Over 1100 Celebrate
at 2009 Can-Am GNCC Race Series Banquet
Morgantown, WV (12/7/2009)
- Over 1100 members of the Can-Am Grand
National Cross Country Series racing community
arrived at the annual series' banquet throughout
the weekend, held at Lakeview Resort in Morgantown,
W.Va. , to celebrate the season's accomplishments
a final time in 2009. The banquets--held on Friday
night for ATVs and Saturday night for motorcycles--recognize
the top-ten riders in every GNCC class and also
present a variety of specialty awards to riders
as voted on by their fellow racers and GNCC staff.
While riders, friends, fans and family enjoyed
a buffet meal, photos from the year flashed across
two projector screens until the awards ceremony
began. On the ATV side, Rockstar Makita Suzuki's
Chris Borich was presented with the Rider of the
Year Award for toppling Yamaha's Bill Ballance's
nine-year win streak and taking his first GNCC
Title. Ballance was named the rider with the most
wins in GNCC history with 68 wins. Ballance currently
leads Barry Hawk, who won championships on bikes
and ATVs by one win on the all-time list.
Warnert Can-Am's Michael Swift won the Utility
Rider of the Year award after he finished the
season undefeated in the 4X4 Limited class. Doug
Howarth won Youth Rider of the Year award for
clinching the 90 Modified (12-15) class championship.
Yamaha's Taylor Kiser moved up from national
number six to national number two, and was presented
with the Most Improved Rider Award for his hard
work. The Bad Ass Award went to Ballance. He had
a cancerous mass removed from his ribs just weeks
before the season opener in Florida, and after
two rough rounds, worked his way up to fourth
overall by the end of the season.
Warnert Can-Am's Brent Sturdivant was presented
The Good Samaritan Award for assisting Yamaha's
Brandon Sommers off the track when he was injured
at Ironman. The Shadron Family was presented with
the Rough and Ready Pit Crew award for all of
their help in the GNCC Youth Series. Team Faith,
headed by Chuck Lemaster, who races both UTVs
and bikes, was presented with the Sport Ambassador
Award. The Award of Media Excellence went to Dave
Smith and Rodney Tomblin for Track Smack Live.
Can-Am was named Sponsor of the Year for their
funding of the GNCC Television Shows on the Versus
Network.
The Hard Luck Award went to XC2 Pro-Am's Brian
Wolf, who battled with Josh Kirkland the entire
season for the championship. Wolf lost the championship
by one point when he DNF'd at St. Clairsville.
Yamaha Motor Corporation won the Manufacturer's
Cup based on the finishes of each brand's top
two overall riders in each race. The state of
Ohio won the State Championship, based on winning
the most GNCC Titles of any state.
The top five riders in each GNCC Class received
contingency awards and prizes from sponsors such
as Can-Am, Acerbis, Elka, FMF, ITP, Klotz, Maxxis,
Moose Racing, Parts Unlimited, Pirelli, Wiseco,
Alpinestars, BRP, Cometic, HiPer Technology, Moto
Tees, MUD, National Guard, Ogio, Powersports Grafx,
Rekluse, Scott, Thor, Tire Balls, Twin Air and
Weekend Warrior.
After the awards ceremony, riders, friends, families
and fans headed to the Can-Am After Party as the
live band Eighties Enough played tons of popular
hits from the 1980s. Guests danced until the early
hours of the morning as they celebrated the 2009
season.
College A rider Patrick Burch was awarded the
Hot Bod award, beating out tough competition.
The 2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country
Series kicks off on February 27th- March 2nd as
part of Bike Week at the Westgate River Ranch
Resort in River Ranch, Florida, ATV's racing on
Sunday, February 28, and bikes racing on Tuesday,
March 2.
About
GNCC Racing:
The
Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series is
America's premier off-road racing series. Founded
in 1973, the 13-round championship is produced
exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross country
racing is one of the most physically demanding
sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC
races lead as many as 1,800 riders through tracks
ranging in length from eight to 12 miles, competing
for more than $3 million in prizes. 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: Can-Am, Parts Unlimited, Moose, Maxxis,
Pirelli, Wiseco, Acerbis, Elka, GEICO, Klotz,
FMF, ITP and Weekend Warrior. Associate sponsors
include Alpine-stars, BRP, Cometic, HiPer Technology,
Laegers, Moose Utility Division, The National
Guard, Ogio, Powersport Grafx, Rekluse, REM, Scott,
Thor, Twin Air, and MotoTee's ATVRiders.com.
For more information log on to www.GNCCRacing.com.
www.gnccracing.com
122 Vista Del Rio Drive,
Morgantown, WV 26508
304-284-0084
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