 |
|
Yamaha's
Walker Fowler grabbed the final spot
on the GNCC XC1 Pro Podium in home state
of Ohio
|
Cypress, CA (7/9/2012) - Yamaha
ATV racers braved withering heat to score three
podium finishes in the ninth round of the 2012
GNCC ATV series in Millfield, Ohio on Saturday,
July 7. Traci Cecco finished second in the morning
Women’s race, her ninth consecutive podium
of the year, while Kara Merritt added a solid
fourth. Cecco’s strong performance helps
her retain the points lead in the Women’s
category as the series starts its annual summer
break.
Then in the afternoon’s XC2 Pro Am category,
Patrick McGuire finished second, like Cecco
aboard a YFZ450R. He still leads the XC2 points
chase. While in the premier XC1 Pro category,
Walker Fowler and Taylor Kiser went 3-4 after
a heated – no pun intended – 1 hr.
40 min. race that saw Kiser in the early overall
lead. Kiser and Fowler now start the summer
break second and third, respectively, in the
points.
 |
|
Traci
Cecco placed second in the Women's class
aboard her Yamaha YFZ450R Sport ATV
|
With nearly 250 competitors in 22 classes on
the course simultaneously, it was essential
to get a good start and then click off fast
and consistent laps. Cecco did just that in
the Women’s class, battling with rivals
Lexie Coulter and Angel Atwell during the early
part of the race. So close were the three riders,
that after the first of four laps – nearly
a half hour of racing – they were separated
by just 0.568 sec., with Cecco trailing both
her rivals. But Traci used her multi-time championship
experience to pass Atwell on the second lap.
From there to the finish, the order was Coulter,
Cecco and Atwell, with Yamaha-mounted Merritt
sneaking from fifth into fourth during the second
half of the race to make it two YFZ450Rs in
the top four.
Temperatures climbed to over 100 degrees for
the afternoon events, a level that not even
the shady woods could ease. Not to be intimidated
though, Yamaha-mounted McGuire led the XC2 Pro
Am field on the first of four laps before settling
in behind rival Braden Henthorn to eventually
finish strongly in second. Most impressive was
YFZ450R-mounted Gabe Phillips, who overcame
a poor start and moved from 11th on the first
lap all the way up to fourth at the checkers.
In all, six YFZ450Rs filled the XC2 Pro Am top
10.
|
|
Ballance
Racing / Yamaha's Walker Fowler sits third
in the XC1 Pro Points |
#5 Taylor Kiser placed fourth at
the John Penton GNCC Round 9 |
Then in XC1 Pro, Yamaha’s Taylor Kiser
likewise led the first lap, in hopes of grabbing
his second win of the season. But a charging
lead group including rivals Chris Borich and
Adam McGill dropped him to third at the halfway
point, and he eventually finished fourth behind
an inspired Fowler, who had throttled his YFZ
up from fifth to the podium in the difficult
conditions. Well earned, everyone!
2012
GNCC ATV XC1 Pro Points
|
| Position |
Name |
Points |
| 1 |
Chris Borich |
261 |
| 2 |
Taylor
Kiser - Yamaha |
171 |
| 3 |
Walker
Fowler - Yamaha |
166 |
| 4 |
Chris Bithell
|
157 |
| 5 |
Adam McGill |
153 |
2012
GNCC ATV XC2 Pro Am Points
|
| Position |
Name |
Points |
| 1 |
Patrick
McGuire – Yamaha |
192 |
| 2 |
Braden Henthorn |
181 |
| 3 |
Gabe
Phillips – Yamaha |
164 |
| 4 |
Eric Hoyland |
156 |
| 5 |
Matt
Hanna – Yamaha |
154 |
2012
GNCC ATV Womens Points
|
| Position |
Name |
Points |
| 1 |
Traci
Cecco - Yamaha |
175 |
| 2 |
Angel Atwell |
169 |
| 3 |
Kylie Ahart |
155 |
| 4 |
Kara
Merritt – Yamaha |
148 |
| 5 |
Lexie Coulter |
109 |
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.
