AMA Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Series
Parts Unlimited/Moose/Maxxis/Wiseco/Klotz/FMF/Pirelli/ITP

GNCC Grand Finale This Weekend at the Klotz Ironman in Indiana
Racing and Fun for Everyone in Crawfordsville

Crawfordsville, IN – With Bill Ballance now holding the 2005 Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Championship, this weekend’s series’ finale will serve as a grand celebration for the biggest season in GNCC history. Besides racing, the Klotz Ironman GNCC will entertain fans with food, a band and minibike racing on Saturday night.

“The Klotz Ironman has become a lot more than just a race,” says GNCC Trail Boss Jeff Russell. “People are hanging out with their racing family for the last time this year, so we set up a lot of things for them to have fun with.”

Parts Unlimited will host a dinner at the Ironman Fun Zone on Saturday night, followed by the Suzuki GNCC Minibike National and a performance by a live band.

But racing is still the heart of GNCC. Ballance, the factory Yamaha racer, gutted out another podium finish on a broken leg two weeks ago, good enough to clinch the 2005 GNCC Championship. He’s feeling stronger now. “I was able to run with those guys last week, and it felt good!” said Ballance. “With a little more time to heal up, I’ll be ready to race for it.”

Alba’s Chris Borich won the race, though, so look for one last battle between the Killer B’s. And a real challenge is coming from 2005 Moose/ITP GNC Motocross Champion John Natalie. The “Ironman” is giving GNCC racing another shot at the Ironman.

“My goal is always the same,” says the outspoken Natalie. “I’m a racer and I want to win!”

Even the women’s ATV class will provide a showdown, with Stephanie Parton and Traci Cecco entering another winner-take-all shootout for the title. Whichever one wins the race wins the championship – just like it was two years ago when they came barreling into each other in the final corner of the year.

The Ironman track is ready, too, with all the big hills, deep mud and high-speed jumps GNCCs are known for. Spectator admission is just $12 for a full weekend of action, and children under age seven are free.

The final round of the GNCC Bike Series on Sunday gives Juha Salminen a shot at his ninth win of the year, but, as he likes to say it, “the manhunt is on.” Rookie sensation Charles Mullins finished a close second again at the previous GNCC in Ohio, and the 19-year old was just a few mistakes away from battling for the lead down to the finish. Barry Hawk won last year’s Klotz Ironman race, and Rodney Smith won in both 2002 and 2003, so they know the track. Mike Lafferty, Glenn Kearney, Shane Watts, Steve Hatch, Fred Andrews, Robbie Jenks and Chuck Woodford will also be podium contenders.

The Klotz Ironman GNCC is located south of Crawfordsville, Indiana on Route 47. For more information, 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 1500 riders through tracks ranging from eight to twelve miles in length. With varied terrain including hills, 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 $2.4 million in series prizes and contingency money. The Suzuki GNCC Series airs weekly TV shows on the Outdoor Life Network. Associate sponsors include Moose Utility Division, Scott, Alpinestars, Öhlins, Cometic, Outerwears, Race Tools, Twin Air, SFB Racing, Thor, Motion Pro, MotoTee’s, Warrior and Laeger’s. Media Sponsors include Dirt Rider Magazine, ATV Sport Magazine and Racer X Illustrated. For more information log on to GNCCRacing.com.