Cypress, CA (10/27/2011)
-Yamaha’s cross country ATV race team started
celebrating the 2011 season early this year at
the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Ironman
in Crawfordsville, Indiana. With two series championships
already clinched and the season’s largest
gathering of racers and fans on hand, Yamaha rolled
out a host of racer and fan appreciation activities
and raised the donation bar for the “Annual
Pink Race.”
Typically the season finale, this year’s
Ironman landed two weeks before the final round
of 2011 coming up at Loretta Lynn’s in
Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, which was rescheduled
to November 5. Traci Cecco took her eighth win
of the year in the Women’s class adding
to her record eighth series championship which
she secured even before the Ironman. Ballance
Racing’s Walker Fowler, who has also already
locked in his series championship, took his
twelfth straight XC2 Pro Am win – a series
record. In XC1 Pro competition, Ballance Racing’s
Taylor Kiser finished second – his fifth
podium of the season – which moved him
to third in overall series points.
A true supporter of the sport, Yamaha rolled
its demo truck into Crawfordsville again this
year and set up a hospitality area for racers
and fans alike handing out 800 Yamaha beanies.
New for this year, Yamaha displayed large banners
and gave out posters listing top Yamaha racers
from each category. More than 100 racers were
recognized and congratulated for their seasons.
“GNCC Racing is proud to provide a platform
in which members of the off-road racing community
can give back to local organizations such as
FAITH Alliance,” said GNCC Media Manager
Jen Kenyon. “Yamaha stepped up in a big
way at Ironman to show their support for Breast
Cancer Awareness and their commitment to their
program here at GNCC.”
Yamaha set an Ironman “Annual Pink Race”
record by committing $6,000 in support of FAITH
Alliance, a breast cancer resource in Montgomery
County, Indiana. Yamaha will donate $1,000 on
behalf of each of the five Yamaha racers who
captured podium finishes in the overall morning
and afternoon ATV races, including Taylor Kiser,
second place in XC-1; Walker Fowler, first in
XC-2; Gabe Philips, second in XC-2, Traci Cecco,
first place women’s; and Dave Simmons,
first in the master’s. Yamaha also raised
another $1,000 by raffling donated gear from
Cecco and Fowler with the number one (#1) commemorating
their 2011 series championships.
“Yamaha congratulates Traci and Walker
for their 2011 championships, as well as all
of the Yamaha racers for a great season of cross
country racing,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s
ATV/SxS marketing manager who was at the Ironman
and offered the $1,000 challenge to Yamaha racers.
“Yamaha is proud to make a financial contribution
to the FAITH Alliance and its efforts to support
breast cancer patients.”
“On behalf of the entire FAITH Alliance
board, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude
for the generous donation from Yamaha,”
said Sasha Clements of the FAITH Alliance. “We
normally operate on small donations from individuals
or community events. This donation will make
an enormous difference in the amount of assistance
we can provide in the following year(s).”
FAITH Alliance provides access to screenings
and treatment, assistance with transportation
to medical appointments, educational programs
to increase awareness of prevention, screening,
and treatment, coordination of efforts with
medical and healthcare communities, informational
publications, and services to support the immediate
needs of breast cancer patients.
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.
