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Yamaha's
Walker Fowler is 4-for-4 in the GNCC XC2
Pro-Am Class |
Cypress, CA (4/11/2011) - Ballance
Racing’s Walker Fowler extended his victory
streak to four straight in the 2011 GNCC ATV XC2
Pro Am class in Union, South Carolina on Saturday
afternoon, April 9. With the season not even one
third over, the likeable young YFZ450X rider now
has an impressive 40-point lead over fellow YFZ
racer Gabe Phillips, who took his third podium
of the year. Meanwhile in the premier XC1 Pro
class, Taylor Kiser likewise grabbed his second
GNCC podium this season. And in the morning Women’s
class, Traci Cecco nearly had her second win of
the year in hand before getting slowed by deep
mud and ultimately finishing third. Another bright
spot in the morning race was Yamaha-mounted Dave
Simmons, who won the Amateur Overall Award by
setting the fastest overall race time of the entire
field. Mighty impressive for a Masters 50+ rider!
The long GNCC course challenged riders with
tight and fast sections alike, as well as a
couple of mud bogs and even a water jump. Knowing
the difficulty these latter sections would pose
for a knotted pack of racers, Fowler grabbed
the XC2 Pro Am class lead early, then steadily
built up nearly a two-minute advantage over
Phillips after two of five laps. That margin
increased to over three minutes by lap four
and nearly five minutes on the fifth and final
lap. "I tried to push real hard at the
beginning to build a big lead in case I got
tired at the end – and I definitely got
tired," Fowler explained later. "Maybe
I pushed too hard, but that's how you get faster!"
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| Yamaha's
Taylor Kiser placed third in the GNCC
XC1 Pro ATV Class |
For her part, Ballance Racing’s Cecco
came into the GNCC weekend tied for the points
lead with one win and two podiums. She went
right to work at the start of the Women’s
race, taking the lead on the second of six laps,
losing it temporarily during the mid-race fuel
stop, and then regaining control on lap four.
However on the last lap, a mud line that Traci
had been using successfully all race long worsened,
temporarily snagging the multi-time GNCC champion
and letting rival Lexie Coulter and Yamaha-mounted
Kristen Atwell jet ahead. Fortunately, Cecco
muscled her way back into the race and joined
Atwell in a close 2-3 Yamaha finish –
while gaining some essential points in the process.
Sunday’s GNCC motorcycle races saw Jason
Raines and Tyler MacDonald rule the morning
Sportsman A class with a 1-2 Yamaha finish,
and 10 other Yamaha amateurs take class wins
during the day. All in all, it was a great weekend
for blue-and-white racers!
About Yamaha Motor
Corp., U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., (YMUS), a
leader in the motorsports market, makes the
toughest, most capable and versatile ATV and
Side-by-Side vehicles. The company’s ever-expanding
product offerings also include motorcycles,
outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles,
boats, outdoor power equipment, race kart engines,
accessories, apparel and much more. YMUS products
are sold through a nationwide network of dealers
in the United States.
Headquartered in Cypress,
Calif., since its incorporation in 1976, Yamaha
also has facilities in Wisconsin and Georgia,
as well as factory operations in Tennessee and
Georgia. For more information on Yamaha, visit
www.yamaha-motor.com.
