Cypress, CA (2/24/2009) -
Yamaha’s ATV race team is in final preparations
for the 2009 race season and will enter a number
of the top ATV racing series, including GNCC,
QuadCross, WORCS and AMA MX, over the next two
weekends. This is the first season that each
Yamaha race team member will compete atop the
all-new and highly-anticipated YFZ450R.
Many of Yamaha’s ATV race team members
were introduced last fall, but there have been
a few additions to the team that have not yet
been formally announced. Members not yet announced
include: Johnny Gallagher, a seasoned veteran
who has spent years working with the Yamaha
factory team on the GNCC circuit; Donnie Ockerman,
the 2008 GNCC XC2 Pro-Am champion; Thomas Brown,
the 2008 ATVA/AMA National Pro-Am Motocross
champ; and Justin Noss, winner of the inaugural
season of the 2008 QuadCross 250cc unlimited
class on his Raptor 250.
| More
on Yamaha’s 2009 ATV Factory Race
Team members: |
Bill Ballance, the nine-time consecutive Grand
National Cross Country (GNCC) XC1 Pro series
champion and widely considered the best ATV
racer of all time. Ballance suffered a rib injury
last year and had to undergo surgery in the
off-season. The injury and resulting surgery
interrupted his pre-season training, but in
true championship-fashion Ballance will be back
to chase his 10th consecutive title at the GNCC
opener in Florida this coming weekend. Ballance
is from Smiths Grove, Ky., and runs the #1 plate.
Traci Cecco, the unprecedented seven-time GNCC
womens’ title holder and veteran Yamaha
race team member. Cecco, who lives in Shamokin,
Penn., and runs #201, will return to try to
break her own record in 2009.
Brandon Sommers, the 2007 GNCC XC2 class champion,
placed fifth last year in his first go at the
XC1 class. Sommers, #784, is back in XC1 for
2009 racing out of Millersburg, Ohio.
Pat Brown, 2008 Montreal Supercross champ and
a top competitor for Yamaha in the AMA pro ATV
motocross series. Brown is from Pittstown, N.J.,
and runs the #99 plate.
Dustin Nelson, two-time Yamaha/ITP Quadcross
MX Pro Class champion. Nelson was the first
Yamaha Team rider to race the YFZ450R at the
end of last year when he took the holeshot and
won a Quadcross moto at Glen Helen en route
to his 2008 series title. Nelson lives in Ramona,
Calif., and runs #94.
About Yamaha:
Yamaha ATVs and SxS vehicles are designed, engineered
and built tough! Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
headquarters are located in Cypress, California.
For more information on Yamaha, visit yamaha-motor.com.
www.yamaha-motor.com
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