,
KTM, Polaris and Yamaha fielding teams.
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Facts - The MAXXIS General - Washington, Georgia |
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: March 8-9, 2008
Where: The MAXXIS General at
Aonia Pass MX in Washington, Ga. Located in Wilkes
County between Athens and Augusta. From Atlanta:
Take I-20 East to Exit 160 (Hwy 223 Norwood Exit).
Go left and travel on Hwy 223 until it dead-ends
with Hwy 78 (roughly 12-15 miles). Turn right
on Hwy 78. The General is 2.5 miles down on your
right (look for the big Aonia Pass Motoplex sign).
From Thompson: Take I-20 to Exit 172 Rt. 78 for
14.8 miles. Track is 5 miles East of Washington,
GA on Rt. 78.
Who: The Can-Am GNCC Series
pits the best of the best in off-road racing against
each other. More than 1,400 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. Founded
in 1973, 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. GNCC featured sponsors
include: Can-Am, Parts Unlimited, Moose, Maxxis,
Pirelli, Wiseco, Acerbis, Elka, GEICO, Klotz,
FMF, ITP and Weekend Warrior. Associate sponsors
include Alpine-stars, BRP, Cometic, HiPer Technology,
Laegers, Moose Utility Division, The National
Guard, Ogio, Powersport Grafx, Rekluse, REM, Scott,
Thor, Twin Air, and MotoTee's ATVRiders.com.
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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