The Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Series is building its biggest and best season ever, and it kicks off in the middle of Daytona Bike Week in just two weeks! You'll see why GNCC Racing is called America's largest off-road racing series, as the Orange Crush GNCC in De Leon Springs, Florida features four days of action. Over 1300 racers are expected, with ATVs on Saturday and Sunday, March 4 and 5, and bikes on Monday and Tuesday, March 6 and 7.
"This should be the best season ever for GNCC Racing," says GNCC Trail Boss Jeff Russell. "We've got more riders, more fun and even more whoops!"
The Orange Crush GNCC takes place just 20 minutes from Daytona Beach. The rugged sands will provide a true test for the ironmen and women of GNCC Racing, with miles of high-speed sand whoops showing just who wants their title the most. The best riders in the world will compete, including 2005 GNCC Bike Champion Juha Salminen, who will defend his title against legends like Suzuki's five-time champion Rodney Smith and Yamaha's 2003 GNCC Champ Barry Hawk. Plus, superstar Travis Pastrana will burst from the sidelines and challenge everyoneTravis is fast on sand and expects to win!
In Sunday's ATV race, Yamaha's six-time and defending series champion Bill Ballance will attempt to do what no one thought could be done: he will try to match Barry Hawk's all-time record of seven-straight GNCC ATV titles. But he's never faced a field like this, including Alba Honda's Chris Borich, who won the Orange Crush last year and nearly took the title away. Suzuki's William Yokley and Polaris Matt Smiley are building all new machines this year, and they're hoping to battle for wins, too.
The weekend features ATV practice on Saturday and racing on Sunday, including Utility, Women and Super Senior classes at 10 a.m. and the grueling two-hour race for pros and top amateurs at 1 p.m.
Bikes practice on Monday and race on Tuesday, with the bike pros going nearly three hours in the heat and the whoops at 1 p.m. For more information on the Orange Crush GNCC, log on to GNCCRacing.com.
The AMA-sanctioned Suzuki 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 featured sponsors include Parts Unlimited, Moose, Maxxis, Pirelli, Wiseco, Klotz, FMF and ITP, and riders compete for over $2.8 million in series prizes and contingency money. Associate sponsors include Moose Utility Division, Scott, Acerbis, Alpinestars, Cometic, Outerwears, Twin Air, Polisport Plastics, Thor, Motion Pro, Hyper Wheels, Elka Suspension, MotoTee's, Weekend Warrior, Owens Motorsports, Tom's Marina Polaris, EK Chain and Laeger's. Media Sponsors include Dirt Rider Magazine, ATV Sport Magazine, www.ATVRiders.com and Racer X Illustrated. For more information log on to www.GNCCRacing.com.