Rome, Ga. - Competitors were greeted with sunny skies and temperatures above 70 degrees at the second round of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Racing season. When all was said and done at the General GNCC from Washington, Ga., GEICO Monster Kawasaki placed 1st and 2nd with XC1 class riders Paul Whibley and Jimmy Jarrett thanks to the versatile and reliable Pirelli Scorpion tires.
Whibley exploded out of the gate to start the XC1 race, grabbing the MotorcylceUSA.com Holeshot Award. Over the course of the early portion of the race, the lead would change hands among seven different riders on numerous occasions. Whibley would prove to have the stamina to endure and take the win while Jarrett, who also made his way into the lead at one point, followed in second for a stellar 1-2 finish. The Pirelli-backed HSB team and its rider Nick Fahringer brought home a respectable ninth place effort. Whibley and Jarrett currently sit first and third in the early-season point standings.
"Pirelli is excited about the upcoming GNCC season and we are proud to have Paul Whibley back on the team," said Josh Whitmire, Pirelli Motocross Manager. "This is the beginning of what should be a successful relationship between the new GEICO Monster Kawasaki team and Pirelli Tire."
In the XC2 class, GEICO Monster Kawasaki and Pirelli garnered yet another podium finish with Scott Watkins. Feeling under the weather throughout the weekend, Watkins grinded out a gutsy performance, gaining valuable points en route to a third place finish.
As always, the Pirelli Tire Race Support Rig was on site to assist each and every one of the 1,471 registered competitors. An 83 entry boost over last year's Maxxis General GNCC.
Can-Am GNCC Racing continues on to round three of the 2009 season on March 21-22 at FMF Steele Creek in Morganton, N.C.
Pirelli Tire North America designs, develops, manufactures and markets tires for passenger vehicles in both the original equipment and replacement markets as well as markets and distributes tires for motorcycle and motorsports. Located in Rome, Georgia, Pirelli's Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) employs state-of-the-art technology to manufacture tires for both export and domestic markets. For more information please visit www.us.pirelli.com.