NEWS RELEASE 
Contacts:
Scott Montgomery, Cannondale
(520) 203-4850 or scott.montgomery@cannondale.com

John Pellan, Fast-Trak Promotions, Inc.
(440) 461-4858 or jpellan@atvscene.com

Cannondale signs on as title sponsor for round 9 of the ATVA Maxxis Tires Grand National Championship Series.

(4/19/01 - Bethel, CT) Cannondale, manufacturer of the radical new fuel-injected FX400 ATV, has signed on as the title sponsor for the Round 9 event of the ATVA Maxxis Tires Grand National Championship Series. The race, now dubbed the "2001 Cannondale ATV Nationals," will be held at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, Ohio on July 20-22, 2001.

Cannondale is supplying six of their new FX400s for the event. The six ATVs will be raced by the top six pros in the first ever C-ROC (Cannondale Race of Champions). These professional riders include Travis Spader, Shane Hitt, Doug Gust, Tim Farr, Jeremiah Jones and Keith Little. Future C-ROC events will be a major part of Cannondale's marketing plans. The ATVs will also be piloted by amateur racers who participate in the Cannondale ATV Chain Gang. Based on a similar program that Cannondale offers its bicycle customers, the Chain Gang gives amateur racers the opportunity to compete aboard state-of-the-art Cannondale products and briefly "live the dream" of having a factory sponsorship.

Cannondale Director Scott Montgomery explained how the Chain Gang program works. "We'll take pre-registrations from any amateur that's interested in participating, then have a drawing to narrow the group to 24 actual riders," explained Montgomery. "On race-day we'll run six heats of four riders, with the winners transferring on to the main event where they'll race for Cannondale merchandise and apparel." Anyone interested in signing up for the event can go to Cannondale's web site, www.cannondale.com. ATV Scene.com will also take sign-ups at their on-line magazine, and people can also sign up at GNC Series events prior to the Cannondale Nationals.

Along with the C-ROC and Cannondale ATV Chain Gang competitions, the Cannondale ATV Nationals will feature the largest pro purse in GNC history, the Short Track National Championships, the Division 4.com Freestyle Showdown, a World Record pick-up truck jump by Mark Hager and a possible special guest appearance by Matt Coulter - "The Kangaroo Kid". Activities get started Friday night, July 20th, with the third annual Short Track National Championships. Saturday will feature amateur TT national heat race action, with the nation's top pros doing battle on Saturday night. The weekend concludes on Sunday with amateur TT main events.

The event is being organized by two-time "AMA ATV Promoter of the Year" Fast-Trak Promotions Inc., the promotional body behind ATV Scene.com, the recent Legends 2000 event, the ATV Pit Crew Challenge fund raiser, and the Grand National extravaganza (formerly the Jerry Ferrell Yamaha Buckeye Nationals).

Fast Trak's John Pellan was pleased to welcome Cannondale aboard. "ATV racing embraces Cannondale with open arms. As we enter the new millennium, Cannondale has released a true state-of-the-art ATV and backed it up by committing to title sponsorship of our National event in Orrville. We're thrilled about the sponsorship agreement. While other manufacturers continue to shy away from ATV racing involvement, Cannondale dives in head first", said Pellan.

"Our alignment couldn't fit any better. We think alike in many ways. Cannondale strives to release innovative, never-been-done-before products, "said Pellan, "and we continue to raise the bar in ATV promotions. Like our mission statement says - we're taking ATV racing to a higher level. With Cannondale's involvement we're looking forward to creative strategies along the way".